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NATO Bombing of Yugoslavia, Kosovo Refugee Crisis and the Balkan war
World News Reports from all sides on NATO Bombing and the Refugee Crisis
Lebed Prescribes 'Tough Stand' on Kosovo Document Number: FBIS-EEU-1999-0401 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe, Central Eurasia, The Americas Document Date: 01 Apr 1999 Division: Balkan States, Russia, North America Subdivision: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Russia, United States Sourceline: LD0104163999 Moscow Radiostantsiya Ekho Moskvy in Russian 0819 GMT 1 Apr 99 AFS Number: LD0104163999 Citysource: Moscow Radiostantsiya Ekho Moskvy Language: Russian N/A Subslug: Studio interview with Krasnoyarsk Governor Aleksandr Lebed by announcer Aleksey Venediktov -- live [FBIS Translated Text] [Presenter] Hello, this is Aleksey Venediktov at the microphone. As you know, the upper house of parliament adopted a statement yesterday [31st March] on the situation in Yugoslavia and today we asked a member of the Federation Council, Krasnoyarsk Region governor Aleksandr Ivanovich Lebed to come to our studio. Hello Aleksandr Ivanovich. [Lebed] Hello. [Q] Aleksandr Ivanovich, much is being said at the moment about technical problems: where to transfer weapons, where to send vessels, but it seems to me that nobody is thinking about what has actually happened - why is all this happening in the Balkans? Do you have a view on this? [A] Yes, thank you for this question. I would like to express this view. This view can be seen as an option or what you will. And I don't claim to have the ultimate truth. If I am wrong then let people argue with me. This option arose after reading the clever book by Mr [George] Soros entitled: The crisis of world capitalism. I would also like to say that Soros has nothing to do with this. He is an intelligent man and he has written an intelligent book. Let me read two brief quotes: If and when the slump affects the American economy, the collapse of the world financial system could be accompanied by the collapse of the whole system of international free trade. This course of events can be prevented only through the intervention of leading international financial bodies. The second quote is here. Soros says, or rather writes: The main factor promoting the disintegration of the world capitalist system [he loses his way as he is reading] sorry - the inability of those in charge of international credit-monetary institutions to prevent the system from collapsing is obvious, it is obvious that the programme of the International Monetary Fund is not working. Those are correct, intelligent and seemingly innocent words. But one gets the impression that not only I have been reading Mr Soros. The conclusion has emerged in someone's lively mind that if this system cannot been prevented from collapsing by civilized means, then it can be done through the use of force. I suggest that a plan of some kind has emerged. I would describe it as a recurrence of imperialist thinking. Note that the countries of Western civilization, while internally remaining quite civilized, yes, and quite democratic, have suddenly begun to behave in international relations as though their leaders had been affected by some kind of mental virus - this very same virus of imperialist thinking. This is a serious illness. We have had it and to this day we are recovering from its effects. This illness needs to be treated, with very tough measures. It cannot be allowed to get out of hand. If it is allowed to do so, we risk a serious attempt by Western civilization to create a system of total, global and, I would say, imperialist control over the whole world. So we need to understand what is really happening in Yugoslavia today against the background of what has been (?sown). In effect, an experiment is being conducted to test new models and technologies for governing the world. The scheme is very simple. First of all a conflict is initiated or provoked in a trouble spot, then the side which initiated the conflict proposes sending a peacekeeping contingent into the territory - which in fact represents the introduction of outside control - and naturally the country refuses, so then the Tomahawks and Stealths are offered instead. That is against the background of Russia and China - two members of the UN Security Council - and also India and Brazil, Belarus, Namibia, countries which occupy approximately half the world in terms of land area and population, of these countries being opposed, but this is totally disregarded. Then I believe that this is not just a case of the Kosovo problem. It is not an issue of the United States' dislike for Yugoslavia. What is actually at issue is an attempt to organize this system of total control and for this reason no single country in the world, no single region of the world can feel calm. Because, trouble spots like Kosovo - such as Chechnya, Northern Ireland, the Dnestr region, the Basque region, northern Italy, Karabakh - there are many of them, aren't there. There are over 400 of them, so no-one can guarantee that next time someone will point the finger at that spot and there will be a recurrence of this same situation there. Besides, this is a dangerous precedent, a very dangerous precedent: the establishment of peace through the unleashing of war. Look at who has been hit hardest - Pristina, isn't it? On whom are the bombs falling? Only on the Serbs? No, on everyone. The number of refugees is soaring and there is destabilization at this epicentre and throughout Europe and this can and must be assessed as yet another additional effect, as a aggression against Europe. Why hasn't the Council of Europe been urgently called, why isn't the OSCE anywhere to be seen? The UN has simply been turned into an appendage of NATO where [UN Secretary-General] Mr Kofi Annan simply nods his head obediently like a Chinese puppet. And to conclude my answer to that question, I would like, with considerable sadness, to say an ironic thank-you to the United States of America: in just a few days you have brilliantly demolished all the work that had been done with such great difficulty. An injection of democracy [ironic] just like an injection for smallpox. But it hasn't worked. Now we have a completely familiar situation, a return to approximately 1972 when there was a common enemy, there was someone to fight. Today any rogue or thief here today can shout that the Americans are to blame for everything and publicly donate 100 dollars for the construction of an aircraft carrier. In my view that is the picture, but the degree to which it is true still has to be assessed and reviewed. But that is what we are dealing with today. [Q] Aleksandr Ivanovich Lebed is our studio guest. But let us first proceed according to this option. You have said that the illness has got out of hand - I quote what you said just now, and that it will have to be treated with tough methods. Aleksandr Ivanovich, is there a chance - without relying on those thieves who donate 100 dollars for aircraft carriers, you are quite right there - to begin treatment of this illness without casting the world into the fires of war? [A] Yes, I have already set out my method of treatment. It should be extremely tough. I would like to correct you here. The illness is there and it should not be allowed to get out of hand. The way out of the situation lies in the very tough stand which Russia can, which it is simply obliged to take, having taken specific and definite steps: first, by lifting the embargo; second, by calling a spade a spade - this is aggression and this is very easy to prove with the help of the UN Charter; third, to declare Yugoslavia a zone of Russian political interests for one reason alone, and that is that an extremely dangerous precedent is being created there for Russia, for Europe and for the whole world; and to ensure the urgent delivery to Yugoslavia of defensive weapons - surface-to-air missile systems, radars and other military technical weapons. No-one has ever attacked defensive surface-to-air missile systems nor are they going to. I am absolutely sure that this would act like a large bucket of cold water over the hotheads. Because this venture will get nowhere. [Q] It is strange that this virus has affected the leaders of 19 states. You have to agree that there is something strange about this. [A] Yes, there is something strange about it and there is also the herd instinct. Indirectly you are confirming that there is indeed some programme behind this and it was not spontaneous. [Q] But you no doubt know that when the same or quite a similar situation arose in Bosnia-Hercegovina, both the possibility of NATO bombing on the one hand, and, on the other hand, a humanitarian catastrophe as Western politicians are calling it, were avoided, partly thanks to Russia and to the fact that a so-called peacekeeping contingent, involving Russian troops, was sent in. Why do you think that this model could not work here too? [A] There is nothing new about the model. Iosif Vissarionovich Stalin also - what was the name of the president of Finland? I think it was [Otto] Kuusinnen [actually president of Karelia], wasn't it, who said - [Q, interrupts] I think so. [A] Why touch Iosif Vissarionovich Stalin? [Q] Kekkonen, Kekkonen was his name. [A] Yes, Kekkonen. And then, in 1979, Babrak Kamal was brought in a armoured personnel carrier, pulled out, the dust brushed off him and presented: there's the president for you. Well, this is roughly the same situation. Nothing new. [Q] Let me remind you that member of the Federation Council, governor of Krasnoyarsk Region Aleksandr Lebed is live on Ekho Moskvy. We will continue our conversation after a two-minute news bulletin. [Break for news bulletin] [Q] Aleksandr Lebed is Ekho Moskvy's guest. Aleksandr Ivanovich, I don't know, but could you explain, perhaps from the strategic military point of view, and, of course, the political, as member of the Federation Council, because there is no precise information about the seizure of three American servicemen. NATO is saying that they were on the territory of Macedonia which is not fighting, while the Serbs say they were seized on the territory of Serbia. The seizure of three American servicemen as a new phase in the conflict. How do you think this could change the situation? [A] Well, first of all, one Tomahawk has landed in Macedonia, which is not at war. Thank God there were no casualties, but nevertheless this is now an established fact, isn't it? Second, I have already said that the United States is conducting aggression against Yugoslavia so the Yugoslavs are repelling this aggression and are free to take American soldiers prisoner wherever they see fit. This is absolutely normal from the military point of view. The United States is undoubtedly a leader in the world today, undoubtedly it is a mighty and great power and so on and so forth. It has one serious shortcoming. Its president has never seen human entrails on a fence, its president does not know what all-out war is, when the whole people, young and old, begin to fight 24 hours a day. When this happens, a quite well-known phenomenon arises - it is impossible to win a war like this. Napoleon and Hitler lost such wars, as did the Americans themselves in Vietnam, the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and Russia in Chechnya. All those who unleash such wars are defeated. And the States will lose. The American president does not know that every conflict gives rise to an invisible, but deep and wide chasm between people and only one healer - time - can bring the edges of that chasm together and to reduce its depth. Nothing else can help. So, the imprisonment of these soldiers, the increasing number of planes downed, dead marines who were meant to be sent in, hundreds of coffins covered in the stars and stripes, will mean a totally different situation in America. This is a suicidal action. [Q] However this action is under way, so, to talks about the actual situation, it is under way and apart from Clinton who, you are right, has never fought, we see the top general [Wesley] Clark, who has probably fought and people just like your army colleagues, and they are colleagues, who are working out the operation and know what entrails look like and know what (?war) is. Why is this being done - because Clinton has given the order. [A] I know of no historical precedent of a general beginning a war. It is always politicians who begin wars. Generals merely carry out their will. That is the way it has always been and always will be. [Q] All right. Aleksandr Ivanovich, let us change the situation for a moment and imagine that you are Gen Clark. [A] That's a pointless thing to do. [Q] Why? [A] Because I wouldn't have started this nonsense. All right, let's imagine. [Q] Yes, let's imagine. You have a situation. Your soldiers have been seized. Your planes are being downed, your missiles are being been hit and you have the task - let's follow the formal path - to ensure the safety of the refugees and halt what is called a human catastrophe. Talks have failed to do this. [A] That's a strange way to set the task. First of all crowds of refugees are created by bombing and then their safety has to be ensured. Why make it so difficult? Without the bombing there would be no refugees and there would be no need to overstrain oneself. [Q] Come on now Aleksandr Ivanovich, even the UN High Commission [for Refugees], not NATO, but the UN has admitted that even prior to the conflict there were 240,000 refugees - like Palestinian camps - around Yugoslavia, in Albania, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro and Bulgaria. This was a situation like the Palestinian camps which will subsequently take up arms and fight. [A] That is not the problem - [Q, interrupts] Well what is it? [A] From the position of Gen Clark, it is clear that a very simple thought has emerged in world public opinion and is growing stronger every day - one can see it as Serb genocide against the Albanians or not, but this has already faded, it was a mere trifle that has simply been wiped from people's memories in the light of the colossal, global genocide by the United States of America and NATO as a whole against all people of all nationalities living there. That trifle has simply been pushed into the background by this sad fact. So today, the USA is the aggressor and the USA is to blame for the genocide with all the consequences that go with that. [Q] What, let's - [A] Excuse me, let me finish. Clark is a general, a military commander, a military leader. He is capable of defeating, hypothetically capable of defeating an enemy army, but what is he being forced to do? He is being forced to bomb civilian targets and kill the civilian population. And I am absolutely convinced that he is experiencing immense personal discomfort. Subconsciously he is aware that he is not doing what he should be. And his subordinate generals, officers and soldiers are experiencing the same discomfort. This discomfort will grow with each day. And it is hard enough when you are morally fighting for the right cause. That is one psychological state. It is another psychological state when you are committing an aggression, you are killing women and children and especially if you are trying to go in somewhere and people can see the results of your work. The worst criminals are the pilots. They flew in, did their work and flew off to have a cup of coffee. And later on someone on the ground counts the torn off heads and arms. That is one of the greatest tragedies. This is the germ that has already entered the American army and will be taking hold with each passing day. [Q] It is a war of hardware, from the Americans' point of view. [A] Yes, a war on television, from the American's point of view. It's like watching a thriller, it doesn't affect you. It will affect them. It already has. [Q] Aleksandr Ivanovich Lebed is Ekho Moskvy's guest and in the last part of our conversation I would like - you began to say, when you were talking about democracy and smallpox injections and it all being useless. When he met [IMF Managing Director Michel] Camdessus, [Communist Party of Russia leader] Gennadiy Andreyevich Zyuganov said that the next Russian government, if you give us the loan now - that is what he said in this studio - will be either a military or a criminal government. That was what he scared us with here, not only us, but Camdessus as well. This is my question: do you believe the events connected with Yugoslavia could really result in the weak shoots of democracy in Russia will die and that everyone will rally around anyone, say the supreme commander-in-chief, but there will be an impeachment, and it will be a new supreme commander-in-chief, or some kind of state committee, a State Committee for the State of Emergency [the coup in 1991]? Do you think that this is possible as a result of Yugoslavia, because of the new world order about which you spoke? [A] As for the loans, I wouldn't accept them at all. A person has to be pushed into a corner and it has to be explained to him that either he gets out of the corner using his own means or he will die there. That is when everyone, or at least the overwhelming majority, will begin to really start doing something. They will cease begging and relying on someone else and start employing their own reserves. That is when the country will rise. To go asking for handouts, to get these loans by trading geopolitical interests for 4.8bn dollars - what is that? It's like a small green patch on bright orange trousers - ridiculous. [Q] What about the possible domestic political situation, in which Yugoslavia acts as a catalyst? [A] Could you repeat your question? [Q] My question is this. Essentially it comes from your supposition that thanks to actions of the Americans, democracy will be injected into our country. [A] It's essentially already happened. It has already happened. In the first part of our conversation I was actually saying an ironic thank-you to the Americans. In just a few days they managed to demolish what had taken several years to achieve. All the covers have been blown away. Let them try to prove they are adherents of democracy, now that they are committing brutal aggression under the flag of democracy, on foreign territory, when they have invaded Europe and are destroying that life in Europe, just as the euro is starting up and the whole system, the whole idea of building a common European home is quite simply being destroyed under the American bombs and missiles. This has already happened. [Q] What about in Russia, Aleksandr Ivanovich? On 15th April, I know you have mentioned the impeachment. Nevertheless, there could be a situation in the country, in which the supreme commander-in-chief could be under impeachment. [A] Well. When a war is under way, and I have already said this, and I will say it again, this moment should be used not to turn an imperialist war, to use the language of the classics, into a civil war. We don't need that. This moment should be used as a reason for the consolidation of the nation. Today we are on our knees. We must get up, begin wanting to get, want to get up. Then we will get up and this could be a great unifying moment. Furthermore, these actions should not be aimed against the Americans. The Americans have committed a colossal strategic folly and this will become apparent over the course of two or three weeks. Everyone will simply see this. And we need to help [them] to save face and get out of this situation, while at the same time consolidating the nation and giving the country its second wind and giving the people back their dignity. So this is a unique moment and we must not fail to use it. And today, this must be done by the president, if he still has the will. He must gather everyone and announce, to declare this will: today we are a united country, all the branches of power are working in the same direction. We are going to stop sending delegations of the government, the State Duma and the Federation Council and other political structures to Yugoslavia. The state called Russia has its position, it has power, it has its will and that will is going to be put into practice. That is where the solution to the problem lies, today, now, immediately. [Q] The opposition will not agree to this, even if the president wants it. I think you know that very well. [A] I believe that it will agree, it will agree. I cannot see the will of the president. So all this sending of vessels [through the Bosporus], all this insignificant talking there, none of this is serious. This is where we need to start. We are a humiliated and offended nation. Actually, I was brought up in the spirit of materialism as we all were, or the majority of us, at least, but I know from practice that the spirit is the predominant. You can give a puny, weak-willed people without character any weapon, any money and they will use it for drink, lose it or leave it somewhere. Only human will, the essence of the human spirit is capable of seriously changing any situation. No task is impossible. [Q] Let me remind you that the governor of Krasnoyarsk Region and member of the Federation Council, Aleksandr Ivanovich Lebed. THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990401000835 Document Id: 0f9l2et018vwie Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 03/31/99 Publish Region: Central Eurasia Lines: 322 Title: Lebed Interviewed on NATO Strikes, Kosovo Document Number: FBIS-SOV-1999-0401 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: Central Eurasia, East Europe Document Date: 31 Mar 1999 Division: Russia, Balkan States Subdivision: Russia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Kosovo Sourceline: LD0104145499 Moscow NTV in Russian 1540 GMT 31 Mar 99 AFS Number: LD0104145499 Citysource: Moscow NTV Language: Russian N/A Subslug: [FBIS Translated Text] [Svetlana Sorokina] Good evening. The "Hero of the Day" programme is on the air. The Federation Council [Russian parliament's upper chamber] today proposed that the government should render military and technical assistance to Yugoslavia. The senators voted unanimously in favour of the proposal. Krasnoyarsk Territory governor Aleksandr Lebed was among the first to comment on the issue. Aleksandr Ivanovich is our studio guest today. Good evening, again. [Lebed] Good evening. [Q] Well, as a matter of fact, the proposed deliveries of weapons to Yugoslavia mean [Russia's] withdrawal from the UN sanctions regime. This is quite a serious move. Aren't you afraid that this can only exacerbate the situation? [A] No I'm not. [Q] Please substantiate your point, Aleksandr Ivanovich. [A] All right. I would like to say that we, Russia, should learn at least two lessons from the situation that has taken shape. Firstly, it turned out that out political elite is absolutely disunited. We have demonstrated horrible things. Three persons, who represent themselves [leaders of the Right Cause coalition Yegor Gaydar, Boris Nemtsov and Boris Fedorov], go [to Belgrade], then a government delegation goes there, and now a State Duma [parliament's lower chamber] is about to go there. Our thanks to the Federation Council for the fact that it was wise enough not to form its own delegation. Firstly, this is a horrible thing in the eyes of the people who live in this country - they see these widely spread fingers and understand that the one who delivers a blow with these fingers will have them broken, and this will be humiliating and painful. As regards the authorities, this is humiliating and disgraceful. As regards the world community, including the people of Yugoslavia themselves, this is ridiculous: You there, can't you sort out among yourselves who should come here? Diplomats and military should come and that's it, as well as a person at the head, who would be entrusted with the powers. The second lesson is more complicated. It consists of three questions which are to be answered. Firstly, why are we all reacting so excitedly to the air raids against Yugoslavia? This is a very serious question. Secondly, why are we getting involved in this and what is our objective? And thirdly, what can we do to stop the air raids? The answer to the first question is quite simple: we all feel humiliated now. Just 15 years ago this situation would have been impossible in principle. But the balance of forces has been upset and we have got what we have got. Essentially, it is not aggression against Yugoslavia. It is aggression against Europe. Where is the OSCE? Have you heard it being mentioned at all? Where is the Council of Europe? Where are all those brilliant state structures and institutions? Where will the euro end up? What about the tense situation in the neighbouring countries, around Yugoslavia? Macedonia allocated 20 per cent of its budget in the heat of the moment, and now it does not know what to do with the ever increasing numbers of refugees. [Q] Well, Europe, at least the majority of its countries have opinions of their own on this, different from what we think. [A] Of course, of course. [Q] But one can look at it as the balance of forces. We have been pushed to the back, so to speak, as far as our opinion is concerned and not much attention is paid in the world to what we have to say. I agree with you. This is how it is. [A] The second question. Why do we need it? We should first answer the question of who we are. Who do we want to be? Are we a flock of sheep which are united by a common pasture, the common territory on which we live? Or are we a single nation with common will and aims? Who are we? If we give a positive answer to this question, we should decide for ourselves that we will have nothing to do with an imperialistic war, a civil war but instead use this wonderful opportunity to consolidate our nation. We will unite the country's efforts. We will admit that we knelt voluntarily and that we now want to get up. How can we do it? By consistent and firm steps, such as the embargo. Russia should announce that it unilaterally lifts the embargo against Yugoslavia and provides it with military technical assistance. In order to do this it is necessary to recognize the fact of aggression, which is in line with the UN Charter. That is the first thing. And secondly, we should declare Yugoslavia a zone of Russia's geopolitical interests. A very dangerous precedent, a very dangerous precedent for Russia, Europe and the whole world, is being created on the territory of this country - the establishement of peace by starting a war. I can give you many examples. How many people have died in Kosovo? Dozens, perhaps. At present their numbers run into hundreds and tomorrow there will be thousands of them. Pristina is being smashed to pieces. This is what I call help. If you have a mosquito on your forehead, hit it with the back of an axe to get rid of it. This is described as the establishement of peace. [Q] But the most frightening thing is that - [A, interrupting the question] This position is very firm but it consolidates the nation, which is very important. That is my first point. Secondly, it is not a war against the American people, against America. It is to try to save America. The way its embassy looks at present shows you that people are reacting in a certain way. If ink bottles are thrown at it today, tomorrow they will start hurling hand grenades at it, and Americans all over the world will be killed. I do not want them to be killed. Therefore, they should be given an opportunity to save face and get out of this fight which was started in the heat of the moment, let's say, and with some dignity. Especially, taking into account the fact that their holiday of 4th July is coming up and they will be marking the 50th anniversary of NATO. It will be the wisest option. [Q] Not long ago, my guest was Vladimir Ryzhkov, the leader of the Our Home is Russia faction. He said that we should be as firm as possible in our statements and as careful as possible in specific actions. I think that he is right. Take, for example, the lifting of the UN sanctions and the deployment of weapons. How soon can this be done? Should one take time to reach a decision? [A] Let's decide what kind of weapons you are talking about. [Q] Anti-missile, for example, I mean defensive weapons. [A] Anti-aircraft missile units are never used on the front-line in an offensive. They are used only for defence purposes. And we signed a treaty. According to the UN Charter, if a country is attacked, and we are talking about aggression, it has the right to ask for protection. We do not violate anything here. There is no need to send ground troops, vessels or any weapons which can be regarded as offensive. There are no problems with defensive weapons. [Q] How do you think such weapons can be delivered? Yugoslavia is virtually besieged. Using aircraft? [A] Such minor technical details can be easily solved. [Q] How? By fighting your way through? [A] What for? [Q] Can you explain how you can possibly get it through in practice? [A] Just take it by air or surface. It can be easily done. There are no problems here. I just do not want to go in any technical details and determine which road will be used, what kind of a vehicle will be used by a driver by the name of Vasiliy Ivanov will be taking the anti-aircraft units. [Q] OK. I would like to return to my previous question. How soon, do you think, defensive weapons should be supplied to Yugoslavia? [A] Immediately. The sooner, the better, and the sooner hot heads will calm down, providing an opportunity to think about the situation and take appropriate steps and tension will be lifted from the whole of Europe. I would like to stress yet again that it is an act of sabotage against Europe. [Q] What do you think about the idea of volunteers which was expressed by many of your colleagues, State Duma deputies? There are whole groups of people who decide to go to Yugoslavia. [A] One can have a different attitude to this. If people decided to do this, they will go. [Q] But what exactly could they do over there? Well people will come and then what? [A] It depends on the people who would come. If an infantryman comes there, that will be little help, although moral support is certainly very important. If we are talking about someone who knows how to use mobile anti-aircraft systems, two such specialists could seriously change the air defence situation in some area. There could be any type of volunteers. [Q] Aleksandr Ivanovich, I can see that you really consider this problem in a very broad way. You see our enthusiasm as springing from our sense of being humbled - [A] I see our humiliation. [Q] Yes, regarding this situation. But do you also have this idea of supporting a fraternal nation? Our Slav brothers and so on? [Interrupting Lebed's attempts to say something] The reason I am asking is to know how much you support the actions of Milosevic himself? He is a difficult negotiator, he continues ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, which is also the reason for so many refugees. What do you think about his actions? [A] Let's try to consider the matter from other point of view. First of all, it is an objective reality that many different people are dying today under the bombs and missile strikes - Serbs, Albanians, Gypsies, Macedonians, all of them. One missile even hit Macedonia - they showed it. They even managed to miss the country! What a rare thing to happen. So, many different people are dying, or various nationalities, but they are all people. Secondly, in my view the problem of Milosevic and the problem of war are two different problems. Milosevic is an internal problem for the Serbs. If some people do not like Milosevic, there are a lot of various civilized means - embargoes, sanctions, world public opinion, information warfare - a whole lot of means to encourage Serbs to vote him out or depose him. There is also another problem here. For example, the USA has been fighting Saddam Husayn for almost 10 years now. This war is being handed down in a kind of relay from one president to another. Meanwhile, Husayn is alive and kicking, and nothing is happening to him. But tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed in these 10 years of war with Saddam. And it has cost the USA a colossal amount of money. The whole place has been strafed, but no targets hit. Something similar is happening now in Yugoslavia. If you do not like Milosevic, why kill ordinary people? Somebody some day will come up with statistics and everyone will see that ordinary people were being killed. I have been in many such situations and this was what made me especially angry. Somehow the guilty ones manage to get out in time, but all those soldiers, policemen, girls, teachers, housewives, ordinary people, are the ones that are being killed. [Q] Aleksandr Ivanovich, we have been hearing some really worrying statements. Today, the State Duma proposed to review the military doctrine and the chief of the General Staff, Anatoliy Kvashnin, said that the use of nuclear weapons is not ruled out in the defence of Russia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Why there are such statements? Don't they make you wary? [A] They do make me wary. This is why for the past two days I have been saying: let's hold a joint session of the State Duma, the Federation Council and the government and consolidate our position, the position to be taken by Russia as a state. [Lebed] Everybody should be told: look pal, if you dare to use this difficult situation for your own pre-election or other kind of purposes - you will simply be placed into the Matrosskaya Tishina [jail]. Later we will ask you to forgive us and pay you three roubles in compensation. But during that period he would have to look at the sky through the windows of a cell and keep yourself occupied by singing ditties. This will have to be decided today. This is needed to avoid all these various [changes tack] this chorus, no, that's not right, this is not a chorus, it is a cacophony. Everyone is simply doing whatever he feels like doing. Centralization is needed here as never before. As never before this is very important today. [Sorokina] Views should be expressed which have been worked out jointly? [A] Yes, jointly. There should be a joint consolidated stance by all branches of power and by all political forces. This is our opinion and we are representing the Russian state. It might be that right now we don't like each other. But the state is in danger now. The fatherland is in danger now so let's fight later. That's it. [Q] How would you assess your remarks about the president? If I am not mistaken you said that elections might have to be held early? [A] This is not exactly true. [Q] What exactly did you say then? [A] I told all these people who kept asking me a question about my attitude towards impeaching [the president]? I told them that I have no stance on that. My attitude is calm as in an old song which has been performed for the past five years. [Q] You said that unless (?a resolute) stance is taken - [A] If the president wants to prevent the further weakening of the authorities and the Kremlin. They cannot really do anything to say the least. The only way out is to gather everybody and sit them all together and tell them the following: I am the C-in-C here - let's take decisions. This is the only way out. There is tomorrow and may be the day after tomorrow. If the time is wasted - the president will have to go. [Q] How is this going to happen? [A] Simply no-one will need him. No-one needs the president if he is weak, inefficient and incapable of taking serious decisions in extreme situations. [Q] What kind of procedure should be used? Will be it an impeachment? [A] I don't feel like making any comments on this [words indistinct]. [Q] Aleksandr Ivanovich, you are talking as if this is some kind of a casual gathering? [A] Yes, but the situation is like this. This is not a casual gathering. The president cannot even sack Prosecutor-General [Yuriy Skuratov] I am not even talking about others. [Q] You have just said that this could be decided later and that now we should be consolidating our forces. Do you think that clearing of relations with the president, for example, can be regarded as consolidation. [A] I don't want to clear relations with the president. You asked me a question and I answered it. I told the president publicly as to what he should do to save the situation in the country first of all and save himself at the same time. If this is possible of course. No more. [Q] Let's go back to military issues which are so close to you. What is your attitude to the fact that a request has been placed for a Black Sea vessel to use the Bosphorus? This information was confirmed today. What is your attitude to such movements of military equipment? [A] I have already expressed my attitude. It is necessary to send things which can help change the situation radically. [Q] And not just- [A] And not just sail up and down there, showing off not very impressive muscles. But perhaps one should do this too. [Q] As far as I understand you criticized yesterday's message to the Federal Assembly by the president. Didn't you see anything useful in it? [A] I intend to use it to compile a book of quotations. It is a unique document in that respect. I have come to the conclusion that there is a shortage of speech writers. That is my first point. My second point is that the economic section, at least the economic section, of the message was written by sick people, simply sick. It is a ghastly document. [Q] But it contains a sensible thought: honest relations. Perhaps this message can be- [A] I will send you a copy and if you find them, let me know. [Q] We have seen the message. We have read it. It does contain this idea of honest elections. In my view it is a good idea. [A] As they say: it is too late to drink Borzhomi [mineral water improving digestion] when you already have stomach ache. [Q] So you think honest elections are impossible in Russia? [A] They are while we continue to organize them the way we do. [Q] Why? We are currently consolidating our forces in the face of danger. [A] The idea of elections has been vulgarized. We have no democracy. We are further away from it now than we were in 1991. We have developed lots of election practices which are based on dishonesty. Any attempts to show how good we are, how spotless, will lead to nothing. Elections will continue to be a fierce clash for power, as happens between wolves, and first and foremost, on the part of criminals who would like to be part of this power, who want to occupy the Duma and dictate their views to everyone in the country and in the world, dictate. That is why I started this fight in Krasnoyarsk. They did not understand it, but they will later, perhaps. One should begin not by saying how utterly innocent, beautiful, pure, pleasant, clean and washed we will be tomorrow but by specific, dirty and routine actions. Analyze them to see who can be allowed anywhere near elections and who should be banned for life. Then they will be honest and pure to some extent. [Q] Thank you. We have run out of time, though we could have continued to talk about this. It seems you have more things to say about this. Thank you. May I remind our viewers that our guest today was Krasnoyarsk governor Aleksandr Ivanovich Lebed, who has a clear picture in his mind as to what we should do in the difficult international situation and in the forthcoming elections. [A] The majority of Russian will share my views soon. There is a bold statement for you. [Q] So we will end our programme with such a bold statement. [Description of Source: NTV -- Influential TV network owned by Vladimir Gusinskiy's Media-Most group; broadcasts reach over half of Russia's viewing audience.] THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990401001549 Document Id: 0f9l2de027iji0 Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 03/29/99 Publish Region: West Europe Lines: 169 Title: Kosovo Legal, Humanitarian Issues Viewed Document Number: FBIS-WEU-1999-0401 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: West Europe Document Date: 29 Mar 1999 Division: West Europe Subdivision: Germany Sourceline: AU0104220999 Frankfurt/Main Frankfurter Rundschau (Internet version) in German 29 Mar 99 AFS Number: AU0104220999 Citysource: Frankfurt/Main Frankfurter Rundschau (Internet version) Language: German N/A Subslug: Commentary by Thomas Blanke: "The Dilemma Between Human Rights and International Law" [FBIS Translated Text] For members of the generation that grew up in the post-war period, the war that is now occurring in Europe must be triggering a high level of ambivalent feelings -- not least because along with it for the first time since the days of the "Wehrmacht," federal German troops are actively taking a combat role in a military action on foreign territory. On the one hand, it is no longer possible to abide the violent oppression and persecution directed against the ethnic Albanian-speaking majority in Kosovo whereby the majority Serbian remnant of Yugoslavia is seeking to prevent, in the wake of Croatia and Bosnia, that province also from making expanded claims for autonomy through open terror. The U.S. along with the other NATO and European Union [EU] countries agreed to act in doubt even without a relevant UN mandate. That no such mandate was even sought is, of course, tactically understandable considering the announced veto on the part of the Russian Government: Albeit without the backing of the UN, at least nothing was to be done militarily vis-a-vis the failed attempt to obtain such legitimation. Still, the legitimation gap remains. Even if the UN had approved the military action and it would thereby at least not be contrary to international law, that would hardly alter the ambivalence of feelings. That is based, after all, on the continuation of the death and the destruction necessarily associated with unleashing of military force but which is to be prevented by it. The fact that the morally commanded defense of human rights, if necessary, cannot avoid resorting to means which in turn necessarily imply the offending of elemental human rights, equates to a morally conflictual situation that is extremely contradictory and only painfully leads to a sorting out of emotions. This moral and theoretical consideration is based on a key and by no means trivial premise: that there is an interest on the part of an aggressive alliance of countries in showing respect for fundamental human rights. Even in the Gulf War a corresponding motivation for the -- then even endorsed by UN resolutions -- military attack by the Allies was energetically called into doubt as expressed by broad segments of the public and protesting young people in the Federal Republic with the slogan, "No blood for oil." In the meantime this assessment has changed dramatically in favor of the premise of a human-rights and democratic mission not just by the U.S. and the countries of the European Union but even by NATO and the FRG. In any event, with an eye on the West European left that has traditionally PSD To HTML conversion is important to webmasters because they cannot use the PSD file as it is for their web pages. if you need PSD To HTML conversion service save yourself some time, effort and money and send it in to the professionals. been skeptically opposed to the Atlantic Alliance and especially with an on the federal German party Alliance 90/the Greens with theirtraditionally outspoken pacifist self-awareness, the speed of this shift in attitude is cause for concern. It may be an open question whether the premise of the moral motivation of the military intervention in the case of Kosovo is justified. Noteworthy in this conspicuous shift in political values is simply the fact that it has occurred: by assuming that the political institutions, states, communities of states and their military allies can act in the interest of implementing legal principles, that are based directly on moral principles (and they are not just adducing such reasons for their actions for propaganda purposes), they will be perceived as responsible agents of morally sound minds. The idolization of the state has been one of the reasons for the blind allegiance of the Germans who willing let themselves be dragged into world wars and even act as executors of Adolf Hitler's policy of extermination. The opposite characteristic seems to have paled as a result of the private "go it alone" generation of the post-war period and the protest generation that was skeptical of the government, as was originally characteristic of the former Federal Republic. The described shift in attitude is tantamount -- even relative to the extreme point of combat intervention -- to an expression of a noticeable increase of confidence in the moral credibility of the government and of the state's apparatus for force. Obviously more is being expressed there than the fact that united Germany has developed to the "normality" of a self-conscious democracy. In alliance with the western democracies it has, moreover, even been certified with a mission to help in the establishment of a "global internal policy" that breaks with the strict dogma of national sovereignty in dealing with the "internal affairs" of (at least European) states. But that is conceivable only on the premise that the government institutions of the Federal Republic and the military alliance of NATO states also, in turn, are viewed to a large degree as morally justified. Chancellor Schroeder, in his televised speech justified the war, about whose conflict with international law there exists no doubt, as necessary to protect human rights. Now, in the press, the contention is about whether NATO acted wisely in putting itself in such a tight spot, the only exit from which was warfare, and about whether the humanitarian aims of the war can be realized at all, and about how any escalation can be avoided and what global consequences will result from the public snubbing of Russia and the termination of the NATO partnership by President Yeltsin. From a German perspective, in any event, it appears certain that no other administration than just a Red-Green alliance with Joschka Fischer as a foreign minister and a lawyer, Gerhard Schroeder as federal Chancellor could have shouldered the responsibility for a participation of German troops in a war of aggression that runs counter to international law, without immediately reaping mass protests and risking that the participation of German troops in such a war would be prohibited by a temporary injunction proceeding before the Federal Constitutional Court. There is no possibility at all of foreseeing whether the fact that this war is based on the priority of human rights over the principles of international law will lead to the erosion of international law or at least, with a longer view, to its consolidation. On the one hand, it shows with absolute clarity that the majority of western democracies are no longer willing to view international law as an end in itself or even as automatic protection for the inviolability of governments. Instead, the NATO operation makes it clear that in the interpretation of the states participating in it, the legitimacy of international law is based on its function to protect human rights. The risk to this position consists in the fact that whenever formal rules of law with their states under rule of law functions of predictability and calculability are thrust aside in favor of material principles of law, there is a risk that the legal medium will be devalued. That is why direct resort to immediately claiming the validity of human rights requires an especially cautious legitimization: it must present itself at the same time as an anticipation of a future practice that credibly aims to close the legitimacy gap on human rights in international law and to deny recognition of state sovereignty not only in an opportune single instance but as a matter of principle when it is being abused in the way this is being done by the Yugoslav government under Milosevic. The validity of standards for human rights that are generally recognized today -- at least formally -- is not tied to any universal practice corresponding to them, but instead, at best, they will help to establish the same. Reference to the fact the offensive war against Yugoslavia could not be covered yet at present by any universal practice but will remain for some time an exception, does not therefore render this anticipation automatically illegitimate. On the other hand, there is as little ground for ruling out the fact that NATO's action may contribute to a destruction of the status achieved by international law by encouraging other states in turn to invade other countries while invoking allegedly "higher priority" material principles of law with no mandate from the UN. While this danger cannot be precluded, the states taking part in the war against a remnant of Yugoslavia, are bound in consequence of their action, to make every effort to keep such a moral devaluation of international law from occurring. This means that in this instance a claimed "right of automatic entry" by the western Alliance must remain unique in that sense, just as in its wake standards and processes must be created allowing for an ability in a noninflationary manner to avail oneself of such an offensive war by way of exception to legitimize the principles of human rights. NATO's action imposes on it a tantamount moral obligation to remove the described dilemma of the principle of sovereignty in international law by endeavoring to keep shaping the institutions of the UN in the direction of an effective guarantee and safeguard for the "moral minimums" of human rights. Thomas Blanke is a professor of industrial law at the University of Oldenburg. (ENDALL) 99E06148C 29 mar larrieu/eh THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990401000506 Document Id: 0f9l2bm02p8fm1 Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 04/01/99 Publish Region: West Europe Lines: 128 Title: Paris Paper: NATO Sidelines UN On Kosovo Document Number: FBIS-WEU-1999-0401 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: West Europe, East Europe Document Date: 01 Apr 1999 Division: West Europe, Balkan States Subdivision: France, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Kosovo Sourceline: MS0104104299 Paris Le Monde in French 1 Apr 99 p 20 AFS Number: MS0104104299 Citysource: Paris Le Monde Language: French N/A Subslug: Article by Afsane Bassir Pour and Daniel Vernet: "United Nations One More Kosovo Victim" [FBIS Translated Text] Whether only temporarily eclipsed or facing a longer spell on the sidelines, the UN Security Council appears to be one more victim of the war in Kosovo. NATO launched air strikes against Serbia without asking for its opinion, and no new initiatives are expected to come out of New York in a bid to take control of a conflict which, for months now, has been politically managed by the Contact Group and militarily orchestrated by NATO. What is more, the United States never showed the slightest inclination to involve the Security Council and ask for its approval. It had good reason not to: The Russians would almost certainly have used their veto, and the Chinese are always liable to join them - as they did with regard to a UN force in [Former Yugoslav Republic of] Macedonia [FYROM]. And yet there was another, deeper reason. The Americans wanted to set a precedent with Kosovo, showing that NATO can act without the need for a formal mandate from the Security Council. Of course, they can point to several of the Council's resolutions that Slobodan Milosevic imperiously ignored or violated, and France and other Western nations accepted this legal cover. Since Russia's proposed resolution condemning the use of force against Serbia was rejected by 12 of the 15 members, it could be inferred that the Security Council implicitly agreed to the bombardments. However, while procedure was respected at the legal level, politically the Council has been edged out. Ruth Wedgewood, an expert at the Council for Foreign Relations in New York, feels that this is "a temporary sidelining." A senior White House official stigmatized China's attitude, noting how "the Council has voluntarily taken a back seat on [Former Yugoslav Republic of] Macedonia [FYROM]." When China vetoed the renewal of the mandate of the UN force in [Former Yugoslav Republic of] Macedonia [FYROM] on the pretext that Skopje had officially recognized Taiwan, Washington could not have been more pleased: The Security Council had painted itself into a corner through considerations totally unrelated to the matter in hand. Whether the current crisis is transient or more enduring, this looks like the end of an era for the United Nations, an era that began at the end of the 1980s. The then President of an ailing Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev discovered the charms of the community of nations. For several years, the Soviet Union and then Russia, which inherited its permanent seat on the Security Council, were keen to cooperate with the West, going as far as approving the coalition organized by the United States to do battle with Saddam Husayn in 1991. The United Nations, which for the duration of the 40-year Cold War had been stripped of much of its power by application of the veto, was finally able to play a full role, the five permanent members proving themselves worthy of the prerogatives they had granted themselves back in 1945. The international organization was never more active than in the early 1990s. It stepped up its peacekeeping activities, sending its Blue Helmets all over the world and looking the play the role that the fathers of the UN Charter had mapped out for it, albeit at the risk of being overtaken by its ambitions.(more) 1 apr ms/adamc In 1995, some 80,000 UN Blue Helmets were involved in peace keeping operations: Today they number no more than 12,000. The already modest means at the organization's disposal are forever dwindling. The plans for a permanent UN force never got off the ground. There was a time when American Presidents would seek a UN mandate before going to war in the Gulf or sending troops into Haiti or Somalia. And while US observers admit that even if the United Nations had not given its green light, America would have gone in anyway, at least to evict the Iraqis from Kuwait, this was still the time when obtaining a UN blessing lent a certain moral legitimacy to military action. A Sufficiently Vague Compromise [subhead] Was this just a passing phase, then? If it was, then it came to an end in 1995 after the Dayton Agreement was signed and a NATO force was dispatched to Bosnia with UN backing and Russian involvement. Since that time Russia has discovered that, with no empire, a crumbling economy, and a demoralized Army, its ability to say "no" to NATO is one of its few remaining holds on major power status. However, the Security Council cannot function if it is transformed into a closed arena for conflicts of interests. Its makeup, fixed at the end of World War II, has since been challenged by the emerging powers that contest its legitimacy. By dint of their economic, political, or demographic weight, countries such as Germany, Japan, Brazil, India, and so on, can all stake a claim to a permanent seat on the Council, even though neighboring states like Italy, Argentina, Mexico, and Pakistan would equally reject these claims. Alongside enlargement of the Council, the unconditional right of veto that the Charter gives to the Big Five raises its head time and again whenever UN reform is discussed. It is hardly surprising that German Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping recently criticized the existing system, since Germany is a candidate for a permanent seat. For its part, Mexico has called for the "absolute monarchy" of the unconditional veto to make way for the "constitutional monarchy" of a limited veto. While the permanent members hide their views in circumlocution, they are generally disinclined to abandon their privilege. With less than a month to go until the NATO summit in Washington, organized to celebrate the Alliance's 50th birthday, Kosovo is something of a textbook case for the United States. It is keen to have the "new strategic concept" for NATO include the Alliance's right to intervene in peace making operations outside of the geographical zone for which it was created in 1949, and this whether or not the UN Security Council has passed a resolution on the matter. In this way, NATO would be able to sidestep any Russian or Chinese veto. Kosovo even constitutes a dual precedent insofar as NATO intervened with no official mandate, and the allies adopted this interpretation. To go from this situation, which some Alliance members feel should remain an exception to the rule, to actually making it the rule, is but a small step that the Americans would gladly take. The ongoing discussions among the 19 NATO member countries will end in a compromise sufficiently vague to ensure that all interpretations remain possible and that everyone is kept happy. THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990401001135 Document Id: 0f9l2ao001j568 Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 04/01/99 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 122 Title: France's Richard Justifies Kosovo Strikes Document Number: FBIS-EEU-1999-0401 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 01 Apr 1999 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: FYROM Sourceline: MS0104140199 Paris Le Nouvel Observateur in French 1 Apr 99 p 62 AFS Number: MS0104140199 Citysource: Paris Le Nouvel Observateur Language: French N/A Subslug: Interview With French Defense Minister Alain Richard by Jean-Gabriel Fredet; date, place not given: "'France Is Not Fighting the Wrong War'" -- First Paragraph Le Nouvel Observateur Introduction [FBIS Translated Text] According to the French Defense Minister it is wrong to believe that the air strikes triggered off the Serbs' offensive against the Kosovars. It would have taken place anyway. [Fredet] The action taken by NATO was intended to "smash the apparatus of Serbian repression" by mounting air strikes. Is NATO fighting the wrong war? [Richard] Anyone saying that France and its allies are fighting the wrong war would be forgetting that the war is already being fought in Kosovo, and that it was Milosevic who is waging it -- against his own people -- in the name of his approach of ethnic cleansing. We have to fight against both the principles and the methods being applied there. It is Milosevic who has gotten it wrong -- getting the wrong century. We would be making a mistake to leave him alone. Our objective is to deprive him as best we can of his tools of repression and of the military and police organization that constitutes his power base. We are attacking the structure itself: means of command, communications systems, and also all the forces used. It is a long, hard struggle, because we -- yes, we -- chose to take action by attending to the fate of the civilian populations involved. Avoiding attacks on civilians takes time and entails major risks for our pilots. But it is the realistic response to the excesses organized and protected by the Serbian [as received] Army, which is attempting to eliminate the Albanian-speaking people in Kosovo. [Fredet] Is the aim of the war still the same today? Can a Tomahawk prevent a campaign of ethnic cleansing? [Richard] The aim of our action is not changing. It is to make Kosovo a living multi-ethnic community inside Yugoslavia. On the contrary, Milosevic's attitude is merely reinforcing our beliefs. There is every indication that once again he was shaping up to conduct a vast military and police operation against his own people. The concentration of forces of repression in Kosovo and nearby over the last few weeks bore this out, as -- unfortunately -- did the escalation in the excesses committed by paramilitary units. So, in passing, it is an error of judgment to think that it was these strikes that triggered off the Serbian offensive. It would have come about just the same if, after the deadlock in the talks, we had remained inactive. Let me answer your question about the Tomahawk by asking another: Do you seriously think that the work done by the police in Pristina is easier now that their headquarters have been totally destroyed by NATO aircraft? Would our failure to intervene have prevented Milosevic from setting Kosovo alight and bathing it in blood, and would it miraculously have opened up an avenue for Serbian democrats? As for intervention on the ground, it would take at least six weeks to muster the force required to exert sufficient pressure on the Yugoslavian military forces. There is no faster way of dismantling the Serbs' potential for violence than air strikes. [Fredet] Can NATO be the European Union's sole spearhead? Has the time not come for a genuine European defense capability? [Richard] Beyond resolving this crisis, which is our immediate objective, the future of a European defense capability is certainly at stake at the moment. (more) 1 apr rg/adamc The Europeans now have a chance to prove themselves capable of demonstrating that they know how to go beyond issuing declarations of intent. The great strength of the United States in times of conflict is that it decides and takes action. Europe can only be a party to what is genuinely at stake if it meets this dual requirement, and does so while respecting the autonomy of the member countries. We are working with the British and with all the other Europeans to give Europe the means to act on a more independent basis, first and foremost on situations which directly concern them. It is by living up to their responsibilities in Kosovo today that the Europeans will lend full credibility to this approach. There is something fundamental at stake in this crisis, and it is something that is particularly dear to my heart. Our democracies find themselves faced with the test of displaying a joint readiness to stand up to raw violence. Showing ourselves to be divided and pussyfooting around would effectively reinforce a US leadership with nothing to counterbalance it. And we are better off managing our joint commitment using the technology at NATO's disposal than improvising. When our joint political will has been confirmed, we will be able to come up with tools that are under European control. [Fredet] What are the preconditions for returning to a political solution? Do you have faith in Russian mediation? [Richard] The objectives we are aiming for are the immediate cessation of acts of violence against the Kosovar population and Belgrade's support for a fair political solution enabling the various communities in Kosovo to exercise the collective rights they have been refused for the last 10 years. We are encouraging any initiative, especially by the Russians, that might enable Belgrade to accept a guaranteed political solution. For the time being we find ourselves forced to conclude that Mr. Milosevic has failed to find a constructive response to any appeal we have issued or to any of the various international diplomatic initiatives. Our Russian partners, who for 10 years have been endeavoring to find a new international role based on cooperation -- they are playing a very positive role alongside us in Bosnia, for example -- are not now going to sacrifice all their efforts just to please the Yugoslav leaders, about whom they think the same as we do. However, their specific links and political will could facilitate a breakthrough. That would serve their interests, those of the international community, and above all those of the victims of the drama in Kosovo. THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990331001839 Document Id: 0f9l2ac025tm1z Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 03/31/99 Publish Region: West Europe Lines: 127 Title: UK Pledges Extra Aid for Kosovo Refugees Document Number: FBIS-WEU-1999-0331 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Transcribed Text Document Region: West Europe Document Date: 31 Mar 1999 Division: West Europe Subdivision: United Kingdom Sourceline: LD0104022499 London Press Association in English 1609 GMT 31 Mar 99 AFS Number: LD0104022499 Citysource: London Press Association Language: English N/A Subslug: By Peter Walkr and Alex Richardson, PA News [FBIS Transcribed Text] The Government tonight pledged extra aid to combat the increasingly desperate humanitarian crisis unfolding around Kosovo. More than 100,000 ethnic Albanians have now fled their homeland amid increasing evidence that Serbian forces are mounting a systematic campaign of terror to entirely rid Kosovo of its majority population. An RAF C130 Hercules plane was tonight being loaded up with tonnes of tents and blankets to be delivered to UN agencies in Macedonia [FYROM -- Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]. Earlier today the first UK aid flight touched down in Tirana, the capital of Albania, the nation bearing the brunt of the crisis. International Development Secretary Clare Short pledged at least eight more flights will follow in the coming week, delivering more urgently needed supplies. She also announced a #500,000 donation to the UN's World Food Programme, which today warned that those out of reach of the relief organisations could face starvation in little more than a week. As long lines of cold, tired and often severely traumatised civilians snaked across national boundaries throughout Kosovo, increasingly appalling stories emerged as to the activities of Serbian forces in Kosovo. Nato today accused the Yugoslavs of making an "Orwellian" attempt to eradicate Kosovo from the history books. A spokesman said: "The Yugoslav forces are destroying the archives of the Kosovan people _ property deeds, marriage licences, birth certificates, financial and other records are all being systematically destroyed. "This is a kind of Orwellian scenario of attempting to deprive a people and a culture of the sense of past and the sense of community on which it depends." And the German government spoke of "serious reports" that Yugoslav forces had set up concentration camps in Kosovo, as occurred in Bosnia. But although Ms Short spoke of the "gross brutality" of the Yugoslav forces, she said nothing could have been done in advance. It would have been "an appalling act of complicity in ethnic cleansing" to have set up camps in anticipation of the Albanians' forced removal, she told the House of Commons. Ms Short told MPs that whatever assistance was offered in providing emergency shelter and food, this could only be a temporary measure. She said: "We will remain committed until we can assist with the more welcome task of helping the refugees to return home." But any homecomings were tonight looking less and less likely in the near future, as hordes of refugees continued to flee. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) staff estimated that approaching 100,000 people, mainly women, children and the elderly, have entered Albania since Nato bombing began. The latest figures showed 85,000 Kosovars had sought refuge in the desperately poor country, with thousands more entering each hour, their progress checked only by Yugoslav guards occasionally shutting the border. In Macedonia, 14,500 refugees have crossed over from Kosovo in the past week, with another 20,000 entering the Yugoslav republic of Montenegro. A UNHCR spokeswoman said it was obvious that "something truly nasty" was taking place in Kosovo, forcing so many to leave. Lyndall Sachs said: "Our observers say that while most refugees appear to be physically unharmed, many are displaying signs of severe psychological trauma. "They are weeping, shaking and appearing disorientated." She added that refugees were facing other perils during their flight, including freezing weather and landmines. "We have had reports that children have died of cold on the journey, and that some pregnant women have given birth, and their babies have died," she said. "Also, Yugoslav forces laid a large number mines on the borders of Albania and Macedonia a few months ago. "Some people, reportedly children, have been killed when mines have detonated." Other reports have spoken of having their identity documents and passports ripped up by Serbian troops, and their car number plates smashed, the UNHCR reported. Ms Sachs said: "The Yugoslavs appear to be trying to make sure that if the refugees return they can say: 'These people are not from Kosovo'." British charity Muslim Aid today pledged #500,000 towards food, clothing and shelter for ethnic Albanians as the UNHCR and International Red Cross, which are spearheading humanitarian efforts around Kosovo, appealed for more international assistance. The UN's World Food Programme warned that thousands in Kosovo could face severe malnutrition and starvation if international relief assistance is not distributed within the province in the next two weeks. Catherine Bertini, executive director of agency, told a news conference in London: "People in Kosovo who are cut off from food cannot live for long periods of time. "Within seven to 10 days those people may be malnourished and starving. And it is impossible to reach them at this time." Today trucks were leaving Oxfam's emergency aid warehouse, at Bicester, in Oxfordshire, bound for Copenhagen, where they will be loaded on to a British-arranged plane for Tirana. A spokesman for the charity said: "The trucks are loaded with equipment, particularly water and sanitation supplies, but also shelter. "People are arriving traumatised and tired after a long trek, their defences are low, and it is absolutely essential they have clean water and proper sanitation to prevent disease." Oxfam has a special number for people wanting to make donations to aid the Kosovar refugees on 01865 313131. And British troops stationed with the Nato contingent in Macedonia have loaned tents to the UNHCR to help with the aid effort. Spokesman Major David Pashen said: "We are ready to provide further assistance to them should they need it." THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990401001597 Document Id: 0f9l28l03kapxf Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 03/26/99 Publish Region: Near East & South Asia Lines: 109 Title: Iraqi Paper Views Kosovo Issue Document Number: FBIS-NES-1999-0401 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: Near East/South Asia, East Europe Document Date: 26 Mar 1999 Division: Near East, Balkan States Subdivision: Iraq, Serbia, Kosovo Sourceline: JN0104215499 Baghdad Al-Thawrah in Arabic 26 Mar 99 p 3 AFS Number: JN0104215499 Citysource: Baghdad Al-Thawrah Language: Arabic N/A Subslug: "A Viewpoint" column by Marwan 'Abdallah: "The Aggression on Yugoslavia; the Meanings, Implications, and Scopes" [FBIS Translated Text] Neither the United States nor Europe is concerned about the Albanians of Kosovo. The humanitarian slogans the United States and Europe are raising as part of addressing the issue of this Yugoslav province are no more than disguises concealing other objectives. In brief, these objectives are represented by the persistence in weakening and fragmenting Yugoslavia as a Slav state that is closely associated with Russia; continuing to implement the plans designed to contain and encircle Russia by weakening its "ally," Yugoslavia; involving Europe in implementing these plans and widening the gap between Europe and Russia; and bringing Europe back to the Cold War but of a new kind and to conflicts no party will benefit from, except for the United States. By involving Europe, particularly some of its states, in new conflicts with Russia, the United States aims to forestall any independent tendency in Europe and prevent Europe from turning into a separate pole in the international scene. The United States also wants Europe to turn, under the NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] banner, into a US tool designed to impose US hegemony on the world. It seems that Europe will be such a tool! This is because Europe--we actually mean some of the European states, of course--does not have a decisive will enabling it to turn into a separate pole, which is contrary to the world's will. The events, including the aggression on Yugoslavia, are proving that Europe does not want to be more than a follower that thrives on the crumbs the United States leaves here and there. As for the fact that Europe occasionally pretends to have an independent attitude, which expresses itself as some "different" or "distinct" positions, this is only an attempt to extricate a crumb larger than the crumb the United States allows Europe to take. If this proves true--and we believe that it is true--then it will turn the conflict in the coming century into one between the West and the East, as was the case during the cold war. After NATO contained Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic and became much closer to the Russian borders, and also after Yugoslavia was stricken despite all the Russian objections, Russia must now look eastward in search of allies. In fact, Russia began this search years ago. However, other states that are eager for establishing a multi-polar world must ripen their will in order to establish an alliance and confront US arrogance. These states should also take more tangible steps toward establishing such an alliance. Hence, they should not be only content with announcing their desire or hope for establishing such an alliance. It goes without saying that the eyes focus on China and India in this regard because they are two large and influential states. However, this is insufficient because the eyes should also focus on all the states that care for their own independence and national options. Moreover, work should begin without delay in order to coordinate and unify the efforts of these states vis-a-vis US arrogance that threatens the world's security and stability as well as the interests and rights of all the states. Hence the importance of the call issued by leader President Saddam Husayn, in the name of Iraq, for "an institutionalized grouping with agreed statutes and charters to have a serious cooperation in the economic, political, and military fields with the aim of preserving the balance and achieving peace, beginning with Asia and everything relevant to it." This call by leader Saddam Husayn was based on a profound analysis of the nature and tendencies of the conflict in our current world. This call was deliberately issued to the states that wish to join such a grouping "beginning in the East." This is because "the West has its own Western concepts, interests, heritage, standards, and other things. Likewise, the East has its own Eastern position, origin, and deep historical role. The East, its culture, and the things on which its basis was built have certain implications, among other things." This is proved by the development of events. Leader Saddam Husayn's call is a prospective one that needs time, efforts, and awareness in order to ripen the conviction about it. However, the United States is pushing events in certain directions, which makes it necessary to fulfill this call without any delay because the United States will not give others much time to gather and announce something the United States may consider "a challenge" or "disobedience" to it. Therefore, the United States deliberately accelerated the events in Kosovo and quickly pushed them in the direction of using military force outside the framework of "international legitimacy." The United States has long sung the tune of international legitimacy and lauded it. It actually wants to teach others "a new lesson" before they are fully awake and before they realize all the meanings and implications of Iraq's steadfastness. The United States targeted Belgrade this time, so the Cruise missiles will echo in Moscow itself and in other capitals. O states of the East, be united! [Description of source: Iraqi ruling Ba'th Party newspaper] THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990401001498 Document Id: 0f9l27h01vu6xf Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 04/01/99 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 99 Title: Albanian TV Reports on 'Fierce Fighting' in Kosovo Document Number: FBIS-EEU-1999-0401 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 01 Apr 1999 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Kosovo Sourceline: AU0104212399 Tirana TVSH Television Network in Albanian 1635 GMT 1 Apr 99 AFS Number: AU0104212399 Citysource: Tirana TVSH Television Network Language: Albanian N/A Subslug: Telephone report by Hajdin Abazi, chief of the Information Department of the Liberation Army of Kosova General Staff, from Drenica on 1 April Reference: 1. tirana tvsh television network albanian 311630 -- report on regional uck military operations 2. (internet) kosovopress www english 29 mar -- kosovapress: over 20,000 seek shelter in mountains 3. tirana tvsh television network albanian 301635 -- serbs plan to bring colonists to depopulated areas 4. tirana tvsh television network albanian 291735 -- uck soldiers display 'unprecedented heroism' in drenica [FBIS Translated Text] Until the late hours last night, the Serbian barbarous army kept shelling the villages and the positions of the Liberation Army of Kosova [UCK], using its entire weapons arsenal. At the same time, the enemy set fire to whole villages, from where they first violently evicted the Albanians and took them to Albania and Macedonia. Last night, too, the UCK secret service announced the enemy's plans in many towns and settlements in Kosova. In an organized and planned way, the enemy is burning and destroying archive materials, office documentation, title deeds, and other documents with the goal of destroying facts related to the ethnic Albanian structure in Kosova. Last night, after the UCK announced its decision for the general mobilization to fight for the entire liberation of Kosova [Kosovo], preparations and a more-efficient organization for effective action have started in all the war zones. All the men capable of war should be engaged in war, as our nation is facing great dangers. At the same time, I would like to stress that it is high time, and only all of us and the entire potential of the nation who have joined the UCK ranks can rescue Kosova and liberate it from the fierce and inhuman Serbian robbery once and for all. In the early morning and throughout the whole day today, the enemy involved a large part of his military arsenal, soldiers, policemen, and criminal gangs and launched an attack against all the UCK positions, particularly in the area of Pashtrik in Rrafsh i Dukagjinit [Dukadzin Plain]. The enemy also used its military aircraft in the attacks, which are still continuing. However, our fighters remained staunch in defending their military positions and the civilians in those areas. Our fighters at the fronts counterattacked to every attack of the enemy's infantry, all singing the song Word of Honor, which is the UCK's march. Every time they fired, the fighters shouted: Wait for Adem Jashari, wait for Hamza. In the fighting, our forces inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, destroying four tanks, eight armored vehicles, and many human forces. A total of 64 enemy soldiers were killed only in the fierce clashes in Semetishte, although the enemy admitted to only 40. In the Operational Zone of Shale e Bajgores and Tollapi, our forces continue to preserve their positions by defeating the enemy offensives and inflicting heavy losses in equipment and personnel. In the highlands of Ferizaj [Urosevac] and Kacanik, our forces continue to undertake swift actions in counterattacks, thus inflicting considerable losses on the enemy. In the spirit of the orders of the UCK General Staff, our military formations are taking measures to protect the civilians. In all areas, the fighters are being assisted by a large number of volunteers in their counterattacks, and particularly in assisting the unprotected population and halting the cruel Serbian beasts. Everywhere, the soldiers are swearing that the enemy can only advance across their dead bodies. Moreover, they have also set up fortifications, where the enemy is meeting death. On our century-long territories, the occupier will [word indistinct] bones, and they will leave in shame very soon. The freedom of Kosova is near, and its foundations are built by the superhuman heroism of the UCK fighters. As a result of the successive NATO airraids and the UCK attacks, a defection en masse has begun in the ranks of the enemy forces. According to information provided by the Serbian Army itself, the staff of a tank unit refused to fight in Kosova today and, consequently, they have begun to withdraw from Kosova. [Description of Source: TVSH Television Network: State-supported central television station] THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990401001257 Document Id: 0f9l26x047mj56 Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 04/01/99 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 100 Title: Thousands of Kosovo Refugees Blocked at Albanian Border Document Number: FBIS-EEU-1999-0401 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Transcribed Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 01 Apr 1999 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Kosovo, Albania, FYROM Sourceline: AU0104190099 Paris AFP (North European Service) in English 1851 GMT 1 Apr 99 AFS Number: AU0104190099 Citysource: Paris AFP (North European Service) Language: English N/A Subslug: Reference: 1. tirana ata english 011739 -- ata says 'hundreds' of kosovars driving toward albania 2. tirana ata english 311355 -- some 15,000 kosovo refugees arrive in kukes overnight [FBIS Transcribed Text] MORINE, Albania, April 1 (AFP) -- Three to four thousand Kosovar refugees were blocked Thursday at the Albanian-Yugoslav border with no transport to take them further, after more than 10,000 refugees crossed the Morine frontier post in less than 12 hours. From dawn Thursday until late afternoon, more than 10,000 Kosovo Albanians had fled the separatist province to escape ethnic cleansing by Serb forces, crossing into Albania at the Morine border post, according to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Some of the refugees crossed in cars, but many other crossed on foot after having been forced by Serbs to board buses that take them as far as the frontier. Local authorities in Kukes, the main city in the region some 30 kilometers (18 miles) away, have not organised any transportation for the refugees arriving in Albania. Instead, the Kosovars have been dependent upon the goodwill of local minibus drivers, who demand 50 German marks per trip to Kukes and who can only take a fraction of the refugees. According to aid agency officials, local authorities do not have the means to provide transport. On Thursday, the Serb Information Center said more than 60,000 Pristina inhabitants fled the Kosovo provincial capital headed for other parts of Kosovo, but also central Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania. "Unofficial estimates show that some 25,000 Serbs, 35,000 Albanians, 2,000 Turks and a large number of gypsies left the town," the center said, adding that they left "fearing NATO bombing." About 156,000 people are estimated to have fled Kosovo to Macedonia and Albania as well as to the neighbouring Yugoslav republic of Montenegro since NATO began air strikes on Yugoslavia on March 24, the UN refugee agency said. Refugees continued to flood into Macedonia from Kosovo Thursday, with their numbers reaching 35,000, Vice Premier Radmila Kiprianova said. She said 5,757 arrived in Macedonia on Wednesday evening and that 2,979 had no identity papers. Another 12,000 were waiting at the border, she said. Meanwhile, aid agencies were scrambling to cope with the exodus, the largest refugee movement since the 1993-95 Bosnian war. On Wednesday alone, 15,000 refugees poured into Macedonia, the biggest single daily expulsion since March 24, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said. The UN expects the number to rise to 350,000 in the coming weeks. "The way things are going this figure could be exceeded," UNHCR spokesman Kris Janowski said. "We'll try to help the people where they are. If hundreds of thousands of people leave, we may have to resort to asking other countries to help," he said. The UNHCR has already urged European countries to keep their borders open, while appealing to host nations to do as much as they can for the new arrivals, most of whom are hungry, exhausted, and traumatised. "This is a situation that is changing by the day and in fact getting worse and worse by the day," Janowski said. Impoverished Albania, a haven for two-thirds of those pushed out of Kosovo in the past week, feels crushed by the burden and the government has warned it is unable to cope. Poland said it was prepared to take in 1,000 Kosovo refugees, while the French armed forces said three transport planes would fly to Macedonia on Friday carrying 25 tonnes of medicine, milk for infants and clothing for Kosovar refugees there. An Ilyushin plane hired by the British government arrived in the Albanian capital Tirana on Thursday and will soon start shuttling supplies in from Copenhagan. Plans are underway to broaden the scope of the emergency shuttle to include the Macedonian capital Skopje, according to the UNHCR. [Description of Source: AFP (North European Service): North European Service of the independent French press agency Agence France-Presse] THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990401000735 Document Id: 0f9l24h03nqbpl Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 04/01/99 Publish Region: Near East & South Asia Lines: 79 Title: Paper Sees 'Double Standards' in US Kosovo, Israel Policy Document Number: FBIS-NES-1999-0401 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: Near East/South Asia, The Americas Document Date: 01 Apr 1999 Division: Near East, North America Subdivision: West Bank & Gaza Strip, Israel, United States Sourceline: MM0104131299 London Al-Quds al-'Arabi in Arabic 1 Apr 99 p 19 AFS Number: MM0104131299 Citysource: London Al-Quds al-'Arabi Language: Arabic N/A Subslug: Editorial: "Israeli Ethnic Cleansing in Jerusalem" [FBIS Translated Text] It is ironic that NATO planes are attacking the Serb forces in Kosovo around the clock because Slobodan Milosevic, President of Yugoslavia or what is left of it, refused to sign a peace agreement accepted by the Albanians at Rambouillet, but not [attacking] the forces of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu who signed the Wye River agreement in the presence and under the sponsorship of US President Bill Clinton but is refusing to implement it. We fully realize that this is US double standards in the same way that we realize that the Hebrew State is above all international laws and charters. It can do what others cannot do. Its massacres are forgiven, its raids acceptable, and the US veto is ready to protect it from any sanctions. Netanyahu is practicing the policy of ethnic cleansing in braod daylight and more viciously than his counterpart in Belgrade. His forces killed more than 75 people during the Al-Aqsa Mosque tunnel intifadah. Double that figure were killed in successive Hebron intifadahs. What the United States did was no more than to call for self-restraint and to hold the Arab and Israeli sides equally responsible for the tension. The building of settlements in the occupied Arab territories and the settlement of the largest possible number of Jews in them are the most dangerous kinds of ethnic cleansing. Preventing Arab citizens in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip from visiting their holy places in Jerusalem is persecution itself. More than that, the Israeli Government issued a decision the day before yesterday closing three Palestinian establishments in East Jerusalem. These were the Palestinian News Agency (WAFA) office; the office of Ibrahim Qandalaft, Palestinian President Yasir 'Arafat's Adviser for Christian Affairs; and the League for the Defense of the Rights of Detainees in Israeli Prisons. It had prior to that withdrawn the right of residency from more than 2,000 Palestinian sons of the Holy City on the pretext that they had moved to the self-rule areas. The objective behind these measures is to expel the Arabs, both Christians and Muslims, from the Holy City gradually as a prelude for its total judaization. If these practices are not ethnic cleansing in the view of the United States and other European countries, then this means double standards and the worst kind of political hypocrisy. This explains why the Arabs and Muslims are not enthusiastic about all the US slogans of concern for Muslims in Kosovo. The timid European condemnation of such Israeli practices is the most prominent proof of the continued Western bias on the side of the Hebrew state, even after the Arabs have opted for peace, agreed to recognize it, and some of them rushed to establish diplomatic and economic relations with it. Netanyahu remains worse than Milosevic. Israel's crimes in Palestine are more serious than the latter's in Bosnia and Kosovo. But President Clinton--who refused to support the Palestinian people's right to self determination and the establishment of their independent state--will not send his NATO planes to attack Tel Aviv. THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990331001298 Document Id: 0f9l20l027yvoe Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 03/31/99 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 67 Title: FYROM Officials Deny Refugees 'Sent Back' to Kosovo Document Number: FBIS-EEU-1999-0331 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Transcribed Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 31 Mar 1999 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: FYROM, Kosovo Sourceline: AU3103182799 Skopje MIC in English 31 Mar 99 AFS Number: AU3103182799 Citysource: Skopje MIC Language: English N/A Subslug: [FBIS Transcribed Text] The Macedonian Government was not informed that a train with several hundreds of women and children was sent back from the border, and that the border with Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was closed for the Kosovo refugees during the last 24 hours, stated Deputy Prime Minister Radmila Kiprijanova at Tuesday's press conference. The President of the DPA [Democratic Party of Albanians] Arben Xhaferri denied the information that the train with refugees was sent back to Kosovo. "The refugees from Kosovo are safe on Macedonian territory," stated Xhaferi. He stated it is most important to preserve the stability of Macedonia and to shelter the refugees. Kiprijanova assessed that until Tuesday 1400 local time [1200 GMT], the security situation was stable, without any violation of public peace and order, apart from the fact that the police in Kavadarci prevented an attempt for organizing protests. On Tuesday evening, the latest data on the number of refugees was not announced, but according to the press conference on Tuesday noon, there are 22,300 refugees from Kosovo in Macedonia. Until Tuesday morning, by 1000 local time inclusive, the regional units of the Interior Affairs Ministry registered the number of 17,631 Kosovars, of which 1,633 are without passports. The Government is making attempts for shifting part of the refugees to third countries. Kiprijanova reiterated the allegations of several Macedonian media that a large influx of refugees of Serb and Albanian nationality from the Kosovo villages Strpci and Srbice fled to Macedonian territory in Rogocevo together. [sentence as received] In the past several days, the border units of the ministry sent back from the Blato border crossing near Debar several people without documents who claimed they were from Kosovo and were trying to enter Macedonia from Albania. So far, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Greece expressed preparedness to receive more refugees, and refugee camps in these countries have already been set up. So far, 25 million German marks have arrived to Macedonia for the needs of the refugees. The EU allocated Euro 55 million for support to the budget and balance of payment of Macedonia and Albania. Asked whether it is possible that the refugees will alter the ethnic map of Macedonia, Kiprijanova replied that this will not happen because all of them will return to their homes. THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990401000483 Document Id: 0f9l20i02jvniv Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 04/01/99 Publish Region: West Europe Lines: 65 Title: UN Official on Measures for Receiving Kosovo Refugees Document Number: FBIS-WEU-1999-0401 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: West Europe, East Europe Document Date: 01 Apr 1999 Division: Benelux Countries, Balkan States Subdivision: Belgium, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Kosovo Sourceline: BR0104110299 Brussels La Libre Belgique in French 1 Apr 99 p 7 AFS Number: BR0104110299 Citysource: Brussels La Libre Belgique Language: French N/A Subslug: Report by Gerald Papy: "'Traffickers Are Waiting for Refugees'" [FBIS Translated Text] The World Food Program (WFP), a UN body, issued a warning Wednesday [31 March] that the displaced Kosovar populations risked famine within 10 to 15 days if food aid is not quickly sent to Kosovo. Humanitarian convoys are at present banned from entering the Serbian province. This cry of alarm is a sufficient indicator of the humanitarian emergency created by the Serbian repression, the displacement of populations, and the influx of Kosovar refugees into the Yugoslav Republic of Montenegro, Macedonia [FYROM -- Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia], and Albania. The International Organization of Migration (IOM), another UN body, decided Wednesday evening to send a team to Kukes, in northeastern Albania. The Stakes in Rome [subhead] "Our priority mission will be to help transfer the refugee populations from the mountainous regions in the north to the plain near Tirana and Durres," explained Jean-Philippe Chauzy, IOM director of information. "But implementing such a plan will depend on a number of factors: the availability of transportation on the spot, the state of the roads, fuel, etc." The preventive role of the Italian authorities will be important, stressed Jean-Philippe Chauzy, who welcomed the dispatch to Albania from Italy of the first two boats carrying tents and tanks of drinking water. Buses could also be made available to the Albanian officials. Rome, in the font line in the event of an exodus from Albania, certainly has substantial experience in this area. In spring 1997, thousands of Albanians fleeing the country's troubles tried to reach the Italian coast. Jean-Paul Chauzy is aware of what could be at stake for experienced traffickers in Rome with the mass arrival of refugees. "The networks exists. Channels for illegal immigrants to enter Italy also. They simply need to be reactivated. It will all depend on the resources the refugees may have. It seems some were already the victims of extortion in Kosovo in order to pass the Serbian checkpoints." But that is not yet the urgency. The first objective is to "stabilize" the populations, believes Jean-Philippe Chauzy. [Description of source: Brussels La Libre Belgique in French -- Catholic right-of-center daily] THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990401000686 Document Id: 0f9l20g034p7td Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 04/01/99 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 65 Title: Polish Prime Minister on Kosovo Crisis Document Number: FBIS-EEU-1999-0401 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 01 Apr 1999 Division: East Europe, Balkan States Subdivision: Poland, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Sourceline: WS0104130899 Warsaw Gazeta Wyborcza in Polish 1 Apr 99 p 1 AFS Number: WS0104130899 Citysource: Warsaw Gazeta Wyborcza Language: Polish N/A Subslug: Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek's "exclusive" statement for Gazeta Wyborcza; place and date not given [FBIS Translated Text] We entered NATO, and immediately we have such a terrible test to pass. Gazeta Wyborcza asked the prime minister what social moods might be like if the air raids continue without any visible results. "This is undoubtedly a huge test. Both the entire political class of Poland and the independent media have a role to play. The right proportions must be maintained in showing what is really going on in Yugoslavia. For the time being, what we have been seeing on television are planes shooting at and bombing military targets in Yugoslavia. We do not, however, see the tremendous suffering and extreme terror that Milosevic's people have been causing for the Albanians. "It is worth stressing that the NATO attack is targeted not against the Serb nation, but against genocide. The dictator who is causing the fourth war in this decade is responsible. We have already had Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, now we have Kosovo. If we show this and say that the plan against the Albanians in Kosovo had been prepared before the NATO attack and implemented with the utmost consistency in order to expel the Albanians, then the public will be able to judge where the truth lies. The Poles will then remember how they suffered during the war, banishment, and the Stalinist regime and how they hoped for external help back then. Every plane that brought us aid seemed a blessing and gave hope for survival. The encircled people in Kosovo have a right to think and feel the same. The international community has a responsibility to help those people. Milosevic and his people are the ones who violated the resolution of the Security Council and the UN Charter. "The international community should be open to mediation at every phase of the conflict. Such a possibility always exits. Every mission targeted toward this aim deserves support. Poland will support every such mission. We also support the Holy Father's words on civilian defense and eliminating suffering. If negotiations do not produce any results, however, then there are alternative ways of forcing Milosevic to change his policy." [Description of Source: Gazeta Wyborcza -- Leading, independent newspaper with a center-right orientation] THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990401000650 Document Id: 0f9l1yo0178dw7 Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 03/31/99 Publish Region: West Europe Lines: 61 Title: Denktas Urges Separation, Not Unity in Kosovo Document Number: FBIS-WEU-1999-0401 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: West Europe, East Europe Document Date: 31 Mar 1999 Division: West Europe, Mediterranean Sea Area, Balkan States Subdivision: Turkey, Cyprus, Kosovo Sourceline: TA0104123099 Ankara Anatolia in Turkish 2153 GMT 31 Mar 99 AFS Number: TA0104123099 Citysource: Ankara Anatolia Language: Turkish N/A Subslug: [FBIS Translated Text] Alanya (AA) -- Rauf Denktas, president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [TRNC], has pointed out that Greece's support of terrorism was revealed to the whole world after the capture of terrorist ringleader Abdullah Ocalan, adding: "I hope that the world states have understood the kind of attitude Greece has." Denktas arrived in Alanya by ferry this evening. He was received at the post by Governor Cengiz Gokce, Mayor Mustafa Bekar, Security Director Ayhan Pamuk, and other officials. Replying to reporters' questions on the ferry, Denktas said that the latest developments have revealed Greece's true face. He added: "It is obvious that with its spirit, faith, and enmity, Greece cannot solve the Cyprus problem or develop its relations with Turkey. I hope that the world states have understood the kind of attitude Greece has." On the Kosovo problem, Denktas said: "It is a shame for humanity. Instead of trying to separate those two communities that have had a lot of blood flow between them, the world is constantly trying to unite them. It will be an artificial unity. Such a unity would explode in three years time, just as in Cyprus. Then who is going to save those that are numerically in the minority? They would all be eliminated. Therefore the solution is separation. The solution is to grant the Kosovars their rights. If there is going to be peace in the future, it must be between two equal sides. "Furthermore, NATO should have displayed its power and determination earlier. I do not think that the current air operation will achieve anything. A land operation is essential." Denktas said that the media has been playing a significant role in the negative developments in tourism. He said that the media should not exaggerate certain individual incidents. Denktas visited Alanya, spoke to the citizens, and returned to the TRNC on the same ferry. [Description of source: Semi-official news agency; independent in content] THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990401000511 Document Id: 0f9l1x901fx9t6 Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 04/01/99 Publish Region: West Europe Lines: 54 Title: Clinton Seen Moving Toward Accepting Kosovo Independence Document Number: FBIS-WEU-1999-0401 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Excerpt Document Region: West Europe, The Americas, East Europe Document Date: 01 Apr 1999 Division: West Europe, North America, Balkan States Subdivision: France, United States, Kosovo, Serbia Sourceline: BR0104112299 Paris Le Monde in French 1 Apr 99 p 2 AFS Number: BR0104112299 Citysource: Paris Le Monde Language: French N/A Subslug: Article by Patrice de Beer: "Bill Clinton Issues New Warning to Belgrade" [FBIS Translated Excerpt] Washington -- Subjected to the criticisms of those who question his leadership in the Kosovo crisis, President Clinton further hardened his tone Tuesday, 30 March, against Slobodan Milosevic. Madeleine Albright has also reaffirmed her support for the president of Montenegro and warned Belgrade against any toying with the idea of overthrowing the government of the little Yugoslav Federation state. In addition, Washington has deemed that the Serbian president's response to Russian Prime Minister Primakov's mediation was "very far from what is needed" to end the bombing. More and more military analysts and Republicans are now demanding that the option of sending GI's to Kosovo be studied. In a speech at the State Department, Bill Clinton has issued a new warning to Belgrade: "During a protracted period, Milosevic will see his military forces seriously diminished, his military infrastructure destroyed, and the prospect of international support for the Serbian claim to Kosovo increasingly threatened." In plain language, if the Serbian dictator does not give in, his sovereignty over the province is likely to be no longer recognized by Washington. This goes further than ever toward a possible recognition of Kosovo's independence. Even if the State Department spokesman reaffirmed that the US position on that aspect of the Rambouillet agreement has not changed, the interpretation given to the President's remarks runs clearly in that direction. [passage omitted] [Description of source: Paris Le Monde in French -- leading left-of-center daily] THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990401000387 Document Id: 0f9l1x003jylzv Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 04/01/99 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 55 Title: TASS: NATO Strikes 'Squeezing' Refugees out of Kosovo Document Number: FBIS-EEU-1999-0401 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Transcribed Text Document Region: East Europe, Central Eurasia Document Date: 01 Apr 1999 Division: Balkan States, Russia Subdivision: Albania, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, FYROM, Kosovo, Russia Sourceline: LD0104101299 Moscow ITAR-TASS in English 0832 GMT 1 Apr 99 AFS Number: LD0104101299 Citysource: Moscow ITAR-TASS Language: English N/A Subslug: By Konstantin Pribytkov [FBIS Transcribed Text] GENEVA, April 1 (Itar-Tass) -- The NATO air strikes keep "squeezing" new thousands of people out of Kosovo. Wednesday saw over 30,000 people leave the Serbian enclave. The refugees have been mostly heading for Yugoslavian republic of Montenegro, as well as for Macedonia and Albania. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, since the start of the NATO aggression against Yugoslavia a week ago, about 130,000 people have left Kosovo. Most part of the human flow (85 per cent) have moved to Albania. About 14,500 refugees have found harbour in Macedonia, and over 20,000 settled in Montenegro. In a situation when the exodus of refugees is being exploited by NATO to justify its war against Yugoslavia, the Office of the UN High Commissioner (UNHCR) has decided to be more cautious in estimating the number of refugees and displaced persons over the 12-month period of the Kosovo drama. Head of the UNHCR press service Judith Cumin admitted on Thursday that they were "running the risk of counting the same people twice." Until recently, the UNHCR and NATO propaganda service claimed that the number of refugees and displaced persons had exceeded half a million people. However, it has now become evident that among the new 130,000 "NATO" refugees there are people who have already been put on the UNHCR list of displaced persons who have found shelter in Kosovo. The number of displaced persons over the 12 months of conflict in Kosovo was estimated at about 240,000 people. [Description of Source: ITAR-TASS -- Main government information agency.] THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990401000520 Document Id: 0f9l1vm006kvib Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 04/01/99 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 54 Title: Czech Strategist: Kosovo Could Snowball Into Wider War Document Number: FBIS-EEU-1999-0401 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Transcribed Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 01 Apr 1999 Division: East Europe, Balkan States Subdivision: Czech Republic, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Kosovo Sourceline: LD0104112299 Prague CTK in English 0947 GMT 1 Apr 99 AFS Number: LD0104112299 Citysource: Prague CTK Language: English N/A Subslug: [FBIS Transcribed Text] PRAGUE, April 1 (CTK) -- The conflict raging in the Balkan poses an immediate threat to the Czech Republic, says a senior member of Brno's Military Academy in an interview with Mlada fronta Dnes today. "It affects us to a great extent," says Ladislav Petras, head of the Academy's tactical command and staff services department. Local wars become closer with modern weapons, says Petras. "These distances are extremely relative," he tells the paper, pointing out that Yugoslavia borders a NATO member - Hungary. The Kosovo conflict is a snowball, says Petras. Similar conflicts have also behaved like snowballs: They gather more and more problems around them as they escalate and affect an increasingly wider area. Today the conflict is primarily between Kosovo Albanians and Serbs, but tension could also increase between Serbs and Montenegrans. Kosovo threatens the fragile cease-fire in Bosnia. Yugoslavia has a large Hungarian minority, as does Romania. Slovakia and Hungary are themselves ethnically mixed. Each country in the region is in reality part of its neighbours, he says. Many people continue to underestimate this threat, however, saying the war is being fought in a far-off country. Such belief ends in tragedy, says Petras. He adds that the increased threat of terrorism in the region should also be taken into account. There are many people from the Balkans living in the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany, he tells the paper. THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990401000196 Document Id: 0f9l1sz03paoy5 Insert Date: 04/02/99 Purge Date: 04/15/99 Publish Date: 04/01/99 Publish Region: China Lines: 50 Title: AFP: Spokesman: NATO Strikes Worsen Situation in Kosovo Document Number: FBIS-CHI-1999-0401 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Transcribed Text Document Region: China, East Europe Document Date: 01 Apr 1999 Division: China, Balkan States Subdivision: China, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Sourceline: OW0104084299 Hong Kong AFP in English 0830 GMT 01 Apr 99 AFS Number: OW0104084299 Citysource: Hong Kong AFP Language: English N/A Subslug: [FBIS Transcribed Text] BEIJING, April 1 (AFP) - China Thursday reiterated calls for an end to NATO air attacks on Yugoslavia, saying the action was making the situation worse. "The use of force by NATO in Yugoslavia has seriously complicated the situation," Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said. When asked about China's view on reports that ethnic cleansing was being carried out by Serb forces, he said: "With the bombing even more people are being killed or injured." Sun appeared to blame the huge exodus of Kosovar Albanians into neighbouring countries on the NATO action. "It was only after the NATO strikes that the alleged number of refugees was brought about," he said. "The most important thing is for NATO to stop military intervention so as to enable a return to a political settlement," he said. Sun said China "appreciated" Russia's efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the crisis. "The Kosovo question should be resolved in a reasonable manner respecting the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia," he said. [Description of source: Hong Kong AFP in English -- Hong Kong service of the independent French press agency Agence France-Presse] THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
Commentary Sees Anti-Serb Bias in CNN, BBC Kosovo Reports Document Number: FBIS-EEU-1999-0322 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 20 Mar 1999 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Bulgaria, Kosovo Sourceline: AU2203120699 Sofia Duma in Bulgarian 20 Mar 99 p 9 AFS Number: AU2203120699 Citysource: Sofia Duma Language: Bulgarian N/A Subslug: Commentary by Goran Gotev: "Cynicism and Lies About Kosovo" [FBIS Translated Text] The billions of viewers watching CNN, NBC, the BBC, Euronews, and all the other television channels have become sick of watching the same old video footage of Kosovo, shot by a British camera team. An armed group represented as composed of Serbian police invades an abandoned Kosovo village. They use crowbars to break open the gates of yards and doors of houses and carry away television sets (even bringing up a tractor), after which they set fire to the houses, barns, and haystacks. Only a moron or an idiot could accept what he saw as anything else than what it really is: a cynical, barefaced, and impudent manipulation. I say this because anyone who has traveled through Serbia or has watched the daily television reports from Kosovo cannot fail to have noticed that the Serbian police all wear the same blue uniforms, the same police caps, and carry the same Kalashnikovs. How can a ragged gang of bandits, variously dressed in green or blue jackets, some with hats and some without, some with their heads covered by woolen balaclavas, be represented as Serbian police officers? There can be no doubt that the CIA disinformation centers are working flat out, just as they did when they were inciting the Bosnian conflagration. We have not yet forgotten the slaughter on Merkale Square in Sarajevo, for which the "bloodthirsty" Serbs were blamed. Later on, it was proved that no one had fired on the square, but that mines laid by Muslim terrorists had exploded. However, this monstrous truth was passed over in silence by the "objective" media. No one can remain indifferent to the tragedy of the refugees, but this is true of all refugees -- both Albanian and Serb. Where are the shots of the abandoned Kosovo Serb villages, or the pictures of the Kosovo Serbs who have had to leave their properties? There are none. There is not even a sign of them! In the American fairytale about the Red Riding Hood of Kosovo, the wicked Wolf can only be a Serb. [Description of Source: Duma: Daily of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the largest opposition party] THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990314000634 Document Id: 0f8rbfs00s36x1 Insert Date: 03/17/99 Purge Date: 03/30/99 Publish Date: 03/12/99 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 80 Title: Commentary: CIA, Pentagon 'Plan' To Reconstruct UCK Document Number: FBIS-EEU-1999-0314 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe, The Americas Document Date: 12 Mar 1999 Division: Balkan States, North America Subdivision: Kosovo, United States Sourceline: AU1403213999 Novi Sad Dnevnik in Serbo-Croatian 12 Mar 99 p 5 AFS Number: AU1403213999 Citysource: Novi Sad Dnevnik Language: Serbo-Croatian N/A Subslug: Commentary by T. Kresovic: "Tricks and Traps" [FBIS Translated Text] The US Administration intends to transform the OVK [Kosovo Liberation Army -- UCK in Albanian] into a political party or movement. Why? Basically, it has to do with conflict dosage and crisis control. Experts from the CIA and Pentagon are working on it. The OVK is to be reconstructed into a political category such as Gerry Adams' Sinn Fein movement, in the IRA. Since the OVK has considerable influence, particularly among Albanian youths, the plan is to have the militant terrorist organization reconstructed into a political structure that could win power in subsequent elections in Kosovo and Metohija and be instrumental in the forming of a local police, customs, and local administration. The United States, which fights against international terrorism, does not want its support for the terrorist organization revealed. Support should be extended to the guerrilla movement, political parties, student and trade union organizations. We should recall that the "Union of Independent Students" with Albin Kurti, an influential representative of the OVK, is the main core of the command staff and propaganda. Recently the leaders of the Union attended a lecture in the United States, held by Serbophobe Robert Gelbard, officially a narcotics specialist in South America. Considering that Gen. William Walker operated in South America, then it is evident that this support is extended to terrorist organizations connected with the drug mafia. The OVK is a Stalinist and Maoist terrorist organization backed by the Albanian drug mafia. The United States has bought the OVK so that it could manipulate it in the resumption of negotiations. Since the United States emerged from Rambouillet as a transparent player, something more cunning should be done this time. The United States will do everything to have a NATO mission installed in Kosovo and Metohija. Thus the OVK has been placed under the control of CIA and Pentagon. Negotiations will be resumed, but it is uncertain how matters will evolve outside the will of the United States, in the Contact Group and UN Security Council, with China occupying the seat of chairman. Tricks will be played and traps laid, but the OVK is falling deeper into its own trap, a design by younger members to take power in Kosovo and Metohija by force. [Box, p 5] US Leadership [subhead] The State Department wants the United States to play the key role in the conclusion of the peace accord for Kosovo and Metohija, preferring that it take place in the United States and not Europe. That would give the United States an advantage and predominance in NATO and the Security Council in deciding on the kind of mission in Kosovo and Metohija. Madeleine Albright's diplomacy proved undiscerning, which is why the shuttle diplomacy of Richard Holbrooke is back in the game. He will be more capable in negotiating with Serbia and the FRY and giving convincing explanations and guarantees. Analyst Gerry Dempsey said: "If NATO troops come, I doubt they will be much engaged in collecting weapons. That is, if they try to disarm the local population, they will put in more effort among the Serbs than the Albanians." These words explain essentially the true aspect of US presence in Kosovo and Metohija. THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990303001750 Document Id: 0f84uia02l8msj Insert Date: 03/05/99 Purge Date: 03/18/99 Publish Date: 02/01/99 Publish Region: Central Eurasia Lines: 159 Title: Zavtra No 8 'Tablo' Section Document Number: FBIS-SOV-1999-0303 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: Central Eurasia Document Date: 01 Feb 1999 Division: Russia Subdivision: Russia Sourceline: 99R16389A Moscow Zavtra in Russian Feb 99 p 1 AFS Number: 99R16389A Citysource: Moscow Zavtra Language: Russian N/A Subslug: Agency Dispatches of the Den Security Service: "Tablo" [FBIS Translated Text] Kremlin sources report that the latest "exit of a guarantor," which took place at a meeting with FRG Chancellor Schroeder and representatives of the European Union, showed that TsKB [Central Clinical Hospital] physicians are not in a position to guarantee that the president is up to the reality that surrounds him, even though they are able to stimulate him to be able to put in three or four hours of work per week. This was shown in Yeltsin's statement about his letter and phone call to Clinton with the warning that "we will not let Kosovo be touched." The U.S. President refuted the words of his Russian colleague, informing us that there had been neither a letter nor a phone call. As a result, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs [MFA] officially disavowed the claim of the "nationally elected one," stating that the "President phoned the Ministry, which sent the United States his message, which had apparently not yet reached Washington." A statement like that from the MFA may serve as indirect confirmation of the fact that the RF President is actually isolated from direct contact with the heads of other world states, and his public activity is under the control of the RF government. At the same time, Yeltsin's appearance caused a commotion in Primakov's cabinet and overseas, since "in a fit of rage, the supreme commander can make use of the little nuclear suitcase." Yeltsin's well-known "unpredictability" this time supported the Serbs' readiness to fight for the sovereignty of Yugoslavia over Kosovo and stiffen their position at the negotiations in Rambouillet. As a result, the United States has found itself on the threshold of a full-scale war in Europe (the threat of a missile strike at Italy) and has shown its well-known indecisiveness, which revealed its "threshold of risk" and broke up the whole political game based on fear of "American military power".... * * * Our contractors in Bonn inform us that Yeltsin's negotiations with the FRG Chancellor ended in total collapse. Schroeder not only refused to grant new loans, he also demonstrated his lack of interest in developing political interaction with Moscow on forming a global European counterbalance to the United States. This position of the German side is explained by the growing penetration of major German corporations onto the American market through mergers and "friendly takeovers," to which the Clinton-Gore administration gave the "green light" on the eve of the "Euromarch".... * * * We are told from Brussels that the basic political sense of the "big agreement" between the RF and Ukraine, which was ratified by the Federation Council, lies in creating the conditions for the victory of L. Kuchma, who is under the control of the United States, at the October presidential elections and the subsequent inclusion of the "independent" in NATO's structure. In the course of this "control by biases" operation, classic for the CIA, the Ukrainian communists "assured the KPRF [RF Communist Party] faction that the ratification of the agreement guaranteed their victory, after which new relations would come into being between Moscow and Kiev." In reality, however, the outcome of the voting in the State Duma and the Federation Council showed the "constructive relations" between Kuchma and Russia, and his ability to "fight for Ukrainian interests." At the same time, the KPU's [Communist Party of Ukraine] consent to the arrest of P. Lazarenko and the cleaning-up of his "Gromada" [rural assembly] made it possible for Kuchma to rid himself of a powerful political competitor.... * * * The unanimous appeal of the State Duma and CIS heads with a proposal to remove B. Berezovskiy from the position of executive secretary of the CIS was the next "move by Primakov" in his attempts to "politically isolate" the head treasurer Dyachenko, and in the past -- Yeltsin's entire family. This operation is taking place to the accompaniment of the complete neutrality of Gusinskiy, Boris Abramovich's "friendly rival" with respect to representing the interests of the international Jewry in Russia on the eve of the "introduction of outside management" in the RF.... * * * As transmitted from Istanbul, Turkish political circles perceived with great satisfaction the signing of a special agreement with Aushev on the transfer to him, from the "federal center," of the power to form military units and appoint civil servants. The participation of Stepashin and Bordyuzhi in the drawing up of this document is regarded as their actual consent to the "breach of Russia's constitutional space and its further dismemberment." It is also thought here that this act will make it possible to create a "new Chechnya" on RF territory.... * * * According to a report from Bern, $110 million, transferred to Bezrukovyy, the former director of the VPK [Military-Industrial Complex] MAPO [Moscow Aviation Production Association], and his family, was discovered in Switzerland in the account of a small offshore company. Procurator-General Skhuratov managed, before his dismissal, to come to an agreement with the Swiss office of the procurator on the conditions for repatriating this money, which is a matter of technique -- the "possessor" of the account is already firmly settled in an investigation isolation block. But the money, which the punctual Swiss, it would seem, were ready to return to Russia at the first demand, might not go back to the legal owner, the military-industrial complex, but instead enrich the next and future guests of "Matrosskaya Tishina" and "Lefortovo".... * * * A Russian special service source reports that the arrest of Shutov, a St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly deputy, charged with "managing a gang of killers," stemmed from the fact that documents attesting to the participation of higher leaders of the FSB [Federal Security Service] in unsanctioned contacts with German intelligence had fallen into the deputy's hands. For the time being, "power explanations" of the need to hand over these documents are being applied to Shutov. If he refuses, the source does not rule out the possibility of physical removal of the deputy.... * * * In the estimation of SBD [Den Security Service] experts, the impending appointment of A. Lebedev, director of the National Reserve Bank, as deputy chairman of the NDR [Russia Is Our Home] movement, lies in the course of spreading the premier's influence to public and entrepreneurial structures. We know that Lebedev, just like many of the "new people" in the structures of executive power, is a colleague of Primakov and of Zubakov, government staff chief. The aim of Lebedev's appointment is to intensify the influence over the team of the former premier and Gazprom, as well as the NDR movement, which survived the crisis, and the governors close to it. It is assumed that this appointment was approved in the course of the last personal meeting between Primakov and Chernomyrdin. In this connection, the possibility is not ruled out that in the near future the premier's former colleagues will appear in the management of structures close not only to Gazprom, but also to other major financial-industrial groups. * * * The presidential administration informs us that the response of Aleksey II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus, to Yeltsin's personal congratulations on the occasion of the 70th birthday of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, which contained a statement on the need for constitutional transfer of authority within stipulated time periods, plunged the "family" into shock, since these formulations from the lips of the supercautious Aleksey II attest to his having available certain confidential information about events prepared in the Kremlin.... [Zavtra: Influential leftist-nationalist weekly.] THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990218000390 Document Id: 0f7eswl03rlkgk Insert Date: 02/19/99 Purge Date: 03/04/99 Publish Date: 02/18/99 Publish Region: West Europe Lines: 64 Title: 'Omnipresent' CIA Said Always Involved 'in Some Way' Document Number: FBIS-WEU-1999-0218 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: West Europe Document Date: 18 Feb 1999 Division: Benelux Countries, West Europe Subdivision: Belgium, Turkey Sourceline: BR1802113199 Brussels De Morgen in Dutch 18 Feb 99 p 2 AFS Number: BR1802113199 Citysource: Brussels De Morgen Language: Dutch N/A Subslug: Commentary by Frank Schlomer: "Opposite Effect" [FBIS Translated Text] At the political level, in kidnapping the wanted PKK [Workers Party of Kurdistan] leader Abdullah Ocalan, Turkey has achieved the opposite to what it had been seeking for years. The fact that it was a kidnapping is now clear and the case is still shrouded in great mystery. Ankara is so proud of what it has done that it can hardly keep quiet about the stunt pulled off by its secret service and is now once again making incursions across the border into neighboring Iraq in order to teach a lesson to PKK fighters who have sought refuge there. It remains unclear who helped Turkey. Wild rumors are circulating, but we will probably not have to wait until someone writes their memoires before learning the true circumstances. The US Government denies that the CIA was directly involved, but Washington always does that, although history tells us that the omnipresent CIA always has its finger in things in some way or other. Israel strenuously denies that its Mossad was involved, but that too is a tradition. But even if the denials are genuine, Israel now finds itself right at the center of the Ocalan affair. Its diplomatic posts worldwide are guarded by Mossad personnel and yesterday Israeli agents in Berlin shot dead three Kurdish protesters. An event which will not be without its consequences. Even Greece is coming under suspicion of having helped its arch enemy Turkey in capturing Ankara's public enemy number one. It remains to be seen whether Athens acted deliberately, involuntarily, or simply bungled it. EU members have already announced that they intend to ask Greece for an explanation. For years Turkey has been trying to achieve something which the capture of Abdullah Ocalan has compromised. Ankara wanted the Kurdish question deleted from the international political agenda. It considered it to be an internal Turkish affair of combating terrorists, like Moscow in Chechnya and Belgrade in Kosovo. The world should stop harking on about the Kurds, Turkey would solve this internal problem for itself. The opposite has happened. Over recent days there has been more talk about the Kurdish question than at any time during the years of PKK resistance and many people now realize that the Kurds are a people with their own culture, tradition, and history, but who do not enjoy equal rights in the country where they live. The whole world is now watching Turkey and is seeing once again that this country has nothing but contempt for fundamental rights. How else can you describe it when defense lawyers are banned from entering the country and international observers for a trial are regarded as unwanted foreigners? [Description of source: Brussels De Morgen in Dutch -- left-of-center daily] THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: FTS19990214000037 Document Id: 0f79q9u00188z6 Insert Date: 02/16/99 Purge Date: 03/01/99 Publish Date: 02/07/99 Publish Region: China Lines: 138 Title: NATO Use of Force in Yugoslavia Opposed Document Number: FBIS-CHI-1999-0214 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: China, East Europe Document Date: 07 Feb 1999 Division: China, Balkan States Subdivision: China, FYROM Sourceline: OW1402081299 Hong Kong Wen Wei Po in Chinese 7 Feb 99 p A5 AFS Number: OW1402081299 Citysource: Hong Kong Wen Wei Po Language: Chinese N/A Subslug: Article by Chu Meng-chun (0215 1322 6511): "NATO Is Playing with Fire If It Uses Force Against Yugoslavia" [FBIS Translated Text] [Editor's note] While NATO's real purpose in interfering in Kosovo's affairs is to expand its sphere of influence, if it uses force, that is very likely to touch off a regional war and threaten the security of all of Europe. While the U.S.-dominated NATO has been deploying troops recently, constantly making military threats against the Yugoslavian alliance and trying to solve the Kosovo crisis by force, the result of the American and British air raids against Iraq shows that using force only makes magnifies a crisis. Western Interference Makes the Crisis Worse Kosovo is a province of the Serbian Republic in the Yugoslav Federation. The Kosovo matter is an internal affair of the Yugoslav Federation. This region has an ethnic Albanian majority and certain Albanian separatists are plotting an independent country, forming an armed organization. Local terrorists are also exploiting the opportunity to create incidents. In this state of affairs, since Republic of Serbia police units from the Yugoslav Federation have repeatedly had armed clashes with Albanian separatists and terrorists that have even led to bloody incidents, the Kosovo situation has come to world attention. While the Kosovo matter is a nationalist one within the Yugoslav Federation, interference by foreign forces has turned it into a complex crisis. As to why the crisis has remained so long unresolved, even snowballing into a worse situation, the external factors transcend the internal ones. From the breakup of the former Yugoslavia to the war in Bosnia and on to the Kosovo crisis, there has always been a deeply hidden international backdrop. Western nations such as the United States have always pursued a "big stick" policy toward the Yugoslav Federation including political isolation, economic sanctions, and military threats. In February 1998, when the Kosovo crisis broke out, the Western powers took action, immediately criticizing the Yugoslav authorities unilaterally. By October, without U.N. authorization, NATO issued an ultimatum that it would launch air strikes on the Yugoslav Federation. In 1999, NATO has been gathering its might repeatedly threatening to use force. The West's repeated unilateral pressure on the Yugoslav Federal authorities is, in fact, abetting the ethnic separatist forces in the Kosovo region. So in the spread and worsening of the Kosovo crisis, the Western nations are adding fuel to the flames. U.S. Diplomatic Officers Start Rumors If the Western nations really want to solve the Kosovo crisis, they should do more that would help to ease it instead of violating principles to make it worse. But certain recent events have come close to starting a war. The European Security Organization's Kosovo Observer Group Director Walker suddenly announced to the media on 16 January that through his "personal on-site investigation," he has discovered that Yugoslav Federal Serbian police units in Kosovo had "massacred 45 unarmed Albanian civilians" to "commit a brutal and inhumane crime." Yugoslavia was very unhappy with Walker's statement. Serbian Republic President Milosevich issued a statement on 17 January, accusing Walker of lying and criticizing him for violating the agreement that had been reached by the European Security Organization with the Yugoslav Federal Government. President Milosevich said that Walker's Kosovo methods show that he no longer represents an international organization, but is a representative and protector of separatists and terrorists. Serbian Vice Premier Shashli openly criticized Walker as a CIA spy, saying that he deliberately lied about the massacre of civilians in Ratchko Village, which was aimed at preparing the way for NATO military intervention. He further stated that Yugoslavia used Walker's "lie" as grounds for announcing that it was expelling him. Meanwhile, Walker's lie provided an excuse for NATO to strike the Yugoslav Federation. NATO forces gathered quickly in an attempt to use force against the Yugoslav Federation. But subsequently, under Western pressure, the Yugoslav Federation prevented war by rescinding its decision to expel Walker. With the coordination of the European Security Organization's Observer Group, a multinational group of forensic doctors examined the Albanian corpses, with the initial results showing that they were all terrorists who had died in battle, not innocent civilians. So European Security Organization Revolving Chairman and Norwegian Foreign Minister Walbeck was forced to rescue Walker, claiming that Walker's verdict that Yugoslav Federal Serbian police had massacred 45 Albanian civilians was reached "impulsively." But in fact, since Walker is a well-qualified diplomatic officer who has worked for the U.S. Department of State for 37 years, the claim that his verdict was "impulsive" is completely out of line with the facts and hardly believable. While certain recent compromises by the concerned parties have slightly eased the Kosovo crisis, NATO has certainly not renounced its trump card of a military strike on the Yugoslav Federation. U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Cohen said on 20 January that the October 1998 NATO order for an air strike against the Yugoslav Federation still stands. Threatened Air Strikes on the Yugoslav Federation As the world's largest military organization, the use of NATO force would seem to be overdoing it. A large NATO force is now gathered in the Adriatic Sea, able at any time to hit nearly any key target in the Yugoslav Federation. U.S. fighters and bombers armed with cruise, offensive air-to-ground, and defensive air-to-air missiles are now awaiting orders in Italy. According to the so-called new strategy of the Western nations for solving the Kosovo crisis, they will force the Yugoslav Federation to let the Kosovo Albanians set up an autonomous government. Westerners say that if the Yugoslav Federation rejects the new terms, NATO will launch air strikes on it. With NATO's interference in Kosovo's affairs already being illegal, if it uses force, that would start a worldwide crisis. In fact, since the breakup of the Warsaw Pact, NATO should have faded away. NATO has not only not downsized, but has intensified its outward expansion. NATO actions such as its acceptance of the three new members of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, its large-scale military exercises in the former Soviet region, and its continued large-scale stationing of troops in Bosnia, readily show its real purpose in intervening in Kosovo's affairs. As to NATO's "new strategic concept," the United States is doing everything possible to amend the NATO principle of "collective defense" to let NATO engage in collective military intervention in "crises and clashes that involve common interests" beyond its "defensive mission scope." U.S. Secretary of State Albright said at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers on 8 December 1998 that she hoped that NATO would become an "alliance that could respond effectively to all crises, including those beyond its defensive scope," and recommended "making opposition to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction a basic NATO mission." In fact, the United States favors that the NATO mission scope not be subject to geographic limitations, so that NATO can operate willfully beyond its defensive scope, gradually "globalizing" to become an effective tool of the global U.S. strategy of "participation and expansion." Since active NATO operations beyond its members' territory reflect NATO's new strategic concept and America's "global strategy," rather than saying that NATO's actions are to solve the Kosovo crisis it would be more appropriate to say that they are to expand its own sphere of influence. The world needs to act in line with the norms of international relations. As a military group of some countries, NATO should not interfere in affairs beyond the group, even less so using or threatening to use force against other countries. The Use of Force Has Disadvantages and No Advantages Just as in the Iraq nuclear weapons inspection crisis, the use of force not only does not help, but even complicates things. This would be even more so in the case of the Kosovo crisis. If NATO uses force, the consequences are hard to predict, possibly even starting a regional war which would threaten the security of all of Europe. Therefore, those who would try to solve the Kosovo crisis by force had best not play with fire. 1hk1999100473ch [Description of source: Hong Kong Wen Wei Po in Chinese -- PRC-owned daily newspaper] THIS REPORT MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: drchi02011999000587 Document Id: 0f6jmr403c3x05 Insert Date: 02/02/99 Purge Date: 02/15/99 Publish Date: 02/01/99 Publish Region: China Lines: 133 Title: China: People's Daily Analyzes Kosovo Crisis Document Number: FBIS-CHI-99-032 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: China Document Date: 1 Feb 1999 Division: China Subdivision: China Sourceline: OW0102124299 Beijing Renmin Ribao in Chinese 30 Jan 99 p 3 AFS Number: OW0102124299 Citysource: Beijing Renmin Ribao Language: Chinese Article Type: BFN Subslug: Article by Yan Zheng (0917 2973): "Double Standard With Aim of Suppressing Yugoslavia -- Brief Analysis of US Intervention in Kosovo Crisis" The Kosovo crisis in Yugoslavia has flared up again over the past year. The central point at issue is that Albanian secessionist forces are fighting for independence and have no scruples about resorting to violence to achieve their political aim of building a "Greater Albania," while Yugoslavia is doing its best to check these secessionist activities to ensure national unity. Conflicts have thus broken out between the two sides. The international community, including the former Yugoslavia which has now declared independence, maintains that Kosovo is a part of the Yugoslavia-Serbia Republic, and that the boundary of Yugoslavia cannot be changed. The precondition for the political solution of the Kosovo crisis is that ethnic Albanians must give up their fight for independence and secession, while Yugoslavia must ensure that ethnic Albanians shall enjoy the same rights as other ethnic groups and be granted substantial autonomy. However, the "double standards" and double-faced tactics consistently adopted by the West have aggravated the crisis. Long before the collapse of the former Yugoslavia in 1992 and when war was still raging, U.S. President Bush declared in the so-called "Christmas Warning" that the United States would take "fierce military revenge" against Belgrade once the actions of Serbia provoked conflicts in Kosovo. This was as good as giving the Albanian secessionist forces some kind of "hint" and "encouragement." In April 1997, the United States organized a round table meeting on the Kosovo question in New York. In her meeting with these representatives of ethnic Albanians from Kosovo and representatives of the Serbian opposition party, U.S. Secretary of State Albright directly incited ethnic Albanians to fight for their independence when she said that the United States supported the "democratization" of Serbia. Armed Albanians ambushed a Serb police patrol on February 28 last year. This triggered off armed conflicts in Kosovo. Although the United States and the West kept saying they did not support the independence bid by ethnic Albanians, they were in fact exerting pressure on Yugoslavia unilaterally by arms embargo, new economic sanctions, threats of military intervention and NATO air strike against Yugoslavia. For this reason, illegal Albanian armed forces were able to capture over 30 percent of Kosovo within a short time. When Yugoslavia fought back against attacks by illegal Albanian armed forces, the United States and the West forced the United Nations Security Council to adopt Resolution Number 1199, which was mainly directed against Yugoslavia. On October 13 last year, NATO issued an "action order" on air strikes against Yugoslavia. Threatened by NATO strikes, Yugoslavia made a giant concession by pulling a large police force out of Kosovo and allowed NATO planes and European Security Commission observers to monitor the ceasefire. It also agreed to hold political dialog with Albanian representatives in accordance with the "U.S" blueprint, and promised to grant substantial autonomy to Kosovo in the Serb Republic. However, Albanian representatives refused to hold political dialog on the ground that the Milosevic-Holbrook agreement failed to provide assurance for Kosovo's independence. Some Albanian extremists again seized 17 percent of Kosovo's territory and continuously engaged in provocation. The United States and the West did not take any effective measures to stop the above actions by ethnic Albanians. Moreover, in order to cater to the demands of the Albanians, U.S. mediator on the Kosovo question Christopher Hill repeatedly dished out amendments to the peace agreement and tried continuously to raise Kosovo's autonomous status in future in an attempt to put Kosovo on an equal footing with the two federal republics of Yugoslavia even though it is not the country's third republic. However, this amendment was turned down by the ethnic Albanians because it failed to give assurances for their independence. To the contrary, when Yugoslavia took military action against terrorist activities by Albanian extremists, the West deployed troops once again on the pretext of "preventing the escalation of violence in Kosovo" and continued to threaten and suppress Yugoslavia by "air strikes" and stricter sanctions. Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Robert (Robert Frowick?) and other senior military officials said that NATO had assumed its role in finding out how to end the Kosovo conflicts and had the ability to launch missile attacks against Serbian air defense systems to force Yugoslavia to "submit," but had not made any decision to take military action against Albanian armed forces. The United States and the West were obviously adopting their "double standards" and double-faced tactics for a reason. The United States has always seen Yugoslavia as an important obstacle to the realization of its Balkan strategic objectives. Yugoslavia is the only Balkan state which has not been incorporated into the NATO security system. There are rumors that Yugoslavia intends to join the union of states between Belarus and Russia. The CIA has reportedly prepared a confidential document outlining plans to overthrow Yugoslavia. The Americans are trying to suppress and weaken Yugoslavia through intervention in the Kosovo conflicts. The United States said that it would not be supporting Kosovo's bid for independence. It said this not out of respect for Yugoslavia's sovereignty and territorial integrity but because it stood in awe of universally accepted international standards. NATO Military Committee Chairman General Klaus Naumann noted that the West would not have the support of the international community if it pledged its support for Kosovo's independence. On the other hand, if Kosovo did succeed in winning its independence, it would trigger off secessionist activities by Albanians in Greece, Macedonia and Herzegovina and other ethnic minorities in the Balkan states. The Balkan "powder barrel" may explode and peace and security on the continent of Europe will be at stake. This is not in keeping with the strategic interests of the United States and the West. The United States on the one hand resorted to "double standards" and double-faced tactics to instigate and encourage secessionist activities by ethnic Albanians. On the other hand, it refused to let them win their independence (at least for the time being). Neither did it give the Yugoslav government a free hand to fight back and destroy the armed forces of the Albanian secessionists. By keeping Kosovo hanging on a balance between war and peace, it hopes to wear Yugoslavia down or ultimately force Yugoslav to "pledge allegiance" to the United States. 1HK1999100429CH [Description of source: Beijing Renmin Ribao in Chinese -- daily newspaper of the CPC Central Committee (People's Daily)] THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu01201999001516 Document Id: 0f5zc02043vii8 Insert Date: 01/22/99 Purge Date: 02/04/99 Publish Date: 01/20/99 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 127 Title: Serbia: COMMENTARY: OPEN SOCIETY FUND BELIEVED LINKED TO CIA Document Number: FBIS-EEU-99-020 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS TRANSLATED TEXT Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 20 Jan 1999 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Serbia Sourceline: AU2001145099 BELGRADE BORBA IN SERBO-CROATIAN 14 JAN 99 P 5 AFS Number: AU2001145099 Citysource: BELGRADE BORBA Language: SERBO-CROATIAN Article Type: BFN Subslug: COMMENTARY BY DRAGO PANTIC: "OPENLY ON SO-CALLED OPEN SOCIETY" COUNTRIES IN TRANSITION ARE IN A POLITICALLY WIND-SWEPT AREA UNDER VARIOUS DESTRUCTIVE AND DESTABILIZING FACTORS THANKS TO THE POWER OF THE DESIGNERS OF THE NEW WORLD ORDER. THE STRATEGY OF DESTROYING AND IMPOSING ONE'S OWN WILL AND INTERESTS COMES IN A DIVERSE FORMS AND METHODS. SOMETIMES IT IS HUMANITARIAN AID, OTHER TIMES IT'S CREDITS, OR THE STUDY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, UNDER "FLEXIBLE" CONDITIONS (CAMPS, FOREIGN FAMILIES ETC.), CONCERN FOR TALENTS, RELIGIOUS GROUPS, THE LURING OF STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS ABROAD (PARTICULARLY REFUGEES FROM KOSOVO AND METOHIJA), VARIOUS FUNDS AND SPONSORS SUCH AS THE "OPEN SOCIETY FUND," SPORTS, PSYCHOLOGICAL WORKSHOPS AND CAMPS, AND SO ON. THE GIST OF IT IS TO DEVELOP A NON-PATRIOTIC SENTIMENT AMONG THE YOUTH: THIS COUNTRY IS "DARKNESS AND MADNESS," WHEREAS HEAVEN LIES ACROSS THE "WATER," IN ALIEN LANDS. ON THE OTHER HAND, CERTAIN COLLEGES, SUCH AS THE FACULTIES OF PHILOSOPHY AND PHILOLOGY IN BELGRADE, AS WELL AS NATURAL SCIENCES COLLEGES AND INSTITUTES, CHERISH "HIGH STANDARD" SCIENTIFIC ASPIRATIONS, HUMILIATE OUR SCIENCE AND CULTURE, MANIPULATE WITH AN EL DORADO ABROAD AND UNDERMINE A HEALTHY CORE AND ORIENTATION OF THE INTELLIGENTSIA. WHEN THEY SPEND THEIR BIG MONEY FOR THEIR SCHOOLING AND STUDIES (PRIMARY AND POST-GRADUATE), THEN OUR ALIENATED "PRIVILEGED" AND "GIFTED" YOUTH SOON GET A VISA AND PASSPORT, BECAUSE THE "COUNTRY OF THEIR BIRTH HAS NO UNDERSTANDING FOR THEM." ALL THIS IS PART OF THE CONCEPT OF A STRUGGLE FOR DOMINATION BETWEEN DOMESTIC MONARCHISTS AND OTHER STRUGGLERS FOR POWER AND THEIR CHIEFS IN THE WEST AND "WEEPING" BROTHERS IN THE DIASPORA, WHO MANIPULATE THEIR PATRIOTISM AND SERBO-DELIVERANCE. EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SAID IS LINKED WITH THE "IRON NETWORK" OF THE SO-CALLED "OPEN SOCIETY FUND," A REPORT OF WHICH WAS CARRIED IN SOME OF OUR MEDIA PRIOR TO THE NEW YEAR. THE DISCLOSURE OF A CIA DOCUMENT ON SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES MERELY DRAWS THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION TO THE CLOSE COOPERATION AND SIMILARITY OF THESE TASKS AND THE FUND'S MISSION, PUBLICLY REPRESENTED BY SONJA LIHT, CHAIRWOMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. WHAT WE HAVE ENABLED THESE WORLD "CIVILIZERS" AND "EDUCATORS," MISSIONARIES AND OFFICES OF THE NEO-FASCIST WORLD ORDER, IS EVIDENT FROM THE STRUCTURE AND TACTICS OF THE FUND'S ACTIVITIES. ONE OF THEIR DOCUMENTS -- "THE OPEN SOCIETY FUND HAS THE PLEASURE TO INFORM THE PEOPLE THAT IT HAS FINANCED VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS IN MORE THAN 100 CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE FRY DURING 1988" (SEE POLITIKA, 31 DECEMBER, 1998, P 46) -- SAYS THE FOLLOWING: IN MANY PLACES IN THE FRY, THERE ARE "OPEN CLUBS" THAT "MAINLY ASSEMBLE YOUTH" AND THOSE THAT ARE "CENTERS FOR NEW IDEAS AND PROJECTS AND THE AFFIRMATION OF VALUES OF TOLERANCE AND CIVIL SOCIETY." IT STATES THAT ABOUT 10,000 CHILDREN AND YOUTH "TODAY ASSOCIATE, STUDY, WORK AND HAVE FUN IN OPEN CLUBS," WHERE "ABOUT 300 EXPERTS WORK ALL THE TIME, AS WELL AS MANY PARENTS," AND THAT THE "PROJECT OF TRAVELING LIBRARIES WHICH EXPANDS COOPERATION BETWEEN CLUBS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES IS BEING IMPLEMENTED VERY SUCCESSFULLY." FURTHERMORE, IT SAYS "THERE ARE MANY IDENTICAL OR SIMILAR PROGRAMS, LIKE THE ONE FOR THE STUDY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAMMING." REGARDING THE ABOVE, WE MUST ASK OURSELVES AS PATRIOTS, TEACHERS, AND INTELLECTS: HOW DID THESE "OPEN CLUBS" DEVELOP, WHAT ARE THEIR PROGRAMS, GOALS, WHO ARE THEIR ASSOCIATES, WHAT KIND OF CONTROL IS EXERCISED OVER THIS DUBIOUS "CIVILIZATION" CARAVAN. THE OPEN SOCIETY FUND HAS A SPECIAL DEPARTMENT CALLED "SCIENCE AND UNIVERSITY" WHICH IS SAID IN 1998 TO HAVE "SUPPORTED NEARLY 50 UNIVERSITY, SCIENTIFIC, AND SPECIALIZED INSTITUTIONS" (FROM SECURING FUNDS FOR RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION, THROUGH EQUIPPING FACILITIES TO COVERING EXPENSES FOR VISITING PROFESSORS). SO WE WONDER WHAT PARTICULAR UNIVERSITIES AND INSTITUTIONS WOULD THESE BE, WHO ARE THESE "EDUCATORS" AND "PRIVILEGED CIVILIZERS" OF OURS, WHO ARE THESE VISITING PROFESSORS (WHAT DID THEY TEACH AND BY WHICH SYSTEM OF VALUES -- DID THEY DEVELOP ATTACHMENT TO THE FATHERLAND OR ATTACHMENT TO ALIEN COUNTRIES)??? THE YUGOSLAV OPEN SOCIETY SHOULD KNOW ALL OF THIS. IT ALSO SAID THAT THIS PART OF THE PROGRAM "EXTENDED SPECIAL SUPPORT TO THE STUDY OF LAW AND THE PROMOTION OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION," AND THAT THE "HOLDING OF A SCORE OF EXPERT MEETINGS, INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES, AND SEMINARS ON PROBLEMS OF TRANSITION WAS ASSISTED." WE IMMEDIATELY ASK OURSELVES: WHO ARE THE ORGANIZERS OF THE AFOREMENTIONED MEETINGS, TO WHAT AIM IS THE CONCERN FOR THE LEGAL PROFESSION, WHO ARE THE "PATRIOTS" WHO LINED THEIR POCKETS WITH THE FUND'S FEES, AND SO ON? SONJA LIHT SET OUT IN HER REPORT THAT "WITHIN THE PROGRAM OF SUPPORT FOR HIGHER EDUCATION, THE FOUNDING OF AN ALTERNATIVE ACADEMIC EDUCATION SYSTEM" WAS SUPPORTED, WHICH ENCOMPASSED THE WORK OF ACADEMIC SUMMER SCHOOLS, NON-FORMAL FORMS OF EDUCATION ON THE LEVEL OF DIPLOMATIC AND POST-GRADUATE STUDIES IN THE SPHERE OF SOCIAL, HUMANIST, NATURAL SCIENCE, AND TECHNICAL STUDIES, VIA EXPERIMENTAL AND MODULAR CLASSES, SUMMER UNIVERSITIES, MENTOR CLASSES, SEMINARS, AND VISITS BY FOREIGN PROFESSORS. MANY STUDENTS WERE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLISH THEIR OWN RESEARCH AND UNDERTAKE INDEPENDENT ACADEMIC INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS "ATTEND SUMMER SCHOOLS ABROAD." SO, WE HAVE ALLOWED PARALLEL, PARA-PEDAGOGIC "EDUCATIONAL" SYSTEMS TO BE ESTABLISHED, WHILE THE LEGAL SYSTEM FALLS INTO A DEEPER CRISIS BECAUSE IT IS UNDERMINED BY "ALTERNATIVES." THE CIA DOCUMENT SAYS: "FIVE MILLION DOLLARS EARMARKED FOR EDUCATION IS INTENDED FOR THE FORMATION OF AN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION SYSTEM, SUPPORT TO PROFESSORS WHO HAVE BEEN DISMISSED FOR REFUSING TO SIGN NEW CONTRACTS, PROCUREMENT OF ALTERNATIVE TEACHING AID AND MATERIAL TO ENCOURAGE DEMOCRACY AND REFUTE THE RESOLUTION." WHO NEEDS EVIDENCE FOR THE FACT THAT THE OPEN SOCIETY FUND IS LINKED TO THE CIA? THE "OPEN SOCIETY" OVERTLY ADVOCATES "PRISONS WITHOUT WALLS" IN THIS PART OF THE BALKANS, ALL UNDER THE GUISE OF "EDUCATORS OF DEMOCRACY." BY ABUSING YUGOSLAV ACADEMIC CITIZENS AND THE AUTONOMY OF THE UNIVERSITY, THE UNITED STATES IS DESTROYING THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA, PRINCIPALLY THROUGH TEACHERS SOLD TO FOREIGN MENTORS FOR DOLLARS ("VISITING PROFESSORS") AND OFFICES OF THE NEW PRO-FASCIST ECONOMIC ORDER. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu01141999000148 Document Id: 0f5v6qs0116h86 Insert Date: 01/20/99 Purge Date: 02/02/99 Publish Date: 01/14/99 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 139 Title: Serbia: BETA Sees CIA Document Ploy as Sign of Milosevic's 'Fear' Document Number: FBIS-EEU-99-014 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Transcribed Text Document Region: East Europe, The Americas Document Date: 14 Jan 1999 Division: Balkan States, North America Subdivision: Serbia, United States Sourceline: AU1401081299 Belgrade BETA in English 14 Jan 99 AFS Number: AU1401081299 Citysource: Belgrade BETA Language: English Article Type: BFN Subslug: "New Campaign in Serbia -- More of the Same" -- BETA headline At the beginning of this week, the Serbian Government started the toughest ever propaganda campaign against local opposition parties, independent media and non-governmental organizations. Serbian vice premiers, Vojislav Seselj, Ratko Markovic and Milovan Bojic accused the media, parties and organizations at a Jan. 12 press conference in Belgrade of working on toppling the authorities in Serbia and Yugoslavia, allegedly on orders from the CIA. The three vice premiers showed a document, reportedly made by the CIA, which provided a sum of US$35 million for "treacherous" media and political parties in Serbia. The state's propaganda machinery gave top billing to the accusations. On the very same evening, the state-run Serbian Broadcasting Company provided the most extensive television coverage of the event. Lengthy excerpts from the conference were re-broadcast by BK Television owned by businessman Bogoljub Karic, who became a minister in the Serbian cabinet at the end of last year. A paper presented by the three ministers as a secret CIA document was treated as indisputable evidence that the regime's opponents, in collaboration with foreign powers, worked against their own people and state. The Serbian authorities' zeal at the beginning of the ongoing campaign against their political rivals in the country is basically a clear sign of their insecurity and fear that they might lose power. It also indicates their readiness to defend themselves by all means available. United States [subhead] The document, reportedly drafted by the CIA, is identical to a document titled "Support to Democracy in Yugoslavia," which has been available on the United States Institute for Peace internet site for months. The only difference was the CIA sign added to the letterhead of the document presented by the Serbian government, accompanied with an explanation that a strictly confidential paper was at issue. The US Embassy in Belgrade termed on Jan. 13 the Serbian Government's document as a "crude forgery." The embassy also said in its statement that the false security classification and a false US Government logo were attached to an "academic" paper entitled "Promoting Democracy in Yugoslavia." The original document was "released publicly at a hearing of the US Congress on Dec. 10, 1998," said the statement. "The document... was in no way an official US Government plan. The document was rewritten in order to discredit and taint the efforts by the United States and the international community to support democratic change in Yugoslavia," said the US Embassy, and accused of committing a forgery "those in Serbia who are fearful of that change." At a press conference in Podgorica, held on that same day, US special envoy for the Balkans Robert Gelbard called the Serbian deputy premiers liars and totalitarian persons. "They have continued to spread lies among the Serbian and Yugoslav people in general, and, therefore, they have managed to give their contribution to the horrible collapse of Serbia's economy and the vast increase of totalitarian activity against the media, university and civic society as a whole," said Gelbard. Campaign [subhead] The Serbian Government's latest campaign was obviously launched in order to divert public attention from the crisis in Serbia's province of Kosovo, where the army and the police face the Albanian guerrilla's strong pressures they are unable to respond to efficiently. The campaign is basically a bid to convince the local public once more that the troubles the country and the people are faced with are not the responsibility of the authorities, but rather national enemies. The Serbian vice premiers went so far as to openly say that they will take no measures against those they call traitors and foreign mercenaries, and that their chief goal was to "expose them publicly." Most of the citizens still find the national broadcasters the main source of information, so any evidence that the alleged CIA document was a forgery will not reach them anyway. Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic encounters myriad problems in Kosovo, and he will soon have to start internationally-mediated negotiations with the Albanians, to whom he is supposed to make significant concessions. This is contrary to the official position that Kosovo is Serbia's internal affair, and that the province must stay within Serbia. The latest propaganda assault on the political rivals in the country is aimed to make it impossible for them to use the Kosovo events for denying the regime's capability to preserve its own territory. What obviously worries Milosevic most is the announced US support to the opposition blocs in Serbia. The democratic opposition in Serbia is too weak to exert any serious pressure on the authorities alone. However, the Yugoslav president is fully aware that the increasingly obvious defeat of his policy in Kosovo makes him more and more vulnerable, and that even a weak opposition, with the world's strong support, may seriously shake his position. Opposition [subhead] The opposition parties, independent media and non-governmental organizations sharply reacted on those accusations, seeing them as an attempt at diverting the public attention from the problems the country faced. President of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia Sonja Biserko told BETA that she expected the authorities to bring up the issue of non-governmental organizations' funding in order to place them under their control. Last autumn, Bojic and Serbian Information Minister, Radical Aleksandar Vucic, summoned all editor-in-chiefs of the Serbian media to the government, hurled threats on them, accused them of "betrayal" and the lack of patriotism. The government decree banning the re-broadcasting of foreign radio programs and a new, extremely restrictive information law followed and paved the way to the campaign against the Serbian media. Leaders of the Alliance for Changes, the strongest democratic opposition bloc that brings together some 30 political parties and associations, branded the campaign as the beginning of a "witch hunt." The parties comprising the bloc believe that the government's move was "indecent, dishonest and undermining" and that it causes a huge damage to the state. The largest parliamentary opposition party Serbian Renewal Movement focused its criticism on Seselj, the leader of the Serbian Radical Party. The Renewal Movement accused Seselj of planting the forgery to the government, but it was not too critical as to the government's decision to start the ruthless campaign against its political rivals and independent media. The Renewal Movement's behavior was conditioned by a pronounced wish of the party to exclude Seselj's Radicals from the Serbian government and become a coalition partner of the Socialist Party of Serbia and the Yugoslav Left. Well informed sources close to the Serbian authorities say that the Renewal Movement has already started to negotiate with the two parties on its entry into the federal government. [Description of Source: BETA: Private news agency with independent editorial policies] THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu01141999000145 Document Id: 0f5o2sn04dj5x1 Insert Date: 01/16/99 Purge Date: 01/29/99 Publish Date: 01/14/99 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 171 Title: Serbia: Serbian Daily Assesses US Policy on Kosovo Document Number: FBIS-EEU-99-014 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe, The Americas Document Date: 14 Jan 1999 Division: Balkan States, North America Subdivision: Serbia, United States, Albania Sourceline: AU1401080799 Belgrade Vecernje Novosti in Serbo-Croatian 10 Jan 99 pp 2,3 AFS Number: AU1401080799 Citysource: Belgrade Vecernje Novosti Language: Serbo-Croatian Article Type: BFN Subslug: Commentary by Borislav Lalic: "The Albanian Connection" Here in Washington, it has already become customary for the State Department to react to every incident in Kosovo, particularly if it involves the Serb side, with a special statement, or at least a remark by its spokesman. This was not the case with Adem Demaci's recent "diplomatic mission" to Tirana, in his capacity as the spokesman and political representative of the Siptar [derogatory term for Albanian] terrorist organization, the OVK [Kosovo Liberation Army -- UCK in Albanian]. There is no doubt that such "contacts" between Tirana and the Albanian separatists from Kosovo existed before, but, this time, the two sides tried to give this mission a more formal level in an obvious attempt to bolster the legitimacy of the OVK, which is endeavoring to assume the role of a political factor in the negotiations on the future of Kosovo with the implicit concurrence of the international community. On that occasion, Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo "hailed the heroic war of the Kosovo Albanians." Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko gave similar support to the OVK, as did local opposition leader Sali Berisha, who has been involved personally in the bloody Kosovo events. Openly, with no holds barred, Tirana has given full support to those who are working to destroy the constitutional system in a neighboring country as well as its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Washington has remained deaf to all this, as it did a few weeks ago when Ibrahim Rugova said that he controlled the OVK. In normal circumstances and in some other part of the world, Tirana's flagrant support for terrorism in a neighboring country would have drawn strong protests from the international community, and Rugova would have undermined his own chances of being a negotiator. Terrorists and those who support them can hardly hope to be negotiators anywhere in the world until they renounce terrorism. The people in Washington are bound to know that they have to start with Albania and the disarmament of the OVK if they want to resolve the Kosovo problem. Albania has often been described as "no smaller a country, no bigger a problem." However, Albania is no longer a problem for itself alone, it is a problem for others as well. Richard Holbrooke said recently that "the chaotic situation in Albania" was the main center of crisis in the Balkans. Until the situation there calms down, there can be no stability in this part of the world, particularly not in neighboring Kosovo, where ties with Albania are not only ethnic, but which acts together with Albania along capillary principles, mutually fueling the crisis. The Americans must have known about the "Albanian virus" earlier, even before Richard Holbrooke's belated "discovery." The Albanian terrorists took advantage of that chaotic situation in the "fraternal country" and armed themselves to the teeth and set up their training camps and recruitment centers for enlisting foreign "volunteers." That is the source of "fresh forces," money, weapons, and open support for the "heroic struggle" to destroy the constitutional system and territorial integrity of a neighboring country. And all that Washington has to say about that is to issue a statement warning its citizens against traveling to Albania and, if they are already there, advising them to leave as soon as possible, because the situation in that country is not safe. Naturally, no one can expect Washington to react to every crisis center in the world. But the Balkans, Kosovo, and Albania are not just any crisis center, they are to a large extent a US crisis spot, because by tolerating the terrorist OVK and Tirana's course of action, it has done a lot to bring the Kosovo crisis to a head. Besides, the United States and NATO have already entrenched themselves in the Balkans. A US-brokered peace has already been implemented in Bosnia, a US peace concept has also been applied in Kosovo, NATO is in Bosnia, and in Albania and Macedonia. The US verifiers are everywhere in Kosovo, both on land and in the air. So there have been plenty of reasons for Washington to warn Albania that it has enough problems as it is, that it should stop exporting chaos to neighboring Yugoslavia, and that it should compel the Siptar terrorists from Kosovo to lay down their arms. It is extremely unlikely that Washington did not know all about this affair. The CIA knew everything from the start. The CIA was also not oblivious to what the Sunday Times published recently quoting the Albanian secret service, that the notorious Saudi terrorist Usamah Bin-Ladin, for whose head the State Department is offering $5 million, had a terrorist base in Albania and that he used it to dispatch "volunteers" to fight against the Serbs in Kosovo. Now, when with the help of US diplomacy and brutal NATO pressure, some kind of cease-fire has been reached in Kosovo, and when Washington regards the Kosovo Peace package as its "achievement," as it regarded Dayton, Clinton's administration has finally realized that Albania, with its "chaos," could jeopardize all this. That is, however, only part of the truth. The whole truth is that there would have been no war or terrorism in Kosovo were it not for the "support" of the Albanian side, were it not for the "Albanian connection" in providing logistical support. The Americans were well acquainted with this too. Last month, the New York Times published a very well documented text about the functioning of this "Albanian connection," which also has its branch office here, in Brooklyn. This center was used by the Albanian emigrants living in the United States to raise more than $100 million, which they sent to the separatists and the OVK in Kosovo. All of that was channeled through Albania and with the tacit permission of the US authorities. There is still no real name here for the Albanian terrorists in Kosovo. There is a whole set of laws and a special team in the State Department that deals with international terrorism. Some local experts say that the OVK is a classic example of a terrorist organization, even according to the US definition of terrorism. Clinton's administration, however, not only refuses to include the OVK on its list of terrorist organizations, but it maintains regular contacts with the leaders of that terrorist organization, here, as well as in Kosovo and in Europe. US State Department chief Madeleine Albright recently warned the OVK to stop with their violence or run the risk of "losing the support of the international community." What we are dealing with here is not a definition of terrorism, or Ibrahim Rugova's two-time game, or the wild chaos emanating from Albania. It is not a question of Washington's inability to restrain the Albanian side. Today, even Kosovo-based US correspondents say that the Albanian side has been "omitted" from the Kosovo peace package and that there is no one to tell the Albanian terrorists to stop. From all of this, the OVK has drawn the only logical conclusion: that the United States and NATO are backing them after all, and that therefore they can proceed with the war for the secession of Kosovo. And that is just what they are doing, and they will continue until Washington tells them to stop. Only the United State is capable of bringing the separatists to the negotiating table. One day, when Washington utters the word "terrorism," that will be the day that the Kosovo negotiations will start. This has still not happened. The Kosovo crisis has evidently still not hit rock bottom. We ask: what is it that Washington wants with Kosovo, what is behind this indeterminate, tactically measured, and more-or-less benevolent US attitude toward the "Albanian factor" in its overall administration of the Kosovo crisis? However, we should not doubt Washington's view that the United States truly does not want any changes of Yugoslav borders and that it is against the secession of Kosovo. But, why then is there such tolerance for the Albanian separatists and their foreign helpers, when they want something totally opposite: the destruction of Yugoslavia and changes of its borders? The likely answer is that Washington has probably assessed that it has still not finished all its work in the Balkans, that it has not blended in completely, and that Yugoslavia could perhaps be its greatest obstacle. Therefore, with its "Albanian wildcard" in hand, it still wants to squeeze and extort Yugoslavia in order to weaken its negotiating and generally Balkan position even more. All of this, again, fits into the US strategic vision of its own place and role in European affairs, because the Balkan Peninsula has always been the region where all European issues intersect. In any case, the Albanian syndrome in Kosovo and around Kosovo is at the heart of many far more profound and consequential issues than the issue of autonomy for the Kosovo Albanian population in that province. The United States has many issues to resolve there, which are far more pressing than Albanian self-government. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
Article Id: dreeu12181998001895 Document Id: 0f4dvyx01pigee Insert Date: 12/22/98 Purge Date: 01/04/99 Publish Date: 12/18/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 1276 Title: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: US, NATO 'NEOCOLONIALISM' DECRIED Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-352 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS TRANSLATED TEXT Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 18 Dec 1998 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Croatia Sourceline: AU1812191998 ZAGREB HRVATSKI VOJNIK IN SERBO-CROATIAN NOV 98 PP 31-41 AFS Number: AU1812191998 Citysource: ZAGREB HRVATSKI VOJNIK Language: SERBO-CROATIAN Article Type: BFN Subslug: ARTICLE BY PETAR JURIC: "ASYMMETRICAL WARS: THE REALITY OF THE THIRD MILLENNIUM: PART THREE: NEOCOLONIALISM IN THE NAME OF DEMOCRACY"--FIRST PARAGRAPH IS HRVATSKI VOJNIK INTRODUCTION THE WORLD IS ENTERING THE FINAL PHASE OF TRANSFORMATION ON THE ROAD TO A "NEW REALITY." THE FORCES BEHIND THAT TRANSFORMATION ARE MANY--FROM PEOPLE TO NATURE ITSELF. HORRIBLE IMAGES OF THE SCENE FOLLOWING HURRICANE MITCH, WHICH LITERALLY RAVAGED CENTRAL AMERICA, THEREBY CLAIMING INESTIMABLE HUMAN CASUALTIES AND INFLICTING ENORMOUS MATERIAL DAMAGE. THE OMNIPRESENCE OF HUMANS AND THEIR DISRUPTION OF THE BALANCE--FROM THE ECOLOGICAL BALANCE TO THE BALANCE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW--IS INEVITABLE. CENTERS OF CRISIS THAT FLARE UP AROUND THE WORLD ARE MODERN-DAY SOCIOPOLITICAL LABORATORIES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE THAT PROCESS POSSIBLE. THE MODERN NEOCOLONIALISM BEING EXECUTED BY THE UNITED STATES HAS VARIOUS ASPECTS (ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL, SECURITY, CULTURAL, SPIRITUAL, AND SO ON), WHEREBY IT IS MAKING THE GREATEST HEADWAY PRECISELY IN THE AREA OF CULTURE AND THE MIND (CELLULOID AND DIGITIZED ILLUSIONS AND DREAMS). ALL OF EUROPE, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE WORLD, IS BEING INFECTED BY THIS PESTILENCE. THE VERACITY OF THIS ASSERTION IS CONFIRMED BY CHARLES TRUEHART, WRITING IN THE WASHINGTON POST: "AMERICANS ABROAD WILL CERTAINLY BE ASTOUNDED BY SIGNS OF THE GLOBAL REACH OF U.S. CULTURE: NIKE SPORTS EQUIPMENT, THE GAP OR DISNEY, THE MICROSOFT OR NBA LOGO, AND IMAGES OF LEONARDO DI CAPRIO OR MONICA LEWINSKY." BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WORLD, OR PART OF IT, SHOWS UNCOOPERATIVENESS TOWARD THE VIRTUAL REALITY AND BLESSINGS OF CELLULOID-DIGITAL DREAMS AND ILLUSIONS, AND THE CONDUCT OF ITS EMERGING HEROES IN THE GREAT GLOBAL DEMOCRATIC WORKSHOP? IN THAT CASE, TESTED AND TRUE INSTRUMENTS ARE DEPLOYED: MILITARY FORCE AND METHODS OF OPERATION FROM THE ARSENAL OF SPECIALIZED WAR. IF NECESSARY, POLITICAL LACKEYS ARE ALSO SENT IN FOR CRASH TRAINING ON HOW TO UTILIZE DEMOCRATIC INSTRUMENTS FOR EXTREMELY TOTALITARIAN GOALS: TAKING POWER AT ANY COST. BUT BEFORE WE IDENTIFY THE PRESENT-DAY INTERNATIONAL PRESSURES AIMED AT THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA, LET US ATTEMPT TO EXAMINE THE INTERNATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORKS WITHIN WHICH THEY ARE TAKING PLACE OR, TO BE MORE PRECISE, THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE PLACE IN THE FUTURE, AS WELL AS THE GEOSTRATEGIC TERMS OF REFERENCE WHICH, THROUGH THEIR WEIGHT, IMPACT OUR EVERYDAY SITUATION, WHICH IS MANIFESTED BY OPEN CALLS FOR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE BY THE OPPOSITION, BUT ALSO BY A NUMBER OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. BY EXAMINING THESE ASPECTS, IT IS VERY EASY TO OBSERVE THE GIVE AND TAKE BETWEEN INTERNAL POLITICAL EVENTS AND INTERNATIONAL ONES--FROM THE BROADER SOUTHERN AND SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE REGION TO THE GLOBAL LEVEL. INDEED, EVER SINCE THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL, FULL-FLEDGED EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN THIS REGION TO ESTABLISH POLITICAL, DIPLOMATIC, AND SECURITY PRECEDENTS BY THOSE--AND WE WILL SEE EXACTLY WHO THIS IS LATER IN THIS ARTICLE--WHO WISH TO ORGANIZE THE WORLD IN "THEIR OWN IMAGE." ALSO IN THE SPIRIT OF WHAT WAS SAID ABOVE, WE SEE THAT SINCE THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE BIPOLAR DIVISION, A BITTER BATTLE HAS BEEN UNDER WAY FOR 10 YEARS NOW BETWEEN TWO CONCEPTS OF THE NEW WORLD--THE ONE THAT ASPIRES TO MULTIPOLARITY AND THE ONE THAT ASPIRES TO UNIPOLARITY. ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE RATHER RECKLESS TO SAY SO, FOR ALL THESE 10 YEARS A NUMBER OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS GAME HAVE BEEN MORE OR LESS UNAWARE OF THESE EVENTS, AN EXAMPLE OF WHICH HAS BEEN THE RATHER CONFUSED FOREIGN POLICY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONFLICT IN THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA ON THE PART OF MOST LEADING EUROPEAN POLITICIANS WHO WERE IN A POSITION TO INFLUENCE THESE PROCESSES AT THE TIME. CLASH OF PRINCIPLES THE QUESTION OF WHETHER NATO SHOULD INTERVENE MILITARILY IN KOSOVO BRINGS WITH IT A CLASH BETWEEN TWO PRINCIPLES: ON THE ONE HAND, APPLICABLE INTERNATIONAL LAW, WHICH PROTECTS THE SOVEREIGNTY OF NATIONAL STATES, AND ON THE OTHER HAND THE HUMANITARIAN PRINCIPLE ACCORDING TO WHICH ONE MUST NOT SIT IDLY BY WHILE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FREEZE TO DEATH. IF WE EXAMINE THE PROBLEM FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, IT IS EASY TO SEE THAT THE UNITED STATES, WITH ITS DEMAND FOR RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA, TRANSPARENCY, AND SO ON, IS PERHAPS HOLDING IN ITS HANDS THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE WEAPON OF THE 20TH CENTURY, WITH WHICH IT IS ASPIRES TO A SITUATION IN WHICH IT CAN DESTROY THE EXISTING INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF LAW THROUGH SPECULATIVE DIPLOMACY, A BROAD RANGE OF ASYMMETRICAL ACTIONS, AND STROKES OF THE PEN. BUT IN ANY EVENT, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL LAW AND MORALITY REMAINS MUDDLED: WHICH IS HIGHER AND WHICH IS LOWER, INTERNATIONAL LAW OR HUMAN RIGHTS? AND WHILE WORLD SECURITY IS CONSTITUTED ON THE BASIS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, THIS COULD NOT BE SAID OF HUMAN RIGHTS, BUT THEIR ARROGATION BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR BY ONE OF THE MEMBER-STATES OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY REMAINS PROBLEMATIC. BECAUSE IF A STATE'S ACTIONS WHICH ARE CORRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS RESULTS IN A DISRUPTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL ORDER OF STATES AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ORDER OF CHAOS, THEN THEY UNDERMINE THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH HUMAN RIGHTS EVEN HAVE A CHANCE OF BEING GENERALLY APPLIED AND OF FULFILLING THEIR BASIC ROLE--TO PROTECT HUMAN LIVES IN THE SOCIOPOLITICAL COMMUNITY. BUT THAT IS NOT THE GOAL OF THE IDEOLOGISTS OF TRANSNATIONAL COMMUNITIES ANYWAY. CERTAINLY THIS PROBLEM REMAINS AN ACADEMIC BUT ALSO A POLITICAL AND GLOBAL SECURITY QUESTION, BOTH FOR JURISTS AND FOR POLITICIANS. IN RECENT WEEKS THIS DEBATE, WHICH HAS BEEN LARGELY HIDDEN FROM THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC, HAS BEEN VERY DRAMATIC. ALL THAT THE PUBLIC HAS SEEN HAS BEEN THE DIPLOMATIC-SPECULATIVE HOLBROOKE-MILOSEVIC WRANGLING AND THE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS OF AIRCRAFT FROM U.S. CARRIERS AND NATO BASES. DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE IN KOSOVO, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS BEEN RESOLVED IN AN ACCEPTABLE WAY, A CRUCIAL QUESTION REMAINS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY: "WOULD MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST THE FRY OVER THE KOSOVO CRISIS WITHOUT A UN MANDATE BE COVERED BY INTERNATIONAL LAW?" IN CONTRAST TO JURISTS, THE POLITY IN THE PERSON OF U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS FOUND A RESPONSE: "THERE IS A LEGAL BASIS FOR THE NATO OPERATION." THE CRISIS-CUM-HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE JUSTIFIES THE U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE'S INTENTION TO PERSUADE OTHERS THAT "WHOEVER HAS POWER AND MORALITY ON HIS SIDE ALSO HAS JUSTICE." THAT VIEW IS NOT SHARED BY ALL MEMBER OF THE NATO ALLIANCE, HOWEVER. THE UN CHARTER, A SORT OF CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMUNITY OF STATES, CONTAINS A GENERAL BAN ON THE USE OF FORCE (ARTICLE 2, NUMBER 4). THUS, THE BASIC RULE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW STILL APPLIES. ANYONE WHO VIOLATES IT IS THE PERPETRATOR OF AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL OFFENSIVE WAR. EXCEPTIONS TO THE BAN ON THE USE OF FORCE ARE CLEARLY SPELLED OUT. ON THE ONE HAND, THE INDIVIDUAL OR COLLECTIVE SELF-DEFENSE OF AN ATTACKED COUNTRY IS PERMITTED (ARTICLE 51). HOWEVER, THAT APPLIES ONLY TO CONFLICTS BETWEEN STATES. IN THIS WAY, KUWAIT AND ITS ALLIES IN THE GULF WAR, FOR EXAMPLE, INVOKED THE RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE. IN CONTRAST, KOSOVO IS NOT AN INDEPENDENT STATE, BUT RATHER PART OF THE FRY, AND FOR THAT REASON ARTICLE 51 DOES NOT APPLY. AS A SECOND EXCEPTION TO THE BAN ON THE USE OF FORCE, CHAPTER VI OF THE CHARTER STATES THAT THE SECURITY COUNCIL CAN TAKE MILITARY MEASURES "TO PRESERVE OR RESTORE WORLD PEACE OR INTERNATIONAL SECURITY." THE CONVENTION ON GENOCIDE ALSO CONTAINS NO SANCTION OF INVOLVEMENT BY THIRD-PARTY COUNTRIES. AGAIN, THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS AUTHORITATIVE. IN THE CASE OF KOSOVO, THE UNITED STATES ARGUES THAT THE BLOCKADE OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL (BY RUSSIA) SHOULD NOT LEAD TO INACTION IN THE FACE OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, AND THAT IN SUCH CASES A "RIGHT TO HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION" THROUGH MILITARY MEASURES IS ALLOWED IN ORDER TO PROTECT MINORITIES. BUT THAT RIGHT IS NOT RECOGNIZED AS A STANDARD INTERNATIONAL RIGHT, AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES (WHENEVER AND WHEREVER THEY OCCUR) WITHOUT A UN MANDATE WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. THUS, A SCENARIO IN WHICH AFTER SETTING A "VALID" PRECEDENT (IT IS NECESSARY TO RECALL THE INITIAL CONDITIONS THAT PRECEDED THIS YEAR'S ESCALATION OF THE KOSOVO CRISIS; SEE HRVATSKI VOJNIK, NO 34, "CRISIS AS CREATIVE STATE OF GLOBAL POLITICS," PP 20-23), NATO WOULD RECEIVE A MANDATE FOR MILITARY INTERVENTION THROUGH WHICH IT WOULD DEEM ITSELF ABLE TO INTERVENE IN THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF SOVEREIGN STATES WITHOUT A MANDATE FROM THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING HUMAN OR MINORITY RIGHTS IN THE STATE IN QUESTION, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD REPRESENT A DISRUPTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL LEGAL SYSTEM, AND THUS OF ORDER AS WELL, ALL FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXTREMELY RELATIVIZED "PEACE INITIATIVES AND POLICIES." THOSE STATES WHICH DO NOT DEVOTE PRIORITY ATTENTION TO THIS ASPECT RIGHT NOW ARE JEOPARDIZING THE ENTIRE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT ONE CRISIS IS ENOUGH TO ESTABLISH A PRECEDENT, AFTER WHICH NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. THE COMING PERIOD DOES NOT LEAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR THEORIZING, ESPECIALLY IF ONE CONSIDERS THE FACT THAT SOME OF THE ACTORS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THESE AND SIMILAR EVENTS ARE BEING EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE IN PUTTING FORWARD THEIR STANCES AND FUTURE VIEWS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THROUGH THE WORLD MEDIA. THIS CURRENT POLITICAL-LEGAL INTERLUDE (LINKED TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS) CAUSED BY THE CHANGE IN THE SEASONS OUGHT TO MAKE TWO THINGS POSSIBLE: ON THE ONE HAND, THE TWO OPPOSING SIDES MUST SUSPEND THEIR MILITARY ACTIVITY FOR THE WINTER THAT IS APPROACHING AND ALLOW THE REFUGEES TO RETURN HOME OR FIND BETTER SHELTER, THEREBY BEING DISPLACED FROM THE TELEVISION SCREEN. DURING THAT PERIOD, THE "WEST" SHOULD DEVELOP A POLITICAL PROGRAM TO DESTABILIZE MILOSEVIC, WHILE ON THE OTHER HAND, WITHIN ITS OWN RANKS, COMING UP WITH NEW FORMS OF SECURITY AND A CORRELATION BETWEEN THE INTERNATIONAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND HUMAN RIGHTS. IF SUCH AN APPROACH IS NOT AGREED TO DURING THE SHORT DAYS AND LONG WINTER NIGHTS, THE EXPERIMENTAL CRISIS LABORATORIES (POLITICAL-LEGAL WORKSHOPS) COULD FIND THEMSELVES BACK AT SQUARE ONE AS SOON AS SPRING ARRIVES. AND NOT ONLY IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE, BUT ALSO BEYOND, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE AREAS WHERE THAT HAS BEEN INCONCEIVABLE UP TO NOW BECAUSE OF, AS THEY SAY, A HIGH LEVEL OF AWARENESS AND THE RESULTING LEVEL OF CIVILIZATION IN RELATIONS BETWEEN STATES. (MORE) 99E35039A NOV 98 DS/BC CLASH OF UNIPOLARITY AND MULTIPOLARITY IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ANOTHER OPTION IN THE POST-COLD WAR ERA, AS OPPOSED TO MULTIPOLARITY, IS UNIPOLARITY. NATURALLY, THIS AGAIN RAISES THE QUESTION OF A NEW INTERNATIONAL ORDER. WE CAN ALREADY FIND AN INDICATION OF THE PROSPECTS OF THIS TENDENCY IN THE PAGES OF THE RESPECTED INTERNATIONAL HERALD-TRIBUNE: "INTERNATIONAL LAW AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS IS A COMPILATION OF INDIVIDUAL AND JOINT INITIATIVES WHICH WERE SOMETIMES WILLINGLY ACCEPTED AND SOMETIMES IMPOSED BY POWERFUL COUNTRIES." THE PROBLEM WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW IS THAT IT IS NOT A LAW, THE NEWSPAPER EMPHASIZES, ADDING THAT THE STANDARD VIEW IS THAT "A LAW PRESUPPOSES THE EXISTENCE OF A SOVEREIGN INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITY TO PROMULGATE AND ENFORCE IT." "THE UNITED NATIONS IS NOT SUCH AN AUTHORITY," THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD-TRIBUNE DECLARES. THE ENTIRE CAMPAIGN AGAINST INTERNATIONAL LAWS "IS PART OF A BROAD, CONTEMPORARY ATTACK ON THE IMPUNITY OF SUPREME AUTHORITIES," THE U.S. PUBLICATION CONTINUES. THE ISSUE OF CHILEAN GENERAL AUGUSTO PINOCHET AND THE POSSIBLE NATO INTERVENTION IN KOSOVO ARE CITED AS UNSOLVABLE PROBLEMS UNDER CURRENT "INTERNATIONAL LAWS." U.S. NEGOTIATOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE HAS CALLED NATO ACTION IN KOSOVO A PRECEDENT BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE THE "FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THAT A MILITARY ORGANIZATION ASSUMES THE RIGHT TO MILITARY INTERVENTION IN A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE POPULACE OF THAT COUNTRY FROM ITS OWN LEADERS." WHEN IT COMES TO PRECEDENTS, KOSOVO REMAINS AN INEVITABLE OBJECT OF INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL-DIPLOMATIC WRANGLING, AND CLEARLY NOT WITHOUT GOOD REASON. THE KOSOVO PANDEMONIUM [GALIMATIJAS] HAS BEEN EXPLAINED BY U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY RICHARD HOLBROOKE IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE GERMAN WEEKLY DIE ZEIT IN WHICH HE SAID THAT NATO ACTION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND KOSOVO HAS ESTABLISHED A PRECEDENT FOR FUTURE ACTIONS BY THAT ALLIANCE. "THE ALLIANCE CANNOT SIMPLY DECIDE TO GO SOMEWHERE AND UNILATERALLY START A WAR," HOLBROOKE SAID IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS LIKE THE ONE IN KOSOVO GIVES NATO THE RIGHT TO ATTACK A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY. "BUT IT HAS DEMONSTRATED TWICE NOW THAT IT IS CAPABLE OF ACTING IN AREAS WHERE IT HAD NO PREVIOUS INVOLVEMENT. THAT IS CERTAINLY A PRECEDENT, ALTHOUGH IT MUST BE REGARDED WITH CAUTION." THE AIR RAIDS IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WERE CARRIED OUT UNDER A UN MANDATE, BUT IN KOSOVO NATO IS ON UNSURE GROUND, BECAUSE THE UNITED NATIONS HAS CONDEMNED THE SERBIAN ATTACKS BUT NOT PROVIDED AN EXPLICIT MANDATE FOR ATTACK, THANKS IN PART TO THE ALMOST CERTAIN VETO OF SUCH A DECISION BY RUSSIA. LATER IN THE INTERVIEW, HOLBROOKE SAID THAT THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS NOT LOST ITS SIGNIFICANCE BECAUSE OF NATO'S WILLINGNESS TO ACT EVEN WITHOUT ITS PERMISSION. "BUT ANYONE WHO THINKS THAT THE SECURITY COUNCIL MUST HAVE A MONOPOLY ON POWER IS GIVING THE WORLD'S GREATEST TYRANTS JUSTIFICATION FOR BULLYING THEIR OWN PEOPLE." HOLBROOKE TOLD DIE ZEIT THAT NATO IS READY TO ATTACK THE SERBS IF THEY DO NOT RESPECT THE AGREEMENT ON KOSOVO, INCLUDING THE WITHDRAWAL OF FORCES AND THE ARRIVAL OF INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS TO SUPERVISE THE CEASE-FIRE. "WE HAVE ACHIEVED MORE THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS THAN WE WOULD HAVE OBTAINED THROUGH BOMBING, BUT IF MILOSEVIC DOES NOT LIVE UP TO HIS OBLIGATIONS, THEN WE CAN CHANGE OUR STANDPOINT AND BEGIN BOMBING," DIE ZEIT QUOTES HOLBROOKE AS SAYING. "THIS THREAT IS VERY SERIOUS AND WILL REMAIN SO." THIS SAME LINE OF THINKING IS SHARED BY REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATOR WILLIAM ROTH, WHO IS ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC ASSEMBLY. IN HIS REPORT ENTITLED "NATO IN THE 21ST CENTURY," WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL THIS MONTH, HE ARGUES THAT NATO'S ZONE OF ACTIVITY MUST BE SIGNIFICANTLY ENLARGED IN THE FUTURE. PRESENTING A VIEW THAT WILL PROBABLY APPALL A MAJORITY OF THE EUROPEAN ALLIES, TO SAY NOTHING OF RUSSIA AND CHINA, ROTH BELIEVES THAT IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE FOR NATO TO GET A MANDATE FROM THE SECURITY COUNCIL, BUT IF THAT WAS NOT FORTHCOMING THEN IT WOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF ACTING ON ITS OWN. "NATO MUST MAINTAIN FREEDOM OF ACTION," ROTH'S REPORT STATES. "ALTHOUGH ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE WOULD UNQUESTIONABLY PREFER TO ACT UNDER A UN MANDATE, THEY SHOULD NOT LIMIT THEMSELVES TO CASES WHERE SUCH A MANDATE CAN BE OBTAINED," ROTH ADDS. IN HIS WORDS, NATO ACTIONS SHOULD BE BASED ON "CORRESPONDING LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY," BUT HE DOES NOT SPECIFY WHAT THIS AUTHORITY MIGHT BE. FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HENRY KISSINGER HAS ALSO EXPRESSED HIS OPINION ON "TOMAHAWK DIPLOMACY" AND THE MOST DEMANDING CURRENT CRISIS IN THE WORLD: "THE GOAL OF NATO ATTACKS ON THE FRY, WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF A SCENARIO OF ETHNIC CONFLICT IN THE HEART OF THE BALKANS (ON THE PERIPHERY OF EUROPE, EDITOR'S NOTE), SURPASSES MY POWERS OF COMPREHENSION, UNLESS THEY ONE ELEMENT WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF A BROADER PLAN FOR RESOLVING CONFLICTS." KISSINGER ALSO DISPUTES THE VIEW THAT THE YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT BEARS SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SITUATION: "THE ETHNIC CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BALKANS CANNOT BE CAUSED BY ONE PERSON ALONE. THIS IS A TRAGEDY SHAPED BY THE INTERACTION BETWEEN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY, WHICH HAVE BEEN CLASHING ON THE BALKAN CHESSBOARD FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS NOW." WHAT ELUDES THE BRILLIANT MIND OF THE COLD WAR DIPLOMAT IS THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING PRECEDENTS, SO CLEARLY ADDRESSED BY RICHARD HOLBROOKE AND U.S. SENATOR WILLIAM ROTH, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO SERVE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE OLD NATO INTO A "NATO FOR THE 21ST CENTURY." AND IT IS PRECISELY HERE THAT ONE FINDS AN ANSWER TO THE ABSURDITY OF THE UNSELECTIVE AND MASS BOMBING OF A TERRITORY SEIZED BY ETHNIC CONFLICT, INHABITED PRIMARILY BY CIVILIANS. NEVERTHELESS, KISSINGER (IS HE AWARE OF BOTH THE GRAVITY AND THE PERNICIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION?) DISCERNS AN APPROACH THAT COULD EMERGE FROM A POTENTIAL OUTCOME OF THE KOSOVO CRISIS: "AS REGARDS THE DIALECTIC BETWEEN THE TWO DIFFERENT OPTIONS, AUTONOMY WITHIN SERBIA OR THE INDEPENDENCE SOUGHT BY KOSOVO ALBANIANS, THERE IS NO REASON TO DISCUSS AUTONOMY AS AN ABSTRACTION. WHAT IS NECESSARY IS TO FORMULATE, IN DETAIL, A PROPOSAL FOR HOW AUTONOMY CAN BE EFFECTED, FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE." IN ADDITION TO THE PREVIOUSLY NOTED PRECEDENT OF ALLOWING NATO TO ACT WITHOUT A UN SECURITY COUNCIL MANDATE, THIS APPROACH BRINGS WITH IT A DANGER WHICH, IF NOT FORESTALLED IN TIME, WILL CONFRONT THE ENTIRE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY: THE FRAGMENTATION OF STATES, FROM THE REGIONAL TO THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL, THE COMMON DENOMINATOR OF WHICH WILL BE IRREDENTISM. AND IN THE CASE OF EUROPE, THIS WILL NO LONGER BE LIMITED TO ITS PERIPHERY. IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO TAKE A GLOBAL VIEW, BECAUSE WE TOO HAVE OUR OWN EXAMPLES WHICH COULD BE GENERALLY APPLICABLE EVEN IF CERTAIN MINIMAL PECULIARITIES ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. THUS, RIJEKA MAYOR SLAVKO LINIC, TOGETHER WITH HIS COLLEAGUE IN MAKARSKA, IS LAUNCHING AN INITIATIVE ON ESTABLISHING AN ASSOCIATION THAT WILL "CONSISTENTLY DEFEND THEIR INTERESTS, STRENGTHEN THE AUTHORITIES OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT, AND RESIST THE ARBITRARINESS AND ARROGANCE OF THE CENTRAL AUTHORITIES." IN HIS MANAGERIAL PROJECTION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY, HE IS UNABLE TO FREE HIMSELF OF COMMUNIST DEMAGOGUERY WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT THE MARKET AND THE FUNCTIONING OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES IN THE CITIES, WHERE "BASED ON THE MODEL OF ADVANCED EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, A SIGNIFICANT SHARE OF THE ACTIVITIES PERFORMED BY MUNICIPAL SERVICES SHOULD BE STRUCTURED ON A MARKET BASIS, BUT IN SUCH A WAY THAT A PROFIT IS EARNED AMID REASONABLE PRICES FOR SERVICES." THIS APPROACH TO THE MARKET WOULD NOT BE THAT DANGEROUS TO HIM, BECAUSE REGULATING IT DEPENDS NOT ON THE DESIRES OF INDIVIDUALS OR ANY INTEREST GROUPS, BUT RATHER MOST OF ALL ON SUPPLY AND DEMAND, IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE DEMAGOGIC-PREELECTION HOODWINKING OF THE CITIZENRY. THE CONTOURS OF THE "FREE MARKET" ARE DEMONSTRATED BY THE EXAMPLE OF THE DISCRIMINATION FACED BY A VETERAN OF THE HOMELAND WAR WITH A 40 PERCENT DISABILITY, THE FATHER OF TWO CHILDREN, ON WHOM THE MAKARSKA CITY GOVERNMENT FIRST IMPOSED A 300 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE FEE TO OPERATE HIS FAST-FOOD KIOSK ON A MAKARSKA BEACH AND THEN SHUT DOWN ENTIRELY EVEN THOUGH HE HAD PROPERLY PAID THE FEES FOR THE USE OF PUBLIC SPACE. NEVERTHELESS, MAKARSKA MAYOR ZLATKO GARELJIC CALLS SLAVKO LINIC THE "TORCHBEARER OF NEW CHANGES." ALTHOUGH THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT INNOCUOUS, THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS MORE DANGEROUS: MAYOR LINIC'S ENDEAVOR TO SEE TO IT THAT RIJEKA ADOPTS THE FLAG CARRIED BY ITALIAN IRREDENTISTS. THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND ADMINISTRATION HAS ACCEPTED THE OFFERED COAT OF ARMS FOR THE CITY WITH CERTAIN CORRECTIONS (THE OFFICIAL COAT OF ARMS CANNOT INCLUDE THE INSCRIPTION "INDEFICIENTE" NOR THE CROWN ABOVE THE TWO-HEADED RIJEKA EAGLE), BUT THE PROPOSED FLAG WAS REJECTED IN ITS ENTIRETY. THE PROPOSAL FOR THE FLAG WAS REJECTED BECAUSE THE STATUTES MANDATE THAT THE FLAG BE OF ONE COLOR AND BECAUSE AN IDENTICAL FLAG IS USED BY THE SO-CALLED ASSOCIATION OF THE FREE RIJEKA MUNICIPALITY IN EXILE, WHICH IS TO SAY AN IRREDENTIST ORGANIZATION IN ITALY. (MORE) 99E35039A NOV 98 DS/BC ALTHOUGH THESE EXAMPLES ARE OF LOCAL CHARACTER, THEY SHOULD BY NO MEANS BE UNDERESTIMATED. FOR NOW, GLOBAL EXAMPLES OF THE FRAGMENTATION OF THE SOVEREIGNTY AND INTEGRITY OF NATIONAL STATES ARE DERIVING "ENERGY" FOR THESE AND OTHER DESTABILIZING PROCESSES FROM ETHNIC INTOLERANCE, BUT WITH A FURTHER ESCALATION OF SOCIAL DISCONTENT CAUSED BY THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS, THE ORCHESTRATION OF OPPOSITION BY FOREIGN FACTORS, AND INCREASINGLY FREQUENT AND DESTRUCTIVE NATURAL DISASTERS, ONE CAN ANTICIPATE EVER-STRONGER PRESSURE TO WEAKEN THE INFLUENCE OF CENTRAL AUTHORITIES IN A NUMBER OF HITHERTO RELATIVELY STABLE STATES AS WELL, AND THIS THROUGH USE OF THE EXACT SAME METHODS NOTED IN THE RIJEKA-MAKARSKA EXAMPLES. SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE AS A TESTING GROUND FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW INTERNATIONAL LEGAL ORDER THE STATEMENTS MADE BY HOLBROOKE AND ROTH TO THE GERMAN WEEKLY DIE ZEIT ARE A MANIFESTATION OF THE DEEP RUPTURE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND MOST OF ITS EUROPEAN ALLIES OVER THE QUESTION OF THE ALLIANCE'S (NATO'S) AUTHORITIES, AND THUS OVER THE VERY ISSUE OF SOUTHERN EUROPE--OR MORE PRECISELY, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN IN A EUROASIAN GEOSTRATEGIC CONSTELLATION, BUT ALSO INCREASINGLY IN A EUROAFRICAN ONE, WHICH IS GAINING IMPORTANCE THROUGH THE GENERAL INSTABILITY AND MILITARY CLASHES IN CENTRAL AFRICA. EVEN IF THIS ABYSS WAS BRIDGED WITH THE INAUGURATION OF THE DAYTON ACCORD, IT HAS BEEN REOPENED THROUGH THE KOSOVO CRISIS, FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT THE STRATEGIC GOAL OF THE NATO ALLIANCE--DEEPER EASTWARD PENETRATION--WAS NOT ACHIEVED THROUGH DAYTON. RIGHT BEFORE THE PINNACLE OF LAST MONTH'S KOSOVO CRISIS, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLAN VISITED THE BLACK SEA BASIN AND TRANSCAUCASIA (MOLDOVA, GEORGIA, AZERBAIJAN, AND ARMENIA), WHILE IN THE WESTERN MEDIA THE COMMANDER OF THE ALLIED FORCES IN EUROPE, WESLEY CLARK, WAS PROCLAIMED THE PROPONENT OF A "NEW GOSPEL" THAT WILL SPREAD WESTERN CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE TO THE EAST. RUSSIA CERTAINLY CANNOT REMAIN INDIFFERENT TO SUCH A SITUATION, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO EVENTS IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE, BUT ALSO BEYOND. THAT GEOPOLITICAL REGION IS ESSENTIAL TO RUSSIA FOR SEVERAL REASONS. THE FIRST AND CERTAINLY FUNDAMENTAL ONE IS THE FACT THAT THAT IS WHERE MOSCOW STRENGTHENS ITS OWN IMAGE AS A WORLD POWER IN THE POST-COLD WAR ERA (WHICH MEANS, IN OTHER WORDS, STRENGTHENING ITS POSITION IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE RELATIVE TO NATO), WHICH IS ALSO A GUARANTEE OF A MULTIPOLAR ORGANIZATION OF THE WORLD. "RUSSIA IS DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO RESOLVE THE KOSOVO QUESTION THROUGH POLITICAL MEANS, WITHOUT THE USE OF FORCE," PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN DECLARED IN A PHONE CONVERSATION AT THE BEGINNING OF LAST MONTH WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC. THE SCOPE OF THIS STATEMENT MADE BY YELTSIN LAST MONTH, ACCOMPANIED BY THE STANDARD PRONOUNCEMENT THAT MOSCOW IS NOT RULING OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF REFUSING TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIA, CAN ALSO BE SEEN FROM MOSCOW'S DECLARATION THAT IN THE EVENT OF NATO INTERVENTION IT IS WILLING TO SEND MILITARY AID TO THE FRY, IN THE FORM OF PERSONNEL AND MATERIEL. THE BASIC STARTING POINT FOR REALIZING THAT ONE MUST HAVE NO ILLUSIONS HERE IS THE SIMPLE FACT THAT, AS IN THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND IRAQ, RUSSIA IS ATTEMPTING TO ASSUME THE ROLE OF PEACE MEDIATOR, BECAUSE RUSSIA'S STANDING AS A WORLD POWER IS AT STAKE. THE CRISIS IN KOSOVO HAS THE STATUS OF A TEST INTENDED TO SHOW WHETHER OR NOT RUSSIA, UNDERGOING CONVULSIONS ON THE DOMESTIC POLICY SCENE, CAN STILL OPPOSE THE UNITED STATES ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE. FITTING IN WITH THIS PICTURE IS THE KREMLIN'S REPEATED DEMAND FOR A MULTIPOLAR WORLD--IN CONTRAST TO THE U.S. EFFORT TO ASSERT ITS OWN STATUS AS THE SOLE REMAINING WORLD POWER. ANOTHER REASON FOR RUSSIA'S INTEREST IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE IS THE ATTEMPT TO HALT NATO IN ITS POSITIONING IN THE BALKANS, WHERE THE FRY, BECAUSE OF ITS GEOGRAPHIC POSITION, IS BLOCKING THE SECI [SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN COOPERATION INITIATIVE] IN ITS (INTERMEDIARY) GEOSTRATEGIC EXTENT. IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT DEFINITIVELY RESOLVED IN THE FUTURE EITHER, THEN ONE MUST ALSO CONSIDER THE STATUS OF THE OTHER STATES IN THIS REGION. MANY OF THEM ARE ALREADY MEMBERS OF THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE, AND A SMALLER NUMBER OF THEM ARE IN THE FIRST WAVE OF ACCESSION TO EUROATLANTIC INTEGRATION PROCESSES (NATO AND THE EU), WHERE IN THE LATTER CASE THIS OVERALL PROCESS, PRECEDED BY A STRONG EUROATLANTIC PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN, HAS BEEN JEOPARDIZED BY THE SO-CALLED SHIFT OF THAT TIME LIMIT INTO THE COMING DECADES. THE IMPATIENCE OF THE BROAD MASSES WHOSE STRATEGIC INTERESTS ARE REFLECTED PRECISELY IN THE UNCRITICAL ANTICIPATION OF THAT ACTION (WHERE DESIRES ARE ONE THING AND THE GEOSTRATEGIC PROCESSES ARE SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY) TENDS TO DIMINISH CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITIES OF THE CENTRAL AUTHORITIES (FOR WHICH THEY THEMSELVES ARE THE LEAST TO BLAME, IF ONE NOTES THAT IN THE RECENT PERIOD A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES HAVE IN FACT IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF STRUCTURAL REFORMS IN MILITARY, ECONOMY, AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS) TO ADAPT TO THAT PROCESS. THE EXAMPLE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND THE RECESSION INTO WHICH THAT COUNTRY IS INCREASINGLY PLUNGING HAS NOT FAILED TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE BROADEST STRATA OF THE POPULACE, WHICH IS INCREASINGLY WONDERING WHAT THE REAL REASON AND JUSTIFICATION IS FOR JOINING THE EU, FOR EXAMPLE. THERE IS NO NEED TO POINT OUT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IN BRUSSELS IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS VERY DESIRE TO BE INVOLVED IN THESE INTEGRATION PROCESSES TO EXACT A SERIES OF PRESSURES AND CONSTANTLY NEW DEMANDS FOR NEW STANDARDS WHICH THAT ADMINISTRATION IS NOT EVEN APPLYING IN ITS OWN COUNTRIES. ACCORDING TO THE PUBLICATION KOMERSANT, THERE IS A CLEARLY EXPRESSED CHALLENGE BEING FACED BY RUSSIAN FOREIGN POLICY: "IF NATO MARCHES INTO KOSOVO, THEN IT WILL HAVE THE UNIMPEDED ABILITY TO CONCERN ITSELF WITH THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE POST-SOVIET TERRITORY," ADDING THAT LAST MONTH'S VISIT TO MOLDOVA, GEORGIA, AZERBAIJAN, AND ARMENIA BY NATO SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA MAPPED OUT THE DIRECTION OF THAT TREND. GLOBAL FEAR BUT LET US STICK TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS, WHICH THROUGH ITS EVEN GREATER INTENSITY WILL DEMONSTRATE THE DEEP DIVISION WITHIN THAT SAME WEST--WITH THE UNITED STATES ON ONE SIDE AND AUTHENTIC EUROPE ON THE OTHER. NOT MUCH SPECULATION IS NECESSARY TO FIGURE OUT TO WHAT EXTENT THAT DIVISION WILL BE OVERCOME AT A TIME WHEN NATO IS EXPLORING A NEW STRATEGIC APPROACH TO SECURITY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY, IF ONE CONSIDERS THE ORBITS OF INTEREST OF THE TWO LEADING COUNTRIES OF WESTERN EUROPE (FRANCE AND GERMANY), AS WELL AS RUSSIA AS THE THIRD SECURITY FACTOR ON THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT. THE FIRST TWO COUNTRIES' ORBITS OF INTEREST WERE DISRUPTED BY THE SECI INITIATIVE, WHICH HEDGES INTO THEIR INTERSECTION ON EUROPE'S SOUTHERN WING AND WHICH IS TENDING (ESPECIALLY AFTER THE ELECTION IN SLOVAKIA) TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE NORTHERN EUROPEAN WING, WITH ITS STARTING POINT IN THE BALTICS, AND WHICH RUNS IN A VERTICAL LINE TO THE ADRIATIC, THEREBY ENCOMPASSING EUROPE'S KEY LAND AND SEA GEOSTRATEGIC CORRIDORS, WHICH ARE THE STARTING POINT FOR STABILIZING OR DESTABILIZING IT. WE MUST ALSO EXAMINE THIS SITUATION IN THE CONTEXT OF CENTRAL EUROPE, THE VARIABLE GEOMETRY OF WHICH IS ALSO KEY TO THE STABILITY OF THE EUROPEAN REGION. CONCERNING THE GEOMETRY OF CENTRAL EUROPE IN THE COLD WAR PERIOD, SOURCES OF TENSION ARE CURRENTLY ON THE HORIZON, EVIDENCED BY THE SPECIFIC PORTENT OF EU MEMBERSHIP FOR THOSE STATES, WHICH IS BEING DRAGGED OUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE NEXT DECADE. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE MUCH IMAGINATION TO PULL UP A PICTURE OF DISSATISFACTION IN THOSE COUNTRIES, WHICH IN RECENT YEARS HAVE IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF STRUCTURAL CHANGES LITERALLY BORDERING ON HUMILIATION AND THE SELL-OFF OF KEY NATIONAL RESOURCES TO INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL, THEREBY ESTABLISHING A NEW DIPLOMATIC-FINANCIAL-COMMERCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE TAILOR-MADE TO TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS. WITH THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL, THE BORDER OF CENTRAL EUROPE AS A GEOPOLITICAL REGION HAS FINALLY SHIFTED FROM THE MARGINAL AREAS OF THE ALPS AND THE PANNONIAN PLAIN TO THE DINARICS AND THE ADRIATIC COASTLINE, THEREBY EMERGING FROM CONTINENTAL ISOLATION AND GIVING EUROPE AN OUTLET, VIA THE BLACK SEA AND THE ADRIATIC, TO THE "CENTER" OF THE WORLD--THE MEDITERRANEAN--WHICH IS THE GEOPOLITICAL LINK BETWEEN EUROASIA AND EUROAFRICA. THE TERRITORY OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA ESPECIALLY WILL MAKE IT GLOBALLY POSSIBLE TO ESCALATE NATO'S "PEACEKEEPING" MISSIONS AND CREATE A UNIVERSAL SECURITY CONCEPT FOR A UNIPOLAR OR MULTIPOLAR WORLD. ALONGSIDE THE NOW-STANDARD POSITION OF RUSSIA AND CHINA, WHICH HAS BECOME SOMETHING OF A CONSTANT, FRANCE AND GERMANY ARE CONTENDING THAT THE UN AUTHORIZATION IS NECESSARY FOR FUTURE NATO OPERATIONS OUTSIDE THE TERRITORY OF ITS MEMBERS. BUT THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE VIRULENCE OF SUCH CLAIMS IS NOT A LITTLE LATE IN COMING WILL SOON BE ANSWERED BY CERTAIN FUTURE EVENTS, BECAUSE IT IS KNOWN THAT SINCE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR UNTIL ONLY A FEW MONTHS AGO BOTH FRANCE AND GERMANY DEMONSTRATED A LARGE DEGREE OF DISORIENTATION IN DEALING WITH THE KOSOVO CRISIS. ALL THE MORE SO IF ONE NOTES THAT IT SERVED AS A PRETEXT FOR CREATIVE POLITICAL-DIPLOMATIC BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF THE UNITED STATES AND FOR ITS PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES ON THE SECI INITIATIVE AS AN INDIRECT STRATEGY FOR NATO'S MOVE EAST BY WAY OF THE SOUTHERN WING OF EUROPE. IF NOTHING ELSE, THE ESCALATION OF THE FIGHTING IN KOSOVO BETWEEN REGULAR UNITS OF THE GOVERNMENT IN BELGRADE AND PARAMILITARY-TERRORIST UNITS OF THE OVK [KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY] AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THAT CONFLICT INTO A HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE WILL SET A PRECEDENT WHICH HOLBROOKE WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO CASH IN ON IN HIS DIPLOMATIC-SPECULATIVE ACTIONS IN ORDER TO MAKE IT APPLICABLE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD WHERE, ACCORDING TO THE WASHINGTON POLITICAL ELITE, "THERE ARE ALSO OTHER SUFFERING NATIONS." IN KEEPING WITH HIS DIPLOMATIC CALIBER AND THE AUTHORITIES THAT HE HAS BEEN GIVEN BY U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, HOLBROOKE HAS COOLLY DECLARED THAT "SUBMISSION TO THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL AND ITS MONOPOLY ON THE USE OF FORCE HAS ALLOWED THE WORLD'S WORST TYRANTS TO CONTINUE TO OPPRESS THEIR OWN PEOPLE WITH IMPUNITY." BUT WHY HAS CONTINENTAL EUROPE FINALLY AWAKENED WITH A START AND BEGUN FLOATING FEARS OVER THE EXPANSION OF NATO'S ROLE BEING PERSISTENTLY PUSHED BY THE UNITED STATES? (MORE) 99E35039A NOV 98 DS/BC ((PARAGRAPH CONTINUES)) THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS. AMONG THE LEADING ONES IS THE THREAT OF ETHNIC SEPARATISM, WHICH HAS COME TO LIFE AND RISEN TO THE SURFACE IN SEVERAL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE--CANADA, FRANCE (SEPARATIST PROBLEMS WITH CORSICA), ITALY, SPAIN (PROBLEMS WITH THE BASQUES' SEPARATIST ASPIRATIONS), AND TURKEY, WHILE AFTER ITS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS GERMANY IS THREATENED BY EVEN MORE DEMANDING PROCESSES. THE EXAMPLE OF TURKEY IS ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT IF ONE NOTES THAT IT ALMOST THREATENED TO VETO THE ALLIANCE'S DECISION ON KOSOVO UNLESS ASSURANCES WERE PROVIDED THAT THE KOSOVO EXAMPLE WILL NEVER BE APPLIED TO ANKARA'S TREATMENT OF THE KURDS. THE FACT THAT THE PROBLEM IS BY NO MEANS INNOCUOUS IS ALSO CONFIRMED BY A HIGH-RANKING EUROPEAN DIPLOMAT AT NATO HEADQUARTERS, WHO SAYS, "NO ONE LIKES THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO USE FORCE AGAINST A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY BECAUSE OF THE WAY IN WHICH IT BEHAVES TOWARD ITS OWN CITIZENS. BY THAT TOKEN, YOU COULD JUSTIFY MILITARY INTERVENTION AGAINST MANY COUNTRIES, INCLUDING SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE." THE STATEMENT BY THIS DIPLOMAT MUST BE KEPT IN MIND CONSTANTLY IN THE FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF ONE'S OWN NATIONAL INTERESTS AND IN PROTECTING THE NATIONAL COMMUNITY FROM THE INVASION OF CELLULOID-DIGITAL ILLUSIONS, THE SOLE GOAL OF WHICH IS TO PROVOKE CHAOS AND PREPARE THE NATIONAL ESSENCE FOR THE FINAL PHASE OF NEOCOLONIALISM. THIS WARNING IS BY NO MEANS GUILELESS IF ONE NOTES THAT THE WORLD'S ONLY REMAINING SUPERPOWER, BECAUSE OF ITS TOTAL CONTROL OVER THE "ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES" AND ITS PREDOMINANT CONTROL OVER THE FINANCIAL FLOWS OF CAPITAL, IS IN A POSITION TO INFLUENCE SOCIOPOLITICAL EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD, CREATING A CHAOTIC SITUATION THAT BRINGS NOT JUST STATES, BUT ENTIRE REGIONS (SOUTHEASTERN ASIA) AND CONTINENTS (SOUTH AMERICA) TO THE BRINK OF THE ABYSS. THIS MAKES THE IMAGES OF VIOLENT STREET CLASHES IN JAKARTA ALL THE MORE CAUTIONARY, SINCE THEY SHOW THAT THE INDONESIAN POLITICAL VACUUM RESULTING FROM THE OVERTHROW OF SUHARTO IN MAY IS BEING TRANSFORMED INTO LONG-TERM INSTABILITY. AT LEAST 1,200 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND THOUSANDS OF STORES AND VEHICLES WERE BURNED DURING THE MAY CHAOS IN INDONESIA. THE CURRENT STUDENT UNREST THAT CONTINUES TO ESCALATE IS UNFOLDING ACCORDING TO THE ESTABLISHED MODEL--DEMANDS FOR THE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION OF SUHARTO FOR HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND CORRUPTION, WITH PROMISES THAT THE "CRISIS WILL CONTINUE" IF THOSE DEMANDS ARE NOT MET. THE "INDONESIAN CASE" IS INSTRUCTIVE BECAUSE IT DEMONSTRATES THE EXTREME DISORIENTATION OF THE POLITICAL ELITE AND OF THE PUBLIC (INDONESIA AND MALAYSIA HAVE A VERY ESSENTIAL GEOSTRATEGIC POSITION) IN PROCESSES THAT ARE MUCH MORE COMPLEX: GLOBAL IN NATURE, THEY ARE ALSO TAKING PLACE WITHIN ITS INTERCONNECTED STRUCTURES, RESULTING IN THE TRANSCENDENCE OF NATIONAL BORDERS. THE NOXIOUSNESS AND ALL THE TRAGEDY FOR THESE PEOPLE ARE LOCAL. "PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED OVER THE SACRIFICES THAT THEY MADE IN MAY, WHICH HAVE NOT BROUGHT ANY IMPROVEMENTS," A WESTERN DIPLOMAT SAYS ABOUT THE LATEST EVENTS IN INDONESIA. THE MISTAKES THAT WERE MADE, BUT ALSO THE SPECIFIC MODEL WHOSE SIGNATURE IS NOT DIFFICULT TO DECIPHER, ARE BORNE OUT BY ONE OFFICIAL WITH THE INDONESIAN INSTITUTE FOR THE FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION WHEN HE SAYS THAT A MIDDLE SOLUTION COULD HAVE BEEN FOUND IF PARLIAMENT HAD REACHED A COMPROMISE WITH THE THREE POPULAR OPPOSITION POLITICIANS ON A REFORM PROGRAM. WILL THE FEAR OF NATO'S BROAD AUTHORITIES (ACTION OUTSIDE THE ALLIANCE AND WITHOUT A SECURITY COUNCIL MANDATE) MOVE BEYOND THE WESTERN EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK AND BECOME GLOBAL? THE RUSSIAN OPPOSITION TO AIRSTRIKES BY NATO AIRCRAFT AGAINST SERB TARGETS IN KOSOVO SUGGESTED THE SIMILARITY OF THE KOSOVO CRISIS TO THE RUSSIAN PROBLEMS IN CHECHNYA. THE FACT THAT FUTURE EVENTS WILL NOT BE MERE DIPLOMATIC QUIBBLING IS INDICATED BY A CONFIDENTIAL REPORT BY THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT TO THE BUNDESTAG COMMITTEE ON DEFENSE, CITED BY THE GERMAN DAILY BILD, WHICH NOTES THAT IN THE EVENT OF FIGHTING RUSSIA IS READY, "IN SEVERAL HOURS' TIME," TO BEGIN SUPPORTING THE YUGOSLAV MILITARY FORCES "WITH EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL." IN OTHER WORDS, BONN IS AFRAID THAT NATO AIRSTRIKES AGAINST SERB TARGETS OVER THE KOSOVO CONFLICT COULD RESULT IN A DIRECT MILITARY CONFLICT WITH RUSSIA. THE REPORT NOTES THAT THE SUPPORT IN QUESTION IS ANTIAIRCRAFT MISSILES "WITH OPERATORS" AND FIGHTER PLANES "WITH CREWS," WHILE THE RUSSIANS WOULD MAKE UP FOR SERB LOSSES WITH THEIR OWN PERSONNEL. THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THAT NATO IS ESPECIALLY AFRAID OF RUSSIAN S-300 GROUND-TO-AIR MISSILES AND MIG-29 FIGHTERS. NEW EUROPEAN SECURITY AND THE MEDITERRANEAN QUESTION A SECOND REASON WHY CONTINENTAL EUROPE HAS LATELY BEEN DEVOTING INCREASING ATTENTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS OWN IDENTITY AND ITS OWN SECURITY CONCEPT AND IS VOICING INCREASINGLY CLEAR OPPOSITION TO THE "TOMAHAWK DIPLOMACY" BEING IMPOSED BY RICHARD HOLBROOKE AS A NEW STANDARD IS THE FUNDAMENTAL RECOGNITION THAT THE NEW NATO BROADENS THE SPECTRUM OF THREATS TO ITS OWN SECURITY, WHICH SOME MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AVOID IN THE FUTURE. DURING ITS SESSION IN EDINBURGH, THE NORTH ATLANTIC ASSEMBLY ADOPTED BY A LARGE MAJORITY A RESOLUTION AND KEY AMENDMENT STATING THAT NATO DOES NOT NEED A UN OR OSCE MANDATE IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT MILITARY ACTIONS BEYOND THE BORDERS OF THE SIGNATORIES TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY. IN THIS GAME OF GIVING SHAPE TO A NEW NATO, ONLY FRANCE FELT THAT THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL'S PERMISSION IS NECESSARY FOR THE USE OF FORCE, EXCEPT IN CASES OF SELF-DEFENSE. THE FRENCH VOCALNESS IS ECLIPSING THE SILENCE OF THE REST OF EUROPE. THAT REMAINDER OF EUROPE IS ONLY NOW REALIZING THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH A SYMBIOSIS IN WHICH IT PROVIDES PEOPLE, MONEY, AND CENTERS OF CRISIS IN ITS OWN "BACKYARD" WHILE THE UNITED STATES PROVIDES ITS HIGHLY MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND DIPLOMACY IN ORDER TO CREATE A NEW INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL MILIEU FROM WHICH EVEN IT WILL NOT BE SPARED. NEVERTHELESS, THE FOLLOWING IS THE STATE OF EUROPE'S SECURITY AWARENESS: THE POST-COLD WAR ERA AND THE SPECIAL QUESTION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN, ESPECIALLY IN AN ATMOSPHERE CHARACTERIZED BY THE END OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN EAST AND WEST, WHICH HAD ITS MAIN BATTLEFIELD--FROM IDEOLOGICAL TERMS TO MILITARY ONES--RIGHT IN EUROPE, PLUS BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA (THE PROCESS OF CREATING A (VIRTUAL) GREATER BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA), THE KOSOVO CRISIS, IRAQ, AND IN THE NEAR FUTURE CENTRAL AFRICA (THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO) AS WELL AS TRANSCAUCASIA AND CENTRAL ASIA (NOR CAN SOUTH AMERICA BE RULED OUT) WILL CONSTITUTE INSURMOUNTABLE SECURITY PROBLEMS, REQUIRING AN EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO THOSE CLASHES. THE FIRST THREE OF THESE CRISIS CENTERS (BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, KOSOVO, AND IRAQ), AS A SORT OF "SECURITY PILOT," CLEARLY SHOW THAT THE STANCES OF THE TRANSATLANTIC COMMUNITY ARE CHARACTERIZED BY DIFFERENT ASSESSMENTS OF THE RELEVANT THREATS TO SECURITY POLICY. THE BASIC STRATEGY IS ADDITIONALLY COMPLICATED WITH THE INCLUSION OF RUSSIA AND CHINA. IN RECENT TIMES EUROPE HAS BEGUN TO CONSIDER THE QUESTION OF ITS SECURITY IN MUCH BROADER TERMS, THINKING THAT NATO, AS A LEFTOVER FROM THE COLD WAR, DOES NOT OFFER ANSWERS TO A NUMBER OF SECURITY QUESTIONS THAT IT IS INCESSANTLY CONFRONTING. AND IN THAT IT IS RIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE IDEAL OF GLOBALISM IS BEING IMPOSED THROUGH THE MEDIA AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ACROSS A BROAD SPECTRUM, EVERYONE GIVES TOP PRIORITY TO THEIR OWN NATIONAL SECURITY, WHICH IS MUCH BROADER THAN THE CLASSIC MILITARY THREAT. WHAT WE SEE AS THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE COOPERATION WITHIN THE TRANSATLANTIC ALLIANCE WHICH WENT UNCHALLENGED DURING THE EAST-WEST CONFLICT IS THE REALIZATION THAT THE QUESTION OF NATIONAL SECURITY, WHICH IS TO SAY THE DANGER THAT THREATENS IT, IS MUCH BROADER IN SCOPE (THE QUESTIONS OF CRIME AND DRUG TRAFFICKING, IMMIGRATION POLICY, FINANCIAL CRISES, CULTURAL STRATIFICATION--IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, FOR EXAMPLE--AND SO ON) AND MUCH MORE INTRICATE, SINCE CONFLICTS ARE ERUPTING MOSTLY WITHIN STATES AND THOSE CONFLICTS ARE OF A SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC NATURE. THE OVERALL STRATIFICATION OF EUROPE (CULTUROLOGICALLY, ECONOMICALLY), TOGETHER THE DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIC POSITIONS AND THE VARIANCE IN GEOSTRATEGIC PRIORITIES, INFLUENCE THE VARIOUS ASSESSMENTS OF THE LOOMING TENSIONS CONTAINED IN REGIONAL CRISES AND CONFLICTS ON THE MARGINS OF EUROPE. THE LATTER ESPECIALLY HAS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A NATURAL DISASTER, AND IT IS VERY HARD TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSES AND EVEN HARDER TO FIGURE OUT WHO IS BEHIND THEM AND IN WHOSE INTEREST THE ESCALATION OF A SPECIFIC CONFLICT IS. VIEWED FROM THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE, THE ACHIEVEMENT OF A SECURITY CONSENSUS FOR JOINT ACTION IN AND BETWEEN EUROPEAN SECURITY-POLICY INSTITUTIONS [AS PUBLISHED]. AS FAR AS THE MEDITERRANEAN IS CONCERNED, ONLY SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC ALLIANCE REGARD A POSSIBLE DANGER IN THAT REGION AS A THREAT TO THEIR OWN SECURITY. THE GEOSTRATEGIC CONSENSUS FROM THE COLD WAR ERA HAS DISAPPEARED, WHILE THE MEDITERRANEAN, PRECISELY BECAUSE OF ITS GEOSTRATEGIC VALUE, AND THUS ALSO BECAUSE OF ITS COMPLEX SECURITY SITUATION, REPRESENTS A SECURITY CHALLENGE WHERE EUROPE MUST BE AFFIRMED AS A MEMBER OF THE MULTIPOLAR WORLD WHICH THE MAJORITY OF EUROPEAN STATES SINCERELY SUPPORT. (MORE) 99E35039A NOV 98 DS/BC UNTIL VERY RECENTLY, FROM THE PROSPECTIVE OF SECURITY AND BECAUSE OF RUSSIA'S COOPERATION, THE LANDS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE EXPERIENCED POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STABILIZATION PRIMARILY BY VIRTUE OF THE FIRST WAVE OF EU EASTWARD EXPANSION. PORTENTS OF SHIFTS IN THOSE TERMS DO NOT GUARANTEE THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SECURITY OF THAT REGION, WHICH HAS ALSO NOT BEEN SPARED ETHNIC STRATIFICATION. BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF GEOGRAPHIC, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL RELATIONS AND THE RESULTING CRISES THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS (VIEWED MORE BROADLY, THEY CAN BE MEASURED IN DECADES AND CENTURIES), THE MEDITERRANEAN, AS A GEOGRAPHIC HUB OF THREE CONTINENTS (IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION AND IN THE MUCH BROADER SENSE), REPRESENTS A PROBLEM TO WHICH EUROPE MUST DEVOTE ITS ATTENTION. THE AWARENESS PRESENT IN THIS REGION RULES OUT ANY MANIPULATIVE DIPLOMATIC APPROACH AND OBSERVES THAT THIS IS THE WAY OUT OF THE PROBLEM CAUSED BY CONFLICTING INTEREST AND RISKS, NAMELY THE ENDEAVOR TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS THROUGH COOPERATION. AT PRESENT THAT COOPERATION IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE CREATION OF SUBREGIONAL SECURITY STRUCTURES OUTSIDE THE CONTEXT OF CURRENT ALLIANCE STRUCTURES. IN EARLY 1995, FRANCE, SPAIN, PORTUGAL, AND ITALY RESOLVED TO CREATE JOINT LAND AND NAVAL ARMED FORCES (EUROFOR AND EUROMARFOR), WHICH, JUDGING FROM ALL INDICATIONS, ARE DIRECTED AGAINST POTENTIAL SECURITY THREATS FROM THE SOUTH. FOR NOW, ONE THING IS CERTAIN: WHETHER ON THE TRANSNATIONAL OR SUBREGIONAL LEVEL, THIS TRANSCENDS THE ASPECT OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF INDIVIDUAL STATES. IN THIS CHAOTIC SITUATION, IMBUED WITH ONE CRISIS AFTER ANOTHER, THE LEADING POSITION OF SOME STATE OR INTEREST GROUP IS A FUNCTION OF ITS ABILITY TO MANAGE SUCH CRISIS SITUATIONS. THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP TOWARD THE LEADING POSITION. THE LEADING SUPERPOWER BECOMES THAT BY MAXIMIZING THE TERRITORY AFFECTED BY CRISES AND ITS ABILITY TO MANAGE THEM OR KEEP THEM UNDER CONTROL. BATTLE FOR THE "CENTER" OF THE WORLD AS FAR AS NEW ASPECTS OF SECURITY ARE CONCERNED, A PARTICULAR PROBLEM FOR STATES IS THE ENTIRE NETWORK OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND VARIOUS FIRMS NOT SUBJECT TO ANY DEMOCRATIC CONTROL. THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF SUCH A STRUCTURE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF--EVERYTHING IS MUTUALLY INTERCONNECTED, AND THROUGH THEIR INTERACTION THEY AFFECT INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. ON THE OTHER HAND, MEANWHILE, THE REALITY OF THE THREAT IS REFLECTED IN THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE WITH HOW TO DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEMS. VIEWED IN TERMS OF PROBLEMS, THE NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS CONSTITUTE ONLY ONE OF THE INSTRUMENTS OF THE ASYMMETRICAL MILITARY-POLITICAL-DIPLOMATIC APPROACH TO FINALLY REALIZING THE THEORY OF THE "END OF HISTORY," REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THAT IS VIEWED WITH MARX'S OR FUKUYAMA'S DIOPTER. OR TO PUT IT IN DIFFERENT WORDS, THE INAUGURATION OF THE NEW WORLD ORDER AND A UNIFIED WORLD GOVERNMENT. BUT UNTIL THAT MOMENT, TO USE HOLBROOKE'S PHRASEOLOGY, A GREAT DEAL OF "DIRTY WORK" REMAINS TO BE DONE. THE SECOND POINT WHERE THE PROTECTION OF EUROPE'S INTERESTS WILL BE INTENSIFIED WILL EXTEND, AS PREVIOUSLY NOTED, TO THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN, WHICH WILL ALSO BE A CLEAR TEST OF EUROPE'S RESOLVE TO SET ITS OWN COURSE IN THE FUTURE MULTIPOLAR WORLD. THANKS TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS, ONE CAN CLEARLY DISCERN NATO'S ENDEAVOR TO EVOLVE FROM A SYSTEM OF COLLECTIVE DEFENSE OF THE WESTERN WORLD INTO AN INSTRUMENT OF GLOBAL SECURITY. AS EXPECTED, THE FIRST WAVE OF NATO EXPANSION WITH POLAND, HUNGARY, AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE WASHINGTON SUMMIT NEXT YEAR, BY WHICH TIME ITS STRATEGIC APPROACH TO SECURITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY ALSO OUGHT TO BE CLEAR (TRANSPARENT). THIS NEW CHARTER FOR THE ALLIANCE SHOULD ALSO BE THE CROWNING TOUCH ON THE SUMMIT ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY. BUT ONE CAN ONLY SPECULATE ABOUT THE FATE OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES IMPATIENTLY WAITING TO ENTER THAT "EXCLUSIVE SECURITY CLUB." LET US SAY THAT THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER ACCEPTANCE OF MEMBERS, WHICH IS VERY LIKELY FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON. WITH THE INCLUSION OF POLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, AND HUNGARY, THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIC GOALS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED: THE BALTIC GEOSTRATEGIC MARITIME REGION HAS BEEN MASTERED, TOGETHER WITH THE GERMAN-POLISH-BELARUSIAN PLAIN, THUS STRENGTHENING NATO'S EASTERN FLANK TOWARD RUSSIA. WITH THE ACCEPTANCE OF HUNGARY, NATO CONTROLS THE PANNONIAN PLAIN, WHICH IS TO SAY THE GEOSTRATEGIC REGION THAT EXTENDS ACROSS UKRAINE AND HUNGARY TO NORTHERN ITALY AND THE ADRIATIC, WHICH OBVIOUSLY RAISES THE QUESTION OF THE STATUS (ACCEPTANCE INTO NATO) OF SLOVENIA IN THIS GEOSTRATEGIC REGION. CLAIMS THAT ONLY SLOVENIA (AS OPPOSED TO ROMANIA, SLOVAKIA, AND BULGARIA) HAS DEVELOPED CONSISTENTLY IN THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SENSE SERVE ONLY TO COVER UP THE REAL INTENTIONS. SLOVENIA IS LOCATED AT THE END OF THE CRITICAL GEOSTRATEGIC ZONE THAT EMERGES ON THE NORTHERN ADRIATIC, NAMELY AT THE "POINT" WHERE THE MEDITERRANEAN, IN THE FORM OF THE ADRIATIC SEA, EXTENDS THE FURTHEST INTO THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT. THIS GEOSTRATEGIC END-POINT (FROM UKRAINE TO NORTHERN ITALY) MUST BE REGARDED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE GERMAN AND FRENCH ORBIT OF INTERESTS, WHICH ARE CONGRUENT IN THIS AREA, BUT ALSO BEYOND IT, IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE--NAMELY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN CONSISTENT AREA IN TERMS OF SECURITY FROM THE BALTICS TO THE ADRIATIC. IN THIS GEOSTRATEGIC CONSTELLATION, AND GIVEN THE DYNAMIC OF EVENTS (EXERCISES BY NATO AND THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE IN SLOVENIA, ALONG THE CROATIAN BORDER), ONE CAN EXPECT AN INCREASINGLY STRONG INTENSIFICATION OF THE ISTRIA QUESTION AND NATURALLY THE RIJEKA QUESTION, WHICH ARE CHARACTERIZED BY INCREASINGLY STRONG EXPRESSIONS OF IRREDENTIST ASPIRATIONS, SUPPORTED BY CERTAIN INTERNAL POLITICAL OPPOSITION SUBJECTS. WE MUST NOT REMAIN EVEN SLIGHTLY INDIFFERENT TO THE MULTILINGUAL AND MULTIETHNIC NATURE OF ISTRIA AND TO THE IRREDENTIST SALLY WITH THE FLAG AND COAT OF ARMS IN RIJEKA ON THE PART OF RIJEKA MAYOR SLAVKO LINIC. CLOSELY CONNECTED TO THIS EVENT IS ALSO THE SIGNING OF THE PLOCE-NEUM AGREEMENT AND THE UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING THE SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT ON SPECIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA AND THE FEDERATION OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, WHICH THE BOSNIAK ELEMENT IS CONSTANTLY PUSHING. FOR THE OTHER COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE, THE DELAY IN JOINING NATO AND THE EU REPRESENTS AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF INSTABILITY. THE NEW DEMOCRATIC AND PRO-WESTERN AUTHORITIES IN THOSE COUNTRIES ARE INCREASINGLY PANICKED, BECAUSE THEY FEAR PUBLIC DISAPPOINTMENT OVER THE DELAY IN MEMBERSHIP IN THE "ELITE EUROPEAN CLUB, THE EU." A HINT OF THIS TREND HAS COME IN THE FIRM OF THE SHARP WARNING ADDRESSED TO SLOVENIA AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC BY THE COMMISSION IN BRUSSELS IN ITS FIRST REPORTS ON PROGRESS TOWARD JOINING THE EUROPEAN UNION. THESE WERE COUNTRIES WHICH UP TO THAT POINT HAD BEEN CONSIDERED FAVORITES AMONG THE FIRST-CATEGORY COUNTRIES. THIS BECOMES MORE ALARMING AND PROBLEMATIC IF ONE CONSIDERS THAT WITH THE CELLULOID-DIGITAL INVASION (HOLLYWOOD FILMS AND TV SOAP OPERAS, THE EFFECT OF "SANTA BARBARA"), SPIRITUAL NEOCOLONIZATION HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE. THIS OVERALL NEOCOLONIZATION PROCESS CONSTITUTES A SORT OF RACKET. THE OFFER, AS IT GOES, IS ONE OF A SIGNIFICANT MEASURE OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SECURITY, WHICH MEANS YOU WILL HAVE TERRITORIAL PROTECTION, BUT UNDER THE CONDITION THAT YOU CONSENT TO LIMITED POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC-FINANCIAL SOVEREIGNTY, UNTIL IT IS LOST ENTIRELY. IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN ILLUSIONS ABOUT DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS, FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA, AND PLURALISM BECOME NOTHING MORE THAN A MAFIA INSTRUMENT IN THE NEOCOLONIAL APPROACH TO THE EUROPEAN REGION, WIELDED BY TRANSNATIONAL COMPANIES AND NONGOVERNMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS, AS THE MOST ELITE "FORMATIONS" OF THE INFORMAL CENTER OF WORLD POWER. THE QUESTION OF SLOVAKIA, THE "REPLACEMENT OF DICTATOR MECIAR," WAS ESSENTIALLY RESOLVED THROUGH THE RECENT PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, WHICH EUROATLANTIC CIRCLES WELCOMED WITH UNCONCEALED ENTHUSIASM, THEREBY ESTABLISHING A TRUE DIPLOMATIC PRECEDENT. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SLOVAK DEMOCRATIC COALITION HAD NOT EVEN BEEN ELECTED WHEN HE RECEIVED AN INVITATION FROM BRUSSELS TO ATTEND A SERIES OF MEETINGS AT NATO AND EU HEADQUARTERS. MEANWHILE, THE QUESTION OF ROMANIA AND BULGARIA AND THEIR ROLE IS LEFT ASIDE WITHIN THE SECI PROGRAM, WHICH MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO STRATEGICALLY REALIZE NATO'S EASTWARD EXPANSION THROUGH ITS DIRECT (ECONOMIC) COMPONENT AND ITS INDIRECT ONE (THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE PROGRAM), PLUS THE KOSOVO CRISIS. THE AFOREMENTIONED HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE RESULTING FROM THE KOSOVO CRISIS AND THE RECENT ELECTIONS IN MACEDONIA AND THE VICTORY OF THE MACEDONIAN POLITICAL OPPOSITION BLOC--THE COALITION OF LJUPCO GEORGIJEVSKI'S VMRO-DPMNE [INTERNAL MACEDONIAN REVOLUTIONARY ORGANIZATION-DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR MACEDONIAN NATIONAL UNITY] AND VASIL TUPURKOVSKI'S DA [DEMOCRATIC ALTERNATIVE]--OPENS UP UNDREAMT-OF POSSIBILITIES FOR FURTHER ACTION. "IN THE SECOND ROUND OF THE ELECTIONS IN MACEDONIA VOTERS WILL OPT FOR CHANGE, AFFIRMING THE OPPOSITION'S VICTORY. THE NEW POLITICAL SITUATION WILL WORSEN INTERETHNIC RELATIONS, BUT WILL PRESERVE THE PROCESS OF CONNECTIONS AND COOPERATION WITH THE WEST AND RAPPROCHEMENT TO NATO," SAID THE LEADER OF THE SOCIAL-DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE, FORMER PRIME MINISTER BRANKO CRVENKOVSKI. YES, "SUCH A DESIRABLE CHANGE HAS OCCURRED" WITH INCREASED FACTORS OF INTERNAL INSECURITY, SO NECESSARY TO NATO'S POSITIONING NEXT DOOR TO KOSOVO. IN THE CASE OF SLOVAKIA, WHICH ALSO HAS POTENTIAL ETHNIC TENSIONS, THE ECONOMIC FUTURE IS NOT SO ROSY EITHER, IN ANTICIPATION OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT SHOULD TAKE PLACE ONLY IN 10 YEARS' TIME. (MORE) 99E35039A NOV 98 DS/BC EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY IN TERMS OF THE FACILITY OF THAT APPROACH, THE SOUTHERN ZONE--AS OPPOSED TO THE EASTERN ONE, WHICH DIRECTLY FACES RUSSIA WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED NORTHERN FORK OF THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT--IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY TURBULENT REGION CHARACTERIZED BY ETHNIC TENSIONS WHICH CAN ALWAYS BE USED AS A CREATIVE CENTER FOR ALL KINDS OF STRATEGIC POSITIONING. IN RECENT TIMES THIS HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY OBVIOUS BASED ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA. THE "INDEPENDENT MEDIA" ARE SERVING UP VARIOUS CATASTROPHIC SCENARIOS OF THE COLLAPSE OF THE ECONOMIC AND BANKING SYSTEM AND THE ALLEGED GENERAL CRISIS OF MORALS THAT HAS OVERCOME CROATIAN SOCIETY. THE CREATORS OF THE UNIVERSAL CRISIS AND CHAOS ARE "WASHINGTON'S MAINSTAYS"--SIX OPPOSITION PARTIES (THE SDP [SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY], THE IDS [ISTRIAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS], THE HSLS [CROATIAN SOCIAL-LIBERAL PARTY], THE LS [LIBERAL PARTY], THE HNS [CROATIAN NATIONAL PARTY], AND THE HSS [CROATIAN PEASANTS PARTY], WHICH WITH DELIBERATE, PLANNED GUIDANCE ORCHESTRATED FROM ABROAD INTEND TO PROVOKE A PARLIAMENTARY CRISIS MODELED AFTER SIMILAR EVENTS IN 1994. THE GOAL IS TO SIMULATE A CRISIS IN THE FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT, TO ENCOURAGE DIVISIONS WITHIN THE HDZ [CROATIAN DEMOCRATIC COMMUNITY], AND TO FORCE EARLY ELECTIONS AT THE EXPENSE OF INCITING CITIZENS TO TAKE TO THE STREETS. BUT THE INTELLIGENCE-SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITY OF THE SIX CROATIAN "OPPOSITION" PARTIES IN NOT SIMPLY AN INTERNAL CROATIAN AFFAIR. IT IS ONLY ONE ELEMENT OF BROADER EUROPEAN EVENTS, TO WHICH EUROPE SHOULD DEVOTE THE NECESSARY ATTENTION FROM THE SECURITY STANDPOINT. THE BASIC ASSUMPTION OF THE STRATEGISTS OF CHAOS IS THAT THE NORTHERN PART OF CENTRAL EUROPE HAS CIVILIZATIONALLY OVERCOME ETHNIC INTOLERANCE, IN CONTRAST TO THE SOUTHERN BELT, WITH ITS FOOTHOLD IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION. THE STATUS OF ROMANIA, AS THE END POINT OF THE DANUBIAN COMPONENT LINKING CENTRAL EUROPE TO THE BLACK SEA (THE BLACK SEA-AEGEAN GEOSTRATEGIC NAUTICAL ZONE, CONNECTING CENTRAL EUROPE WITH THE MEDITERRANEAN), IS ALSO GAINING IMPORTANCE. IT IS A FACT THAT THE SOUTHERN FORK, ESPECIALLY IN THE TERRITORY OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, IS DEMONSTRATING A HIGH LEVEL OF TENACITY WHICH MUST BE COMPLETELY ERADICATED. A MORE COMPLEX, OFFENSIVE APPROACH WAS SEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR WHEN SOME OPPOSITION LEADERS WERE INVITED TO WASHINGTON FOR TRAINING TO FAMILIARIZE THEM WITH THE SECRETS OF POLITICAL ENGINEERING (READ: HOW TO TOPPLE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED AUTHORITIES). COUNTRIES OF THE "CENTER OF THE WORLD" THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN AND THE QUESTION OF THE FUTURE EUROPEAN MILITARY AND SECURITY SYSTEM--OR SIMPLY THE QUESTION OF POLITICAL EUROPE--IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY SIGNIFICANT. FOR THAT REASON, IT IS INTERESTING TO EXAMINE SOME OF THE KEY MEMBER-STATES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN. TAKING ITALY AND ITS FOREIGN POLICY AS OUR BASIS, WE CAN LOOK AT THE SEPTEMBER CONFERENCE OF 125 ITALIAN AMBASSADORS IN FARNESINA IN THE CONTEXT OF A REEXAMINATION AND DEFINITION OF THE FURTHER STRATEGY OF ITALIAN FOREIGN POLICY. IN TERMS OF DOMESTIC POLICY, THIS PERIOD HAS BEEN SHAPED BY THE LEFT-CENTER GOVERNMENT, WHILE GAINS IN TERMS OF FOREIGN POLICY HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE PRECISELY BECAUSE OF THAT "COMPOUND INTERNAL STABILITY AND CERTAIN DEGREE OF DIPLOMATIC FLEXIBILITY THAT BECAME POSSIBLE WITH THE END OF THE COLD WAR AND OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE BLOCS." IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT, ADDITIONAL GAINS IN ITALIAN FOREIGN POLICY WILL COME FROM ENTRY INTO THE EMU [EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION], POLITICAL-DIPLOMATIC AND "MILITARY"--WHICH IS TO SAY PEACEKEEPING--OPERATIONS AND INITIATIVES IN THE BALKANS AND MEDITERRANEAN (OPERATION ALBA IN ALBANIA AND INVOLVEMENT WITH SFOR [UN STABILIZATION FORCE] IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA), AS WELL AS OTHER INITIATIVES IN THE WORLD. AT THE FARNESINA CONFERENCE, THERE WAS DISCUSSION OF INTERNAL DIFFICULTIES, THE ORGANIZATION OF MINISTRIES, AND HOW TO BEST PROMOTE ITALIAN ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL INTERESTS, AS WELL AS THE MAIN DIRECTIONS OF FOREIGN POLICY. IN PRACTICE THAT MEANS THE FOLLOWING: THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT HAS UNDERTAKEN A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES OF THE REGIONAL AND TERRITORIAL TYPE, THEREBY, AS WAS EMPHASIZED, "RESPECTING THE REDISCOVERED RULES OF GEOPOLITICS AND NATIONAL INTERESTS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, THE MIDDLE EAST, AND THE BALKANS." THUS, ON 2 SEPTEMBER 1998, CORRIERE DELLA SERA WROTE THE FOLLOWING UNDER THE HEADLINE "SCALFARO TO DIPLOMATS: MORE POLITICS, FEWER ECONOMIC MATTERS": "THE PLANS ARE AMBITIOUS. THUS, ITALY INTENDS TO STRENGTHEN ITS ROLE AS THE 'ADVANCE GUARD' OF EUROPE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, WHICH IS ALSO BEING URGED BY MINISTER LAMBERTO DINI. TO THAT END, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, OSCAR LUIGI SCALFARO, WOULD LIKE FOR OUR AMBASSADORS TO CONCERN THEMSELVES MORE WITH POLITICS AND LESS WITH ECONOMIC FUNCTIONS. BUT ON THE EVE OF THE THIRD MILLENNIUM THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS FACES ITS OWN 'STRUCTURAL' LIMITATIONS AND SERIOUS BUDGET PROBLEMS, ADMITS THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF FARNESINA, UMBERTO VATTANI, WHO ASKS THAT THE STATE PROVIDE LARGER BUDGETS IF IT WANTS TO ACHIEVE THE ESTABLISHED GOALS.... AT THE MEETING IMBUED WITH STRONG CONCERN OVER THE 'TEMPEST' THAT HAS BEFALLEN RUSSIA, SCALFARO CALLED ON THE AMBASSADORS TO ENGAGE IN POLITICS: 'IN TODAY'S WORLD, IT APPEARS THAT ECONOMICS HOLDS SWAY EVERYWHERE, BUT THE KEY ACTIVITY IS POLITICAL ACTION.' MORE IMPORTANT THAN BUSINESS DEALS IS THE ROLE WHICH OUR COUNTRY CAN PLAY. THIS WAS ADDRESSED BY LAMBERTO DINI. IN VIEW OF THE CHANGED WORLD, WHICH IS INCREASINGLY GLOBALIZED, THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR EUROPEAN UNITY TO BECOME INCREASINGLY POLITICAL AFTER THE INTRODUCTION OF A UNIFIED CURRENCY. BUT WITHOUT FORGETTING THE ATLANTIC ORIENTATION 'THAT IS BEING REDISCOVERED,' WHICH COMES ACROSS AS A MESSAGE TO THE UNITED STATES AFTER THE TEPID SUPPORT VOICED FOR THE U.S. ATTACKS IN SUDAN AND AFGHANISTAN. THE PRIMARY FOCUS WILL BE ON THE MEDITERRANEAN, THE REGION IN WHICH OUR COUNTRY MUST STRENGTHEN ITS PRESENCE: 'IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO AGAIN WIN OVER COUNTRIES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY ON THE MARGINS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, SUCH AS LIBYA. IT IS NECESSARY TO PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN THE REGIONAL CONTEXT.' ONE MUST ACT IN ONE'S CAPACITY AS THE 'ADVANCE GUARD' OF EUROPE, BUT ALSO 'REALIZING AUTONOMOUS PLANS.' WHICH MEANS THAT ITALY WILL CONTINUE ITS DIALOGUE WITH NORTHERN AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST (...)." THE FINAL PART OF THE CONFERENCE IN FARNESINA, WHERE THE SPEECH BY NOW-FORMER PRIME MINISTER ROMAN PRODI STOOD OUT, CLEARLY DESIGNATED "THREE FUNDAMENTAL DIRECTIONS AND PILLARS" OF ITALIAN FOREIGN POLICY. WHAT THIS MEANS IN CONCRETE TERMS IS INDICATED BY A SUMMARY OF THE SPEECH GIVEN BY THEN-PRIME MINISTER ROMAN PRODI: "ITALY HAS EARNED ITS PLACE IN THE GEOPOLITICAL BALANCE OF THE POST-COLD WAR ERA, AND NOW OUR FOREIGN POLICY NEEDS NEW INSTRUMENTS AND GREATER RESOURCES IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY MORE PENETRATING," WITH A PLEDGE OF "QUICK DECISIONS" IN THREE AREAS: AN ORGANIZATIONAL REFORM OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, A STRENGTHENING OF ADMINISTRATIVE BODIES, AND AN INCREASE IN STATE SPENDING. MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS LAMBERTO DINI HELD UP THE PROSPECT OF A BROAD ARTICULATION OF DIPLOMACY THROUGH A REORGANIZATION ACCORDING TO GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS, INTEGRATED ON THE BASIS OF CONTENT AND THROUGH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS; A STRENGTHENING OF THE ROLE OF THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY GENERAL, "WHICH WAS, BY NO COINCIDENCE, ABOLISHED BY MUSSOLINI"; THE CREATION OF AD HOC GROUPS TO PLAN DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITIES; AND PERSONNEL SELECTIONS THROUGH A DIPLOMATIC INSTITUTE. IN HIS SPEECH IN THE HALL FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, PRODI CITED "THREE PILLARS" OF ITALIAN FOREIGN POLICY, "IN EUROPE, THE STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES, AND THE REGIONAL ROLE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AND BALKANS." "EUROPEAN INTEGRATION IS OF KEY IMPORTANCE, BUT IT IS NOT EASILY ACHIEVED, WHILE THE EXPANSION OF THE EU WILL BRING WITH IT MAJOR PROBLEMS IN DOMESTIC POLICY," HE EMPHASIZED. "WE HAVE A FREE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES, BECAUSE CONCERNING SOME ISSUES, SUCH AS THE MIDDLE EAST, IRAN, AND LIBYA, WE HAVE COME UP WITH OUR ORIGINAL SOLUTIONS," HE ADDED. HOWEVER, ITALY IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE IN CONSIDERING THE PRIORITIES OF ITS POLICY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. GERMANY TOO IS NOT IMMUNE TO THE POTENTIAL DANGERS AND RISKS ISSUING FORTH FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN. USING DIPLOMATIC VOCABULARY, THIS CAN BE REDUCED TO THE FOLLOWING: CONFRONTING ISSUES RELATING TO THE GOALS AND PRIORITIES OF ITS FOREIGN POLICY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, MOST OF ALL IN THE AREA OF SECURITY. THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE ISSUES BECOMES ESPECIALLY PRONOUNCED IF ONE NOTES THAT IN THE FIRST HALF OF NEXT YEAR GERMANY WILL ASSUME THE PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND WILL BEGIN PREPARATIONS FOR THE THIRD EURO-MEDITERRANEAN SUMMIT. THE DYNAMIC OF THIS INVOLVEMENT MUST ALSO BE REGARDED IN LIGHT OF THE NEW GERMAN GOVERNMENT, MADE UP OF A RED-GREEN COALITION, WHICH FACES TASKS THAT ARE BY NO MEANS EASY IF ONE NOTES THAT FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT AND OFFICIAL BONN HAVE EMPHASIZED THAT GERMANY IS BY NO MEANS IMMUNE TO THE POTENTIAL DANGERS AND RISKS ISSUING FORTH FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN. (MORE) 99E35039A NOV 98 DS/BC IN PARTICULAR, FORMER MINISTER OF DEFENSE VOLKER RUEHE HAS REPEATEDLY SAID THAT GREATER ATTENTION MUST BE DEVOTED TO THE RISKS AND INSTABILITIES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN. ULTIMATELY HIS STANDPOINT IS ALSO BACKED BY THE CDU'S [CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC UNION] FEDERAL EXPERT COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY. DESPITE THIS, GERMAN SECURITY POLICY IS STILL DOMINATED BY THE VIEW THAT GERMANY, BECAUSE OF ITS GEOGRAPHIC POSITION AND THE FACT THAT THE COUNTRIES IN SOUTHERN EUROPE ARE MUCH MORE STRONGLY "IMPACTED" BY EVENTS IN THAT REGION, IS NOT PREDESTINED TO PURSUE A MORE ACTIVE POLICY TOWARD THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF EUROPE. INSTEAD, ITS PRIORITY REMAINS THE STABILIZATION OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN STATES, THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, THE RESTRUCTURING OF TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS, AND THE INCLUSION OF RUSSIA IN EUROPE'S SECURITY ARCHITECTURE. THE PREVIOUS PRIORITIES ARE IN KEEPING WITH THE IMMEDIATE SECURITY-POLICY INTERESTS BASED ON GERMANY'S GEOSTRATEGIC POSITION. BUT THEY ARE GIVING SHORT SHRIFT TO THE FACT THAT THE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT SECURITY-POLICY ROLE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN CAN STRONGLY INFLUENCE, OR RATHER IS ALREADY INFLUENCING THE STRUCTURES AND INSTITUTIONS OF EUROPEAN SECURITY POLICY. IGNORING THAT FACT COULD LEAD TO THE LONG-TERM WEAKENING OF GERMANY'S POSITION IN WESTERN SECURITY-POLICY ALLIANCES AND INSTITUTIONS, SUCH AS NATO AND THE WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION (WEU). GERMAN POLICY TOWARD THE MEDITERRANEAN AND--AS ITS BASIS--THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GERMAN CONCEPT FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN WOULD BE IMPORTANT INITIAL STEPS TOWARD AVOIDING SUCH A DEVELOPMENT OF EVENTS. [BOX, PP 34-36] BULWARK OF FREEDOM MILITARY PRESSURES AND THE CREATION OF INTERNAL TENSIONS (THEIR FABRICATION AND ACCELERATION) FOR THE PURPOSE OF SENDING THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA DOWN THE PATH OF FINAL COLLAPSE IS THE MAIN PREOCCUPATION OF FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC ENEMIES. THE INTENTION OF THE ONE REMAINING WORLD "SUPERPOWER" IS TO TAKE CONTROL OF ALL STATES IN THE GLOBAL VILLAGE. IT IS USING INDIRECT AND DIRECT METHODS IN PURSUIT OF THIS. THE FORMER COMPRISE A WIDE SPECTRUM OF ACTIVITIES TO INTERFERE WITH THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF SOVEREIGN COUNTRIES BY CREATING A FINANCIAL-ECONOMIC-COMMERCIAL AND POLITICAL NETWORK THAT IS TO EXTEND TO THE FULL ESSENCE OF THE STATE IN QUESTION. ALL OF THIS PRESUPPOSES OPTIMAL EXPLOITATION OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE IN QUESTION SO THAT THESE PLANS ARE EFFECTED BY LEGAL MEANS. BUT IF THE EXISTING LAWS OF THE STATE IN QUESTION CANNOT ACCOMMODATE SUCH AMBITIOUS GOALS, THEN CERTAIN POLITICAL STRUCTURES ARE UTILIZED FROM THE RANKS OF THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION IN THE STATE IN QUESTION, WHICH THROUGH THEIR AGENTS AND SUBVERSIVE-POLITICAL ACTIVITIES ARE SUPPOSED TO EXERT PRESSURE ON THE EXISTING DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED AUTHORITIES TO FORCE THE LATTER TO WITHDRAW AND TURN OVER TO THE FORMER, ACTING ON BEHALF OF THEIR COLONIAL MASTERS, ALL KEY MEANS FOR CONTROLLING ALL SEGMENTS OF THE STATE, THE ECONOMY, SOCIETY, AND SPIRITUALITY. IN THIS WAY, CROATIA WOULD BECOME YET ANOTHER U.S. COLONY IN ITS GLOBAL DOMAIN OF FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION, PRECEDED BY THE LOSS OF STATE, NATIONAL, ECONOMIC, AND SPIRITUAL SOVEREIGNTY. NATO WAR GAMES IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE "NATO AND THE SLOVENE MILITARY ARE PREPARING FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF A COUP IN CROATIA, AND 4,200 MEMBERS OF THE NATO RAPID-REACTION FORCES WILL CONDUCT EXERCISES RIGHT ALONG THE BORDER WITH THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA." THIS WAS HOW ONE "INDEPENDENT WEEKLY" ANNOUNCED THE EXERCISE, THE SO-CALLED NATO PEACEKEEPING OPERATION WITH THE VERY SIGNIFICANT NAME COOPERATIVE ADVENTURE EXCHANGE '98 (CAE '98), IN WHICH 1,200 MEMBERS OF THE SLOVENE ARMY WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE. IN A SIMULATED SITUATION OF ARMED CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO IMAGINARY NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES, WITH THE FICTITIOUS NAMES FARMLANDIA AND FATLANDIA, NATO UNITS ALONG THE SOUTHEASTERN BORDER OF SLOVENIA WITH THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA WILL TAKE UP POSITIONS BETWEEN THE BELLIGERENTS AND MONITOR THE NEGOTIATED CEASE-FIRE. ANOTHER "INDEPENDENT WEEKLY," CITING AN UNNAMED DIPLOMATIC SOURCE, PRESENTS A SUMMARY OF THE EXERCISE, EMPHASIZING THAT "BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND KOSOVO THE WEST CANNOT ALLOW CROATIA TO BECOME A SECURITY BREACH." "AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF THE IMAGINARY STATE OF UTOPIA (THE SFRY, EDITOR'S NOTE), FOUR ALSO-IMAGINARY STATES EMERGE: NARNIA (SLOVENIA, EDITOR'S NOTE), FARMLANDIA (CROATIA, EDITOR'S NOTE), FATLANDIA (THE FRY, EDITOR'S NOTE), AND XANDRIA (BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, EDITOR'S NOTE). IN THIS SCENARIO, NARNIA IS CONSIDERED A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS COUNTRY, FARMLANDIA AND FATLANDIA ARE STABLE BUT BURDENED BY CERTAIN INTERNAL CONTRADICTIONS, AND XANDRIA HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS. XANDRIA SCHEDULES DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS, BUT IT FACES THE THREAT OF SERIOUS CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO ETHNIC COMMUNITIES THAT ENJOY THE SUPPORT OF THEIR MOTHER STATES, FARMLANDIA AND FATLANDIA. IN THIS ATMOSPHERE, THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OF XANDRIA DECIDES TO SEEK THE ASSISTANCE OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL IN ORDER TO AVERT A POTENTIAL ETHNIC CONFLICT." "THUS, IF THIS SIMULATION HAD TO BE RELATED TO SOMEONE," THIS WESTERN SOURCE CONTENDS, AS CONVEYED BY THE AFOREMENTIONED "INDEPENDENT WEEKLY," "THEN ONE WOULD HAVE TO SEE IT AS REFERENCES TO THE OPPOSING SIDES IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, AS WELL AS MILOSEVIC'S SERBIA AND TUDJMAN'S CROATIA." THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE SLOVENE FORCES AND DEPUTY COMMANDER IN THE EXERCISE, BRIG. LADISLAV LIPIC, DECLARED IN SLOVENIA'S DELO THAT HE HAD NO COMMENT ABOUT REPORTS IN THE CROATIAN MEDIA THAT THE EXERCISE IS A SIMULATION OF A MILITARY COUP IN CROATIA, EMPHASIZING THAT THE EXERCISE WAS PLANNED IN 1996 AS A LARGE-SCALE MEDICAL-CORPS EXERCISE. BECAUSE OF THE CHANGED SITUATION IN THE WORLD, THE EXERCISE BECAME A PEACEKEEPING OPERATION, AND LAST YEAR THE SLOVENE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO HOLD IT IN DOLENJSKA, POSOVJE, AND KOZJANSKO. IT IS PRECISELY THE GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS AND THE ARRIVAL ROUTES OF THE NATO AND PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE UNITS (BY WAY OF AIRBASES IN MARIBOR AND CERKLJE, BY MILITARY TRANSPORT SHIPS AT THE PORT OF KOPAR, AND BY ROAD FROM ITALY, AUSTRIA, AND HUNGARY) THAT PROVIDE THE BEST INDICATION OF THE TRUE NATURE OF THE EXERCISE--THE SOUTHEASTERN AREA THAT MATCHES THE ROUTE OF THE BECHTEL HIGHWAY AND THE SAVA RIVER AS AN INTERNATIONAL WATER TRADE CORRIDOR. ALSO, IN THE BROADER CONTEXT OF EUROPEAN SECURITY DEVELOPMENTS, WE CANNOT FAIL TO NOTE THE ABANDONMENT OF AUSTRIAN NEUTRALITY WHEN AUSTRIA BLOCKED THE DANUBE TRANSPORT OF SEVERAL FRENCH TANKS THAT WERE TO TAKE PART IN A JOINT SLOVAK-FRENCH MILITARY EXERCISE IN THE PERIOD LEADING UP TO THE SLOVAK PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS. PARTICIPATING IN THE MILITARY EXERCISE IN SLOVENIA ARE EIGHT NATO STATES (THE UNITED STATES, GREAT BRITAIN, THE NETHERLANDS, GERMANY, ITALY, DENMARK, BELGIUM, AND LUXEMBOURG), WITH 4,060 SOLDIERS GROUPED IN A RAPID-REACTION BRIGADE, THE CORE OF WHICH COMPRISES A U.S. PARATROOPER BRIGADE TOGETHER WITH FORMATIONS FROM THE OTHER MEMBERS, AS WELL AS 280 SOLDIERS FROM 10 PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE STATES (AUSTRIA, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HUNGARY, LATVIA, MOLDOVA, POLAND, ROMANIA, MACEDONIA, FINLAND, AND SLOVENIA). SLOVENIA IS CONTRIBUTING 1,210 SOLDIERS TO THE EXERCISE. IT IS DIPLOMATICALLY RUDE THAT NO OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE "FICTITIOUS" OR, AS THEY SAY, "IMAGINARY STATES" IN THE BRUSSELS STRATEGISTS' SCENARIO WERE INVITED. THE OFFICIAL OBSERVERS OF THE EXERCISE WILL BE MILITARY ATTACHES OF NATO AND PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE STATES ACCREDITED WITH NATO IN BRUSSELS. LET US EXAMINE THE TRUE ASPECTS OF VARIOUS MEDICAL-CORPS AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS FROM THE THEORETICAL STANDPOINT. IN THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF SPECIAL WARFARE, PSYCHOLOGICAL-PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES COMPRISE NOT ONLY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PRESSURE, BUT ALSO MILITARY PRESSURE. MILITARY PRESSURE OR DEMONSTRATIONS OF FORCE ARE EXPRESSED THROUGH THE OBVIOUS AND FACTUAL PRESENCE OF STRONG ELEMENTS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF A FOREIGN POWER OR MILITARY ALLIANCE IN THE IMMEDIATE PROXIMITY OF THE STATE TOWARD WHICH THE SPECIAL WARFARE OPERATIONS ARE BEING DIRECTED. THESE FORCES, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF MANEUVERS OR LAND, SEA, AND AIR EXERCISES, ARE DEPLOYED IN SUCH A WAY THAT UNDER CORRESPONDING ORDERS THEY COULD OBJECTIVELY THREATEN THE INDEPENDENCE AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF SOME STATE. METHODS OF EXERTING MILITARY PRESSURE ON ANOTHER STATE MAY INCLUDE THE ACTUAL OR FEIGNED MOBILIZATION OF ARMED FORCES, THE REGROUPING OF PEACEKEEPING FORMATIONS OR THEIR REDEPLOYMENT TO SPECIFIC STRATEGIC-OPERATIONAL AND TACTICAL AREAS, MOVEMENTS BY STRONG NAVAL FORCES NEAR TERRITORIAL WATERS, STATE BORDERS, AND SO ON. ONE OF THE AIMS OF MILITARY PRESSURE MIGHT BE FOR A SPECIFIC FOREIGN POWER OR MILITARY ALLIANCE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, THROUGH ITS MILITARY PRESENCE, TO A DOMESTIC ENEMY OF THE SPECIFIC COUNTRY IN LAUNCHING ACTION TO ACHIEVE ITS POLITICAL GOALS OR THOSE OF THE FOREIGN POWER. THERE IS VERY LITTLE DISCERNIBLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ROLE OF THE ARMED FORCES OF A SPECIFIC FOREIGN POWER OR MILITARY ALLIANCE IN THE CONTEXT OF MILITARY PRESSURE AND THEIR DIRECT INTERFERENCE WITH THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF SOVEREIGN STATES, AND THE DANGER FROM THEM IS ALWAYS IMMEDIATE. (MORE) 99E35039A NOV 98 DS/BC IN SHORT, NATO'S EXERCISE IN SLOVENIA IS OF OFFENSIVE SIGNIFICANCE, AND ITS GOAL IS TO DEMONSTRATE THE INSTRUMENT OF MILITARY PRESSURE ON THE COUNTRIES IN THE REGION THAT ARE LOCATED ON THE SOUTHERN EUROPEAN WING OF NATO'S EXPANSION TO THE EAST, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE FOLLOWING: - THE REGIONAL APPROACH OF THE SECI AND ITS CONNECTION WITH THE SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST OF EUROPE AND THE MEDITERRANEAN PROBLEM (THE ROLE OF FRANCE, GERMANY, AND RUSSIA); - KOSOVO AND THE GENERAL EUROPEAN SECURITY ARCHITECTURE, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE ROLE OF RUSSIA AND FRANCE IN RESOLVING THE KOSOVO CRISIS. MEANWHILE, HOPING TO AVOID GIVING VOICE TO THE ABOVE, PUBLIC-RELATIONS CIRCLES IN BRUSSELS ARE LEANING TOWARD THE INTERPRETATION THAT THE CROATIAN REACTIONS TO THIS EXERCISE ARE INTENDED MORE FOR THE DOMESTIC PUBLIC, "BECAUSE THERE IS NO SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE RIGHTLY WONDERING WHY CROATIA IS NOT YET A MEMBER OF THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE." REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MAIN STAFF OF THE SLOVENE FORCES AND OF NATO WHO WISH TO DISPEL FEARS ARE USING EUPHEMISMS AND SAYING THAT THIS IS ABOUT SENDING "CERTAIN SIGNALS ABOUT THE NEED TO CREATE CONDITIONS WITHIN THE STATE FOR ADMISSION AS A MEMBER OF THE PARTNERSHIP." HISTORICAL MEMORIES IT IS ESSENTIAL TO KNOW THAT THE REAL THREAT TO CROATIA HAS ALWAYS COME FROM THE WEST, IN THE BROADEST CIVILIZATIONAL SENSE--FROM ECONOMIC TO MILITARY. THIS MAKES THE PARADOX EVEN GREATER, SINCE THROUGHOUT ITS LONG HISTORY CROATIA HAS FOUGHT BLOODY WARS ON ITS EASTERN BORDERS TO PROTECT THAT SAME CIVILIZATION. ITS LONG HISTORY IS IN FACT MARKED BY THAT INCESSANT STRUGGLE ON ITS EASTERN BORDERS AND BY THE CONSTANT CIVILIZATIONAL--AND THUS MILITARY AS WELL--THREAT FROM THE WEST. IN THE INTERREGNUM, HOWEVER, THERE WAS ROOM FOR VARIOUS SOCIETAL AND POLITICAL EXPERIMENTS, JUST LIKE TODAY, WHEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE EU ARE DEMANDING THAT IT INTRODUCE LAWS THAT EXIST NOWHERE IN THE WORLD, NOT EVEN IN THE COUNTRIES THAT ARE MAKING DEMANDS CONCERNING CROATIA'S BEHAVIOR IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM. BUT PERHAPS THE GOAL OF THESE STRATEGIES IS TO PROVOKE CHAOS AND CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE, PERHAPS SOMETHING THAT GOES BEYOND EVEN THE WILDEST IMAGINATION, SUCH AS THE CREATION IN THIS REGION OF A "SECURITY BREACH" THROUGH THE INSTALLATION OF POLITICAL FORCES THAT ARE NOT INTERESTED IN DEFENDING NATIONAL INTERESTS, BUT RATHER WISH TO CREATE, THROUGH GENERAL ANARCHY AND LAWLESSNESS, COMMUNICATION CORRIDORS THROUGH WHICH ULTIMATELY HORDES OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND REFUGEES FROM THE EAST WOULD ONCE AND FOR ALL INUNDATE THIS LEADERLESS WESTERN EUROPE, SINCE PREVIOUS IDEOLOGIES (FROM FASCISM TO COMMUNISM) AND TWO WORLD WARS WERE UNABLE TO DO SO. DURING A RECENT VISIT TO CROATIA, HER EXCELLENCY THE BARONESS THATCHER, A MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF THE GARTER, RECIPIENT OF THE MEDAL OF MERIT, AND MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY, SAID THIS: "CROATIA IS THE MOST STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO THE EFFORT TO ENSURE THE STABILITY OF THE REGION. IT IS EUROPEAN IN THE CULTURAL SENSE, AND IT IS INSTINCTIVELY PRO-WESTERN. TODAY IT IS A STABLE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL STATE, WITH AN EXCELLENT MODERN MILITARY, A WELL-EDUCATED WORKFORCE, TALENTED ENTREPRENEURS, AND A VARIETY OF NATURAL RESOURCES, AND ITS VARIED BEAUTY, ESPECIALLY ITS COASTLINE, OFFERS IT AN ENORMOUS POTENTIAL FOR TOURISM. OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT BROADER EUROPEAN INTERESTS HAVE DEPENDED ON CROATIA'S SUCCESS. IN THE 16TH CENTURY, AS EVERY CROAT KNOWS, CROATIA WAS KNOWN AS THE BULWARK OF CHRISTIANITY--THE ANTEMURALE CHRISTIANITATIS. AND SINCE EUROPE WAS THREATENED BY THE THEN-ISLAMIC SUPERPOWER--THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE--THAT EXPRESSION WAS MORE THAN ACCURATE. BUT BULWARKS ARE NOT ONLY PLACES BEHIND WHICH ONE RETREATS. THEY ARE ALSO FORTIFICATIONS FROM WHICH ONE ADVANCES. AND CROATIA HAS ADVANCED ONCE AGAIN, WITH THE RECOVERY OF ITS TERRITORY AND THE RESHAPING OF EUROPE'S BORDERS. IN A CERTAIN SENSE, I SEE CROATIA AS A BULWARK ONCE AGAIN. NOT AS A BULWARK AGAINST YOUR TURKISH FRIENDS, AND CERTAINLY NOT AGAINST YOUR BOSNIAK ALLIES, BUT RATHER AS A BULWARK AGAINST THE TERROR AND OPPRESSION THAT IS STILL A THREAT, NOW NOT IN CROATIA OR BOSNIA, BUT RATHER IN KOSOVO, WHERE THE ETHNIC CLEANSERS ARE ONCE AGAIN AT WORK. WHO KNOWS WHERE AND WHEN THIS MADNESS WILL END?! I BELIEVE THAT THE CROATIAN MISSION IS TO BE A BULWARK OF FREEDOM--AN ANTEMURALE LIBERTATIS. AND FROM BEHIND THAT BULWARK, NOT BY ARMED FORCE (GOD FORBID!), BUT RATHER THROUGH ITS EXAMPLE, ITS POSITIVE HELP, AND EVERY POSSIBLE FORM OF INFLUENCE, CROATIA MUST PROMOTE THE RULE OF FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE REGION. THAT IS A CHALLENGE WORTHY OF ANY PROUD NATION." WITHOUT REFUTING THE ASSERTION THAT THIS IS NOT A CHALLENGE WORTHY OF, AS HER EXCELLENCY PUTS IT, ANY PROUD NATION, THIS IS AT THE SAME TIME A GEOPOLITICAL GAME PERMEATED BY INTERESTS AND (GEOPOLITICAL) MARKETING, AND THUS ALSO BY COMMERCIAL CONSIDERATIONS, WHICH IN VIEW OF ITS HIGH MORAL DIMENSION--ABOUT WHICH THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT--ALSO EXACTS A PRICE. WHEN DEMOCRATS MARCH WE MUST CONCLUDE THAT ALL THE RECENT EVENTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA ARE BY NO MEANS COINCIDENTAL AND THAT THE UNDERLYING GOAL IS ALSO TO EXPLOIT THOSE EVENTS FOR NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS THAN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PRECEDENT--FOR DIRECT MEDIA INTERFERENCE WITH THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY WITH AN OPEN CALL TO CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. IN THAT EFFORT, THESE CENTERS OF POWER ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT WAS INCONCEIVABLE UNTIL THE LATE 1980S: OPENLY DISCUSSING POSSIBLE NEW CHAMPIONS OF ECONOMIC AND DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS IN CROATIA AND THEIR OSTENSIBLE "QUALITIES." THE BASIC PREMISE OF THEIR DOCTRINE IS THAT CHARISMATIC LEADERS AND PRIMITIVE NATIONALISM ARE ARCHAIC REMNANTS THAT ARE IRRECONCILABLE WITH THE FUTURE THAT LIES AHEAD. THEY ALSO SAY THAT A "MANAGERIAL FOCUS ON GOALS THAT IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN THEIR IMMEDIATE SITUATION INSTEAD OF ON IDEALS THAT REQUIRE UNIVERSAL SACRIFICES MAKES POLITICS LESS DANGEROUS, AND PERHAPS EVEN USEFUL TO PEOPLE." THIS IS THE "NEW SCIENCE" THAT AWAITS US IN THE 21ST CENTURY. BUT LET US LOOK AT HOW THIS IS TAKES SHAPE IN "PRIMITIVE SOCIOPOLITICAL COMMUNITIES." WE CAN TAKE AS AN EXAMPLE THE MAJOR CONTROVERSY IN WASHINGTON SURROUNDING THE ROLE OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (CIA) IN THE ATTEMPTS TO DEPOSE PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSAYN. AT THE CENTER OF THE CONTROVERSY IS THE CHIEF OF THE MIDDLE EAST DIVISION OF THE CIA'S DIRECTORATE OF OPERATIONS, STEVE RICHTER, WHO IS ACCUSED OF BACKING UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO ENCOURAGE MILITARY COUPS IN BAGHDAD, INSTEAD OF LENDING SUPPORT TO REVOLUTIONARY OR GUERRILLA MOVEMENTS. BUT WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE CASE OF BAGHDAD AND THE CURRENT EVENTS IN CROATIA AND A LARGE SHARE OF ITS POLITICAL OPPOSITION, WHICH IS OPENLY CALLING FOR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AND DEMANDING EARLY ELECTIONS AND ULTIMATELY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED AUTHORITIES BY ALL POSSIBLE MEANS? IN THE CASE OF BAGHDAD, THE CIA IS BEING CRITICIZED NOT FOR VIOLATING INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ATTEMPTING TO VIOLENTLY OVERTHROW THE AUTHORITIES OF A SOVEREIGN STATE, BUT RATHER FOR ITS WRONG CHOICE OF METHODS AND PEOPLE TO DO THAT DIRTY JOB. WHEN SECRETS ARE NOT KEPT THE DEMOCRATIC MASK FOR THESE CONSPIRATORIAL SCENARIOS IS SOMEWHAT MORE SOPHISTICATED IN THE CASE OF CROATIA, BUT THE GOAL IS THE SAME: TO PROVOKE GENERAL SOCIETAL, AND WITH IT POLITICAL CHAOS. VIEWED IN GEOPOLITICAL TERMS, THE INTENTION IS AS FOLLOWS: CROATIA MUST BE WEAKENED MILITARILY AND DEPRIVED OF ITS ADRIATIC COAST, AFTER WHICH SOMETHING KNOWN AS GREATER BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WILL BE CREATED. THE IRREDENTIST EFFORTS IN ISTRIA AND RIJEKA AND THE OPERATIONALIZATION OF IVAN PAULETTA'S "ISTRIAN LANDS" PROJECT, WHICH WAS PUBLICLY PROMOTED AT THIS YEAR'S "ITALY AT THE EASTERN DOOR" GATHERING IN ROME (SEE HRVATSKI VOJNIK, NO 34, "THE MUSLIM QUESTION AND THE GEOPOLITICAL IMAGE OF CENTRAL ASIA," PP 14-16), AS WELL AS THE STATEMENT BY BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA PRESIDENT ALIJA IZETBEGOVIC THAT THE PARLIAMENT OF THE FEDERATION OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WILL MOST LIKELY NOT ACCEPT THE AGREEMENT ON SPECIAL RELATIONS WITH THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA IN THE FORM IN WHICH IT WAS INITIALED, ONLY CONFIRM THE PREVIOUS ASSERTION CONCERNING THE PROCESS OF CREATING A GREATER BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA THAT IS UNDER WAY. "IN A SITUATION LIKE THE CURRENT ONE, IF I WERE IN HIS SHOES (EJUP GANIC'S, EDITOR'S NOTE) I WOULD SIGN THE AGREEMENT AND THEN LET PARLIAMENT REJECT IT," IZETBEGOVIC SAID, ADDING THAT IN THAT WAY THE "CREDIBILITY OF THE COUNTRY AND OF GANIC COULD BE SAVED." IZETBEGOVIC'S PROPOSAL IS ALL THE MORE INTERESTING SINCE IN THAT CASE, IN THE SPIRIT OF RECIPROCITY, THE PLOCE-NEUM AGREEMENT MUST BE RESPONDED TO IN THE SAME WAY. IZETBEGOVIC HAS CHARACTERIZED THE AGREEMENT WITHOUT ITS ANNEXES AS "RATHER EMPTY," CALLING IT AN "ABSTRACTION." IZETBEGOVIC'S ABSTRACTIONS ARE ALL THE MORE DANGEROUS AND PROVOCATIVE IF ONE NOTES THAT THIS WOULD DRAW THE DAYTON ACCORD ITSELF INTO QUESTION. THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH OF A COINCIDENCE THIS CAN BE IN VIEW OF THE SCENARIO OF THE NATO MILITARY EXERCISE IN SLOVENIA. UNFORTUNATELY, THE "CROATIAN OPPOSITION SIX," THROUGH THEIR INTELLIGENCE-SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES, ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN ALL THESE PROCESSES; WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE AWARE OF IT IS LESS IMPORTANT, BUT AFTER THE "WASHINGTON TRAINING" (SEE HRVATSKI VOJNIK, NO 37, "HOW THAT IS DONE IN PRACTICE," PP 30-31) THEY ARE IN ANY EVENT "FULLY ARMED" WITH VARIOUS SKILLS. (MORE) 99E35039A NOV 98 DS/BC INSTITUTES FOR CREATING CHAOS THUS, IN JULY OF THIS YEAR (AROUND THE TIME WHEN SOME OF THE OPPOSITION PARTIES WERE VISITING WASHINGTON), A CERTAIN UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE HELD A BEHIND-CLOSED-DOORS DISCUSSION OF THE TOPIC "CROATIA AFTER TUDJMAN," FEATURING PROMINENT U.S. EXPERTS ON THE PROBLEMS OF SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE. THE ATTENDEES WERE U.S. DIPLOMATS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, OR CIA, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THE STATE DEPARTMENT, VARIOUS HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS, AND BRAIN TRUSTS, OR ACTUALLY INDEPENDENT ANALYSTS OF POLITICAL EVENTS. THE UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN INSTITUTION OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, ESTABLISHED BY CONGRESS TO PROMOTE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES [AS PUBLISHED]. NOT THAT LONG AGO, AS PART OF AN INCREASINGLY FORCEFUL PSYCHOLOGICAL-PROPAGANDA OFFENSIVE AGAINST CENTRAL STATE INSTITUTIONS, THE INSTITUTE OF PEACE PRESENTED TO THE CROATIAN PUBLIC A SUMMARY OF THE DISCUSSION THAT TOOK PLACE ON THAT DAY IN JULY. WHILE POLITELY ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESIDENT DR. TUDJMAN AND THE HDZ IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT, STRONG, AND UNIFIED NEW CROATIAN STATE WHICH CAME INTO BEING AMID THE TEMPESTUOUS POLITICAL AND MILITARY EVENTS IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE THAT FOLLOWED ON THE HEELS OF THE BREAKUP OF THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT IN QUESTION THE EXPERTS GATHERED AT THAT MEETING AGREED THAT CROATIA WILL MOST LIKELY DEVELOP AS A DEMOCRATIC STATE WITH AN OPEN SOCIETY. BUT ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE, THIS "CROATIAN PROSPERITY," OR FINAL PHASE, AS THEY CALL IT, WILL "COME ONLY AFTER THE REGIME OF FRANJO TUDJMAN." UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, "CROATIA WILL REMAIN A HYBRID STATE," THE INSTITUTE OF PEACE REPORT STATES. THE REPORT BY THE UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE IS A SORT OF "MAP OF CHAOS" WHICH FOREIGN ENEMIES WISH TO TRANSLATE INTO ACTION WITH THE HELP OF DOMESTIC ENEMIES. IN PRACTICE, THIS MEANS THE FOLLOWING: THE ABROGATION OF SOVEREIGNTY AND THE FRAGMENTATION OF STATE TERRITORY, BASED PRIMARILY ON THE REGIONAL PRINCIPLE, WITH A TENDENCY TO CREATE NEW HYBRID STATE ENTITIES SUCH AS A GREATER SLOVENIA, A GREATER BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA..., ALL WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE SECI. THE ROOTS OF THESE ENDEAVORS EXTEND ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1918. THE VERSAILLES ERA AND THE RAPALLO BORDERS. AN ADDITIONAL FACTOR ATTEMPTING TO EFFECT THESE PROCESSES, BESIDES THE NOW-STANDARD SERB MINORITY, WHICH UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE UNITED STATES AND BRUSSELS IS RETURNING IN INCREASING NUMBERS (AND IS ALREADY BECOMING A SOURCE OF INSTABILITY, ESPECIALLY IN VUKOVAR, AND NOT WITHOUT GOOD REASON, SINCE THAT IS AN IMPORTANT GEO-TRADE HUB, AND WILL BE THAT ESPECIALLY AFTER CONSTRUCTION OF THE DANUBE-SAVA CANAL, AND NOW, HAVING FAILED TO ACHIEVE THIS THROUGH WAR, IT MUST NOW DISPLACE THE CROATIAN AUTHORITIES IN PEACETIME, USING OTHER METHODS, SO THAT THEY CANNOT PROFIT FROM THIS GEO-TRADE HUB OF EXTREME IMPORTANCE TO CENTRAL EUROPE AND EUROPE AS A WHOLE), IS THE ITALIAN MINORITY IN ISTRIA THROUGH THE "ISTRIAN LANDS" PROGRAM LAUNCHED EARLIER BY PAULETTA, WHICH IS NOTHING MORE THAN THE REINSTATEMENT (RESTORATION) OF THE TREATY OF RAPALLO ADAPTED TO NEW CONDITIONS. BUT THE COMPLEX OF EVENTS IS MUCH BROADER, AND WE CANNOT ESCAPE THE IMPRESSION THAT A BITTER STRUGGLE IS UNDER WAY IN THIS REGION BETWEEN THE ANGLO-SAXON CONCEPT OF EUROPE ON THE ONE HAND AND THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN ONE ON THE OTHER HAND. IN LIGHT OF THIS, THE WORK OF THE UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE GAINS A NEW DIMENSION WHEN IT ATTEMPTS TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTION "WHAT WILL COME AFTER TUDJMAN?" "THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE DISCUSSION EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE A SPLIT IN THE RULING PARTY, COMING QUICKLY AFTER THE HOLDING OF PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, BUT CERTAINLY BEFORE THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION." SOME U.S. EXPERTS EVEN VOICED THE THEORY THAT THE LIBERAL WING OF THE HDZ WILL IN SOME WAY JOIN THE DEMOCRATICALLY ORIENTED OPPOSITION. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THIS SORT OF POLITICAL ALLIANCE WILL BE STRONGER THAN EVEN THE MORE MODERATE NATIONALISTS IN THE HDZ'S RANKS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE HARDCORE NATIONALISTS FROM THE HDZ'S RANKS, AND THUS THOSE WHO WISH TO ANNEX PARTS OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA IN ORDER TO FORM A LARGER CROATIAN STATE, WILL BECOME ONLY A MINOR FACTION IN POST-TUDJMAN CROATIA, THE EXPERTS GATHERED AT THE INSTITUTE OF PEACE MEETING PREDICT. ON THAT OCCASION, THE HDZ WAS CHARACTERIZED AS A VERY SUCCESSFUL MOVEMENT BECAUSE "DURING THE SHORT PERIOD OF ITS EXISTENCE IT HAS ACHIEVED EXCEPTIONALLY MAJOR SUCCESSES--AN INDEPENDENT AND RECOGNIZED CROATIAN STATE, CONTROL OVER ALL OF CROATIA'S TERRITORY, SUCCESS IN THE WAR IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA, AND POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WHICH PERSISTS TO THIS DAY (WHICH OBVIOUSLY REPRESENTS THE GREATEST SIN OF THE RULING PARTY, ASIDE FROM THE ACTION THAT WAS EXCUSED ONLY FOR PRAGMATIC REASONS--THE SUCCESSFUL RESISTANCE TO THE JNA [YUGOSLAV PEOPLE'S ARMY] AGGRESSION AGAINST CROATIA, AND THUS ITS SUCCESSFUL OPPOSITION TO THE NEW YUGOSLAV IDEAL WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO COME TO LIFE IN THE EARLY 1990S UNDER THE DIRECTION OF ANTE MARKOVIC, EDITOR'S NOTE)." WITH THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE ABOVE GOALS, THE NEED FOR THE HDZ, AND THUS ITS POPULARITY AS WELL, IS DIMINISHING, THE U.S. EXPERTS AT THE AFOREMENTIONED CONFERENCE CONCLUDED. BUT IN THAT CASE THE SO-CALLED INSTITUTE OF PEACE IS THROWING UP A SMOKESCREEN, BECAUSE TO THAT INSTITUTE AND ITS FINANCIERS HDZ POLICY SINCE DAYTON HAS BECOME COUNTERPRODUCTIVE FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT IT IS FIGHTING FOR CROATIAN NATIONAL INTERESTS WHICH ARE NOT IN KEEPING WITH THE OPEN SOCIETY CONCEPT, THE NEOLIBERALISM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO FACILITATE THE PENETRATION OF TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS. BUT BEFORE THAT CAN HAPPEN, IT IS NECESSARY TO SOW MASS POLITICAL-INTEGRATIONIST HYSTERIA, IN WHICH THE FICTITIOUS GOAL THAT IS SET OUT, IRONICALLY OR NOT, IS "ENTRY INTO EUROPE." AND JUST AS IN ROCK HYSTERIA ONE "LOSES CONTROL OVER BODILY FUNCTIONS AND A STATE OF RAPTURE SETS IN, ACCOMPANIED BY EPILEPSY-LIKE CONVULSIONS OF THE LIMBS, YELLING, BITING, LAUGHTER, URINATION, AND THE TEARING OFF OF ONE'S CLOTHES, ALL EXPERIENCED AS HAPPINESS AND JOY," IN THE SAME WAY THE MEDIA UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE SAME CENTERS OF POWER ARE INDUCING IN THE NATIONS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE A "EUROATLANTIC INTEGRATION HYSTERIA" WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY, IN A GALLOPING EPILEPTIC TRANCE OF UNATTAINED BLISS, CAUSE THE COLLAPSE OF SOVEREIGNTY OF A NUMBER OF NATIONAL STATES, WHICH WILL THUS BECOME A BOUNDLESS AREA OPEN TO EXPLOITATION BY TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS. THIS PROMISED "EUROATLANTIC BLISS," A SORT OF SUBSTITUTE FOR THE FORMER OPIUM OF COMMUNISM, IS SO RELATIVIZED AND INTERTWINED WITH AN ENTIRE PRESENT-DAY SUBCULTURE THAT ONE OPPOSITION LEADER, PRESUMABLY FOLLOWING HIS MODEL FROM ACROSS THE ATLANTIC, HAS PUBLICLY DECLARED THAT HE HAS USED DRUGS. WHAT CAN BE THE REACTION TO THAT BY PARENTS OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN INFECTED BY THAT EVIL, BUT ALSO BY EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS WHICH HAVE MADE THE DANGERS RESULTING FROM ILLEGAL DRUG TRAFFICKING THE TOP PRIORITY IN FORMULATING A SECURITY CONCEPT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY? THIS CROATIAN OPPOSITION LEADER HOPES TO TAKE POWER AND BECOME THE LEADER OF THE STATE. BUT THE INCOMPLETENESS OF THE CROATIAN CRIMINAL CODE IS EVIDENCED PRECISELY BY THE FACT THAT THERE EXISTS NO LEGAL BASIS FOR SANCTIONING SUCH PUBLIC EXCESSES, WHICH ARE INDEED PUNISHED IN FRANCE, FOR EXAMPLE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY COME FROM PUBLIC FIGURES OR THE MEDIA. BUT IN CROATIA, A COUNTRY OF DEMOCRATIC LIBERTIES, THE SOROS NETWORK OF SOROS'S OPEN SOCIETY PUBLICLY PROMOTES LEGALIZING THE USE OF SOFT DRUGS AND THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA. THE TRUE INTENTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS AS WELL AS THE CONCERN OF THE INSTITUTE OF PEACE REGARDING THE FUTURE OF CROATIA AFTER TUDJMAN ARE REFLECTED IN THE GEOPOLITICAL VIEW OF THE FUTURE OF THIS REGION. "FIRST OF ALL, HIS DEPARTURE WILL HAVE AN ENORMOUS EFFECT ON THE FUTURE OF BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA BECAUSE IT WILL WEAKEN THE MOSTAR-ZAGREB AXIS, AND MODERATE POLITICIANS SUCH AS KRESIMIR ZUBAK WILL CONSTITUTE A SERIOUS ALTERNATIVE TO THOSE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WHO ADVOCATE HARDLINE CROATIAN NATIONALISM. MOREOVER, BECAUSE OF THE REASONS NOTED ABOVE, TUDJMAN'S SUCCESSORS WILL BE LESS INCLINED TO OFFER POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC AID TO HERCEG-BOSNA. ONCE IT IS ISOLATED FROM ZAGREB, HERZEGOVINA, ECONOMICALLY BACKWARD AND WEAK, WITH A SMALL POPULATION, WILL HAVE TO BEGIN TURNING TOWARD SARAJEVO AND INTEGRATION IN THE FEDERATION." THE PARTICIPANTS GAVE SPECIAL WEIGHT TO THIS POINT OF THE DISCUSSION, CONCLUDING THAT TUDJMAN'S DEPARTURE FROM THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP POSITION WILL HAVE A GREATER INFLUENCE ON BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA THAN THE DEPARTURE OF ANY OTHER POLITICIAN, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC. THE MESSAGE OF THE PARTICIPANTS, DIRECTED AT U.S. POLITICIANS AS THE STANDARD PROCEDURE FOR THIS AND SIMILAR GATHERINGS, IS THE FOLLOWING: "THE UNITED STATES SHOULD LEND ITS SUPPORT TO A NUMBER OF POSITIVE PHENOMENA IN CROATIA SUCH AS INSISTENCE ON THE REPATRIATION OF SERB REFUGEES, INSISTENCE ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OPEN AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA, AND NONINTERFERENCE WITH THEIR WORK. INSISTENCE ON AN IMPROVEMENT OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS TO BRING IT UNDER MULTIPARTY CONTROL. THE TERMINATION OF THE MOSTAR-ZAGREB AXIS, INCLUDING THE ELIMINATION OF VOTING RIGHTS FOR THE DIASPORA AND ITS REPRESENTATION IN THE CROATIAN ASSEMBLY. THE UNITED STATES SHOULD ALSO INSIST ON THE ACCEPTANCE OF MEASURES TO WEAKEN THE PRESIDENTIAL BRANCH AND STRENGTHEN THE PARLIAMENTARY AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES, AND SUPPORT A TRANSPARENT AND FEASIBLE PROGRAM OF PRIVATIZATION." THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu12161998000131 Document Id: 0f44hfx04abgh5 Insert Date: 12/17/98 Purge Date: 12/30/99 Publish Date: 12/16/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 111 Title: Serbia: Daily Sees Kosovo Role for US 'Special Operations Forces' Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-350 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe, The Americas Document Date: 16 Dec 1998 Division: Balkan States, North America Subdivision: Serbia, United States Sourceline: AU1612080998 Belgrade Vecernje Novosti in Serbi-Croatian 13 Dec 98 p 3 AFS Number: AU1612080998 Citysource: Belgrade Vecernje Novosti Language: Serbi-Croatian Article Type: BFN Subslug: Commentary by Mica Zivojinovic: "Five Tasks" NATO's big "concern" for the safety of the OSCE verification mission in Kosmet [Kosovo and Metohija] has proved to be due to the already-seen role of US special operations forces (SOF), whose goal is to further threaten the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and provide parallel professional, expert, and material aid to terrorists in Albania, Macedonia, and Kosmet, "building and strengthening the United States national interests in the Balkans and progressing to a further fragmentation of the Yugoslav territory" with blood-smeared hands. According to the US understanding, terrorist organizations have never threatened the vital interests of the United States official policy [as published], except in cases when they were used openly and for "selfish interests," with adverse effects on US actions and policy. According to military intelligence (DIA) and CIA experts, in the case of Kosmet, the official US policy is to supply terrorists through "nongovernmental" organizations and institutions with money, weapons, training, diplomatic passports for traveling and hiding their true identity, diplomatic shipments for smuggling weapons and explosives, safe shelter, and protection. In return, the OVK [Kosovo Liberation Army -- UCK in Albanian], as a terrorist-separatist organization, is creating and maintaining the crisis in the region, thus providing a justification for the US presence, which is again required to manage the crisis by well-known military, economic, and political instruments, serving the US national interests in the Balkans. The OVK has also enabled the US to continue its destructive action in the Balkans within the framework of its well-known European policy. Since the signing of the agreement on the OSCE and NATO verification missions in Kosmet, the CIA, as a dominant NATO intelligence service, has made several impermissible concessions to the OVK without consulting the European allies. The first concession in the sense of favoring and giving the legitimacy to terrorists was that the official representatives of the US policy in the Balkans had more contacts with the terrorists than with the official representatives of the Serbian and Albanian sides. In that sense, an ultimatum to the FRY to pull its security forces out of Kosmet was designed to enable the Siptar [derogative term for Albanians] terrorists to organize an additional mobilization. By agreeing to meet the terrorist demands, the US official policy has drastically deviated from the international community's stand on terrorism and the proclaimed struggle against this evil. The United States is economically and militarily strengthening states harboring terrorism, and not taking any action in the sense of disarming the terrorists and halting and preventing their activities. According to this "peace-establishment" scheme, the OVK terrorists are not prevented from carrying out their operations, nor are any measures taken to make the Siptars participate in negotiations on Kosmet. By encouraging them, the US is openly destabilizing not only the FRY, but the Balkans and the Mediterranean region as well. The practice and experience to date show that the US SOF have four priority tasks -- the anti-terrorist struggle, the anti-narcotics struggle, migrant and refugee control, and the anti-arms-smuggling struggle. The SOF now have a fifth task: to evacuate the OSCE verification mission if the security situation deteriorates. In this case, a definition has not been provided of "a deteriorated security situation" -- who and when, under what conditions, and in whose interest can the security situation in Kosmet "deteriorate"? The only thing clear in this series of questions and speculative answers is that Yugoslavia will get the bill for "a deteriorated" security situation, even if the "deterioration" is a recognizable, already seen scenario of the Sarajevo blood-spattered Markale, which was followed by NATO air strikes on Serb positions in the Serb Republic [RS], and which may be expected in Kosmet as part of the "protection of US interests" in this area. There is no doubt that this would provide a reason for NATO special operations forces to intervene in Kosmet, that is, in the FRY, from the territory of Macedonia. These forces have been used many times in hostage-rescue operations, the mine clearing of roads, specific areas, and facilities, providing emergency medical care, and so on. In their commando role, the SOF use cover, speed, and precision in attacking the already defined enemy and selected targets. Their missions have included arrests, kidnappings, assassinations, the destruction of facilities, recovering personnel and equipment, and intelligence-reconnaissance operations. In this case, during the data-collection and processing phase, the SOF will be cooperating closely with the reconnaissance aircraft crews on the NATO mission in the air space over Kosmet. The SOF role also covers collecting the information, as well as spreading psychological information within and beyond the area where they are stationed, particularly in areas where they want to intervene. The SOF are also well trained for "surgical operations" in combat formations of the opponent, they have a good language training (familiarity with languages in the broader area of engagement) and are capable of good ground orientation, which makes them particularly suitable as a back up for "coalition partners." The OVK perhaps?! THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. 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Article Id: drweu12111998000418 Document Id: 0f3z8ns02xabmp Insert Date: 12/14/98 Purge Date: 12/27/99 Publish Date: 12/11/98 Publish Region: West Europe Lines: 386 Title: France: Magazine Views NSA's 'Spy' Activities Document Number: FBIS-WEU-98-345 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Excerpt Document Region: West Europe Document Date: 11 Dec 1998 Division: West Europe Subdivision: France Sourceline: BR1112114498 Paris Le Nouvel Observateur in French 10-16 Dec 98 pp 10-22 AFS Number: BR1112114498 Citysource: Paris Le Nouvel Observateur Language: French Article Type: BFN Subslug: Unattributed report: "How the United States Spies On Us" [passage omitted] Despite the fall of the Berlin Wall, the United States is continuing to spend a fortune on spy satellites and interception bases. The gigantic technological arsenal deployed against the USSR has been reoriented and developed. There is no longer a single target as in the days of the Soviet Union. It is the entire world which is being "watched" -- "even the friendly countries," as President Carter's former adviser for security matters, the highly influential Zbigniew Brzezinski, says. How is this incredible -- and secret -- power in the service of the White House to be described? The NSA -- the independent organization which is in charge of it -- is much richer than the CIA. It employs at least 100,000 people worldwide and has a real budget which some people put at over $16 billion -- nearly 100 billion French francs [F]! John Pike, the expert on intelligence matters at the Federation of American Scientists, says with a burst of laughter: "It is very simple: Today, the gigantic NSA picks up everything, or almost everything. Let us say that 95 percent of communications goes into its huge computers. Yes, nearly all telephone conversations, faxes, e-mails, and data transfers are intercepted." Not everybody agrees with this maximum estimate, but it is clear that the percentage is very high. In one of his rare interviews, the NSA chief acknowledged that the agency had to process as much information as there is in the Library of Congress -- the largest in the world -- and this... every three hours. This prodigious flow is supplied primarily by secret bases which "listen" to the communications satellites (mainly the Intelsat satellites). The United States has around 50 stations of this kind in a score of countries scattered over the five continents. The most important are in Britain, New Zealand, Japan, Germany, and Australia, at Pine Gap: The computer room there is so huge that the operators communicate among themselves by radio. These bases are awesomely effective. They "spy" on the communications satellites in two ways: Either they intercept directly the beam when it comes down to earth or they receive the "harvest" of the spy satellites which are positioned close to the communications satellites and intercept their traffic. These spies in space with the strange names of Mercury, Mentor, or Trumpet also monitor radio transmissions from earth. Thanks to their huge aerials (the size of a soccer pitch, it is said), they pick up, for instance, the waves emitted by the mobile telephone relay stations... There are apparently nine top secret satellites of this kind in geostationary orbit, including two over Europe. The latter send their "harvest" to the huge Menwith Hill NSA base in Britain. Telephone Access Road Under Atlantic [subhead] Thus, according to all the experts consulted -- even those closest to the NSA and the least paranoid -- it is clear that every time that you phone abroad and hear an echo -- a sign that it is a satellite and not a cable which is relaying the communication -- that conversation is "processed" by the NSA via its ground stations. The undersea cables? In fact, it is by them that most transatlantic communications are carried. A few years ago, these were traditional telephone cables. In order to listen to them, an NSA submarine installed an "access road" ["bretelle"] 5,000 meters under the sea. This was, it is said, technically difficult but scientifically simple. Today, they are made of optical fibers on which the former methods have no effect. Are they "unmonitorable?" No, many experts claim. According to some, the NSA has invented a method of intercepting data transfers under water at a precise point on the cable where the "acceleration" of communications takes place. According to others, the agency quite simply colludes with the telephone companies and operates in the relay stations, where the cable comes out of the ocean. Such secret agreements with private companies would not be the first -- far from it. James Bamford, the only author of a book on the NSA, recalls that in the fifties and sixties, the NSA -- whose existence nobody suspected at that time -- set up Operation Shamrock: Every evening, the telegraph companies -- in particular, Western Union -- gave an officer of the agency a copy of all the traffic entering the United States or leaving it. "Patriotism and well understood interest make any company approached by the NSA give in," a veteran of the agency explains. "That is why I am certain that the new mobile telephony world network, Iridium, which makes it possible to phone from anywhere, is already under the NSA's thumb. Why? Because the venture's two main promoters are very important suppliers of the agency, which, I will remind you, has a budget of at least F50 billion..." Overall, the NSA therefore intercepts millions of communications of every kind each day. They are digitized and sent by shielded cable and by satellite to Fort Meade. There, not all of them are "recorded" -- far from it. Only a small proportion is preserved and processed. How is the selecting done? In the first place, by telephone numbers: Some are systematically watched (the important embassies, the presidential palaces, the ministries of sensitive countries); others are watched depending on the circumstances (major companies, hotels, international conferences...). Selection is also done by voice recognition: The agency's computers -- Cray computers whose chips are made in a special plant at Fort Meade -- are able to identify thousands of people automatically by their voices: Terrorists, politicians, diplomats... Last, the NSA's "clients" (the CIA, the State Department, the Department of Defense, or the Department of Commerce) draw up a list of key words or expressions whose appearance in a conversation, a file, or an e-mail should automatically trigger the recording of the communication. Let us also state that, according to James Bamford, the agency can instantly translate conversations in over 100 languages. After processing and selection, how many interceptions are actually used? "Between 10,000 and 15,000 each day," says an expert of the French intelligence services who has worked with the NSA. Between 10,000 and 15,000 conversations listened to, summarized, and forming the subject of a report. Each day. Other experts speak rather of tens of thousands. The exact figure is top secret. The NSA Can "Sniff" Internet [subhead] This is not all. The NSA obviously also takes a great interest in Internet. According to a former agency employee turned computer security expert, Wayne Madsen, "US Internet providers obviously authorize the NSA to 'sniff' everything that goes over the Web and to 'filter' out anything of interest to it. Likewise, many people suspect the agency of 'booby-trapping' Internet sites -- with or without the latter's' consent -- so as to be able to consult the content of all the computers that access the sites concerned, from a distance and undetected. There is even worse to come. In some cases, communications -- short-wave transmissions in particular -- can only be intercepted from positions close to the target. It takes intervention on the spot, abroad. In order to achieve this, the NSA and the CIA together have created a top-secret crack unit: the Special Collection Service (SCS). Working under diplomatic cover, these specialists set up a fully fledged listening service in the US embassies and consulates. Sometimes the operation is carried out by Commonwealth allies -- less liable to be suspected of spying --, as a former Canadian secret service officer, Mike Frost, recounts in a book that created an enormous sensation in Ottawa in 1994. So the United States wants to listen to and read everything. It also wants to see everything. Extremely powerful spy satellites that "steal" images are developed by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), set up in 1961 but whose existence was officially denied until 1992. Their precision (or resolution, as the specialists call it) is nothing short of staggering. Some Keyholes (or KH's, as the on-board cameras are called) can detect objects no larger than 10 centimeters from several hundred kilometers away. In other words, they are capable of identifying an automobile's make -- but not of reading its license plates, as is sometimes claimed.Other satellites, the Lacrosses, which are fitted with radar, "see" in the dark or through clouds with hardly less precision. Others still have an infrared sensor that makes them so sensitive to heat that they pick up a one-tenth of a degree Celsius increase in ground temperature: By measuring temperature differences, they can detect certain buried or camouflaged targets. Lastly, the latest ones (which go by the highly fanciful name of KH-12 Improved Crystal) appear to be fitted with all these various sensors, but it is impossible to find out more: The precise capabilities of spy satellites -- 15 or so are in operation, according to the French intelligence services -- are some of the United States' best-kept secrets.What purpose does this "science fiction" outfit, as Zbigniew Brzezinski calls it, really serve? There is first its confessable purpose, first and foremost the war against terrorism. Two US soldiers were killed in an explosion at a Berlin discotheque in 1986. Responsibility for the attack was not claimed. Nevertheless, the United States immediately identified the country behind it, Libya: The NSA had intercepted and deciphered communications between Tripoli's embassies in East Berlin and Rome. A few minutes after the explosion, a member of al-Qadhdhafi's secret service said: "The operation has been carried out. It has left no traces." A few days later, Reagan authorized the bombing of the Libyan capital. In the same way, some sources report that Washington forwarded the content of encrypted messages between Tehran and the Iranian Embassy in France to Paris, thus enabling the DST [Territorial Surveillance Directorate] to identify beyond any doubt the murderers of former prime minister Shahpur Bakhtiar. Lastly, it was very probably the NSA that supplied the White House with proof that Bin-Ladin was to blame for last summer's bombings at the US embassies in Africa. Another target that the US secret services openly have in their sights is the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. This is one of the spy satellites' main purposes. By combining various types of image (radar, infrared, etc.), the photo interpreters can, in certain cases, detect a concealed chemical or bacterial agent production site. The NSA, for its part, tracks dealers in "precursors" (the base products for this type of weapon) and undercover suppliers of military know-how. Its collimator, or list of phone numbers to be kept under surveillance, include Russian and Chinese businesses that help Iran or North Korea with their ballistic missile programs. Another "honorable" field of action is monitoring wars. The Keyhole satellites saw the deployment of Iraqi troops on the border with Kuwait in July 1990. On 27 July, six days before the invasion, the infrared sensors even picked up the military trucks carrying water, diesel oil, and ammunitions. Likewise, the New York Times reports that the NSA recently sent dozens of agents to Kosovo to monitor the withdrawal of the Serbian troops -- and to find out what their real intentions were. However, all the high-tech arsenal in the world is no substitute for a political decision. The moral of the story is that the Keyholes saw the Srebrenica massacres in July 1995, but the White House lifted not a finger. Lastly, Washington is increasingly using its amazing intelligence paraphernalia as a trump card -- or means of exerting pressure -- in peace settlement negotiations. As one specialist explained, "As you know, the CIA is standing surety for part of the Wye Plantation agreement between Yasir 'Arafat and Binyamin Netanyahu. What does that mean? Well, mainly that, in one form or another, it will make satellite photos -- for example, those of Hamas training camps -- and perhaps even tapped conversations between Palestinian terrorists available to the parties." In the same way, the CIA played a role in the negotiation of the Dayton agreements between Bosnia and Serbia. More generally, Washington now grudgingly admits the intelligence services' role in diplomatic activities. In a rare attack of frankness, then NSA Director John MacConnell explained in 1994: "There is no single foreign policy event in which the US Government is not interested and in which the NSA is not directly mixed up." However, there is a limit beyond which no official will publicly go. The United States will never officially admit to listening in to friendly countries, and its allies in particular. The issue is too sensitive. Last April, the book by New Zealand researcher Nicky Hager, "Secret Power," created a violent controversy in the European Parliament. Hager describes in detail how the NSA "listens in" to commercial communications satellites (the Intelsats), largely from its bases in the Commonwealth countries. He makes a household word of the organization's alleged name, Echelon, and explains how all phone calls, e-mails, and faxes to and from Europe are, as we have seen, systematically "filtered" by the NSA. The specialists had known all about it, and about the symbiotic relationship between the NSA and its British counterpart, GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters), in particular, for 10 years, but the wider public and its representatives in Strasbourg were unaware of it. Members of the European Parliament thus denounced systematic interceptions over Paris, Bonn, and Madrid in a virulent report last September and demanded explanations from the United States. Washington has not responded. The NSA refused to comment on the report when asked about it by Le Nouvel Observateur. France, Favorite Target [subhead] The head of the NSA under Reagan, William Odom, broke the taboo in his office at the Hudson Institute in Washington: "Of course that sort of operation exists, so what? What is so scandalous about it? Everyone is trying to do the same, you French out in front. But you are pottering about in your little corner, whereas we have agreements with Britain and the Commonwealth, which gives us considerable resources. It would take you years and billions of dollars to acquire an outfit like ours." France, moreover, is one of the NSA's favorite targets. A former agency employee told us: "You are always up in arms against Washington, on the UN Security Council, in Africa, in arms sales, and in the Iraqi crisis, so Fort Meade obviously tries to find out what you are up to." Actually, the White House's "Big Ears" are interested in all the friendly countries. It wants to find out their strategies in international trade negotiations. The Washington Post has revealed that Bill Clinton's envoy to Japan in 1995, Mickey Kantor, benefited from NSA help during very tough talks with Tokyo on automobile import quotas. In the same way, according to "Insight" magazine, the NSA filled the rooms and conference halls of the major Seattle hotels with bugs a few years before: Bill Clinton had invited 15 leaders of Asian and Pacific Rim countries to discuss an economic pact. Lastly, the NSA supplied US diplomats with tappings during the strong-arm contests between Europe and the United States over safeguards for the arts [in investment deregulation]. Indeed, this type of spying is institutionalized: There is an office of executive support at the Department of Commerce that liaises between negotiators and intelligence agents -- several members of the CIA and NSA are members of it. Then there is intelligence for the benefit of private businesses. In Washington it is said that there is no question of spying for Chrysler or Exxon and that it would be detrimental to free competition, but, it is claimed, the secret services can help US companies in one circumstance: for the purpose of denouncing the bribes that enable foreign firms to win fat contracts at the expense of US firms. Two French businesses at least have, it is said, thus been caught out by the NSA. Thomson was in line to win the contract for providing Amazonia with radar cover in 1995, but, at the last moment, the NSA purportedly informed the White House of the kickback paid to Brazilian officials by the French company, and Bill Clinton is said to have intervened personally with the Brazilian Government to upset the apple cart; in the end Raytheon carried off the contract. Airbus is also said to have lost a major sale in the Persian Gulf to Boeing for similar reasons. Lastly, it was reportedly NSA that discovered the treason committed by a General Motors executive, Lopez, who had sold major trade secrets to Volkswagen. How? A former agency employee explained: "The NSA monitors all movements of funds in the Swiss banks with great attention. One day, it discovered that this Lopez was trying to invest a fortune, so nothing was easier than to trace it back to its generous donor: Volkswagen." Do the US Big Ears work for US multinationals in cases other than corruption? The French secret services are sure they do, but they lack proof. So are the US spies omnipotent? No. The intelligence failures, as they are dubbed in Washington, have come thick and fast over recent months. The James Bonds foresaw neither the bombings at the US embassies in Africa nor the firing of a ballistic missile over Japan by North Korea; nor, above all, did they anticipate the nuclear tests in India in May. This latter setback has been heavily criticized by Congress, and an ad hoc committee of inquiry chaired by Admiral David Jeremiah has been set up. It has discovered that the CIA had no well-placed source in India and, above all, that the agency with the job of studying the satellite photos was too short-staffed to take advantage of the Indian frames. Indeed, on close inspection, pictures of the preparations exist, but no one had seen them before the explosion. As David Jeremiah explained: "There are too many photos coming in every day. The photo interpreters are utterly swamped." Overabundance and saturation are the real threat to the US intelligence services. The situation at the NSA is little short of comical. You would think you were in Chaplin's "Modern Times" at Fort Meade. James Bamford came across an exhausted employee's outburst in an internal agency paper. It read: "Try and imagine a block of paper 2 meters wide, 2 meters tall, and 20 meters long that moves past you on a conveyer belt every 10 minutes every day." This, he says, is the amount of information he has to process, so it is not surprising that the NSA destroys over 1,000 metric tonnes of unused documents in a special tank every year. There is another danger that the secret services find terribly worrying: the proliferation of cryptology apparatus. Message-coding machines were rare and extremely expensive in the sixties -- and the NSA often used to strike a secret deal with the supplier to hand over the keys (as it did with the Swiss company, Crypto AG). "But now, these technologies are within everyone's reach," Wayne Madsen explained. "Any telephone equipment dealer offers scramblers and coders at rock-bottom prices." Most of them can be easily "broken" by the NSA, but not all of them: some have very long keys that take days, months, or even years of computer processing to discover, during which time the information sought becomes obsolete. The NSA thus implored the Clinton administration to force cryptography apparatus manufacturers to render their equipment accessible to listening in by the agency. After a tough battle in Congress, the White House had to back down. The OECD also refused last year to make this type of constraint compulsory for computer equipment -- despite, once again, pressure from Washington, and this time from London and Paris as well. The space spies are having to see past increasingly sophisticated camouflage. "It is a case of the coat of armor and the sword," one expert said. "A game of hide and seek between the indiscreet eye and its target." When preparing for its nuclear tests, India placed all its cables and compromising apparatus underground, whereas North Korea built military workshops in underground tunnels. Space Espionage's "Private Sector" [subhead] Then there is the privatization of space intelligence. For the last year, the CIA has no longer had a monopoly on high-precision satellite images. US companies have the right to use their own satellites to take photos with 1-meter resolution, barely more than those taken by Helios, the French spy satellite, and to sell the frames. Russian firms are now doing the same, and the Israelis, Japanese, and Indians will be doing it tomorrow, but the US Government has not spoken its last word. The White House reserves the right to shut off the flow of these private sector images -- which, moreover, cannot be sold to certain countries, such as Iraq and North Korea -- whenever it wants. What is more, Washington put on a show of strength last year: The US Army destroyed a satellite in orbit with a laser beam and announced the fact. Officially, it was merely an experiment, but all the private -- and state -- operators have taken the threat on board. Lastly, NRO chief Keith Hall undertook last year to develop sensors capable of "seeing" underground. The NSA has reacted as well. It has for several years been financing a highly ambitious program: the quantum computer -- thousands, nay, millions of times more powerful than today's Crays. When it has been fully developed, it will probably make child's play of the most sophisticated codes, unless it is already up and running, in secret, at Fort Meade. Last but not least, Bill Clinton wrung from Congress the largest budget increase the secret services have had in 15 years last October. One can never be too careful. The US President wants to be sure that his successors continue monitoring the planet from the White House basement in the 21st century. [Box, p 16] The Intelink Revolution [box head] The United States has invented spying in real time: the Intelink network. Since 1994, 50,000 hand-picked intelligence officers and the main political decisionmakers have been linked up to the secret NSA, CIA, and military intelligence service databases via a sort of ultraprotected Internet. Wherever they are in the world, they can thus consult the latest tappings, the frames taken that same day by the spy satellites, or reports from agents on the ground. According to the book ["Top Secret Intranet" -- Le Nouvel Observateur editorial note] by Federick Martin, a former NSA official, Intelink comprises 440,000 electronic pages. [end of box] [Box, p 18] "Never Say Anything" [box head] A few years ago, the US Congress discovered that the NRO, the spy satellite manufacturer, had concealed no less than the equivalent of F25 billion in its accounts. It was not a case of embezzlement, but merely a way of being able to conduct undercover operations without alerting foreign countries. This fortune had long remained unused, as successive managers had not been informed of its existence... The obsession with secrecy is to be found everywhere at the NRO. Its letterhead has only been known since 1992. Every time the press discovers a spy satellite's code name, it is immediately changed, and the agency's new headquarters, the building of which has been partially concealed from Congress, is "furtive," in other words, difficult for enemy radar equipment and satellites to detect... It is a religion at NSA (the listening station). Do its three initials not stand for "never say anything"? Its employees are allowed to travel abroad only exceptionally. The NSA provides them with dentists and surgeons in case they talk too much while under anesthesia, and they are encouraged to intermarry. This is why the agency's Fort Meade headquarters has cinemas, theaters, and restaurants. Last but not least, the prime ministers of the Commonwealth countries that work closely with the NSA must themselves swear not to reveal the details of the agreements between their governments and the agency. [end of box] [Description of source: Paris Le Nouvel Observateur in French --left-of-center weekly magazine featuring domestic and international political news] THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: drsov12091998001145 Document Id: 0f3tc7g0386kxm Insert Date: 12/11/98 Purge Date: 12/24/99 Publish Date: 12/09/98 Publish Region: Central Eurasia Lines: 144 Title: Russia: U.S. Kosovo Policy Criticized Document Number: FBIS-SOV-98-343 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: Central Eurasia, The Americas, East Europe Document Date: 9 Dec 1998 Division: Russia, North America, Balkan States Subdivision: Russia, United States, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Sourceline: MM0912165198 Moscow Rossiyskaya Gazeta in Russian 9 Dec 98 p 7 AFS Number: MM0912165198 Citysource: Moscow Rossiyskaya Gazeta Language: Russian Article Type: BFN Subslug: Article by Vladimir Lapskiy: "Alarming Map of Europe. President Bill Clinton 'Has Approved Secret Plan To Overthrow President Milosevic's Regime'" Washington's "sentences" of this kind about foreign leaders are no longer a surprise. A couple of weeks ago Bill Clinton signed the "Act on the Liberation of Iraq," in other words on overthrowing President Saddam Husayn, which, according to the CIA's number-crunchers, should cost the U.S. treasury $97 million. The expenditure on removing the "Milosevic regime" is not specified. The plan for the operation will consist of two components -- supporting Montenegro in its efforts to gain greater independence from Belgrade and subsidizing the opposition in Serbia itself. As we can see, everything is very simple, as if politics is a pack of cards from which any hand can be dealt. In actual fact, the Americans feel more confident than anybody in Yugoslavia. Their observers in Pristina and the other four Kosovo cities have filled up all the hotels. European observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have been forced to rent accommodations from single old people in hovels with outside "conveniences." But, according to Belgrade newspaper Tan [as transliterated], the Europeans are displeased most of all because the Yanks have "monopolized" the talks on Kosovo's political future leaving them -- the Europeans -- only to get soaked by the rain in the fields. In other words, to deal directly with local inspections. Thus, the United States has actually given the "contact group" and OSCE the role of assistants in achieving its own objectives. It is relevant to observe that the OSCE observer mission is also led by an American -- William Walker. To what else are the observers turning their attention in Yugoslavia? The current OSCE mission in Kosovo sharply differs from all previous ones: Never before have U.S. and NATO military-strategic interests affected the general scheme of conflict resolution to such an extent. It can be assumed that Albanian separatists will take full advantage of this fact: Considering the Americans to be their covert though not overt allies, they are behaving provocatively. Their gunmen are armed to the teeth and are constantly replenishing their arsenals from neighboring Albania (OSCE observers are unarmed). Foreign correspondents report that the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) separatists are mounting patrols at approaches to certain localities, checking documents, and letting through only the "friends of Kosovo," that is to say their own supporters. Under the agreement between U.S. mediator Richard Holbrooke and President Milosevic, only 27 Serb police precincts are left in Kosovo. Their activities have been restricted. "While the UCK's defeated units," the German weekly Der Spiegel writes, "are once again behaving like heroes." They have contemptuously rejected Holbrooke's proposal to create joint Serb-Albanian patrols. Thus, things are a little more peaceful in the Province of Kosovo. There is less shooting. But no end to the crisis is in sight. Albanian separatist leader Demaci has approved Washington's peacekeeping plan in principle: The UCK has agreed to defer the achievement of its objectives as regards winning full independence, but in three years a referendum must be held on the province's full independence -- no more and no less. This is the only condition on which the UCK is prepared to agree to temporary autonomy. Serbian President Milan Milutinovic saw the new U.S. proposals as a trap. They envisage the maximum weakening of ties between the Province of Kosovo and the rest of Serbia. Thus, for instance, Kosovo deputies will not sit in the Serbian parliament but will be able to send 30 of their representatives to the Yugoslav parliament. Thus, Kosovo is essentially becoming a third Yugoslav republic besides Serbia and Montenegro with rights equal to theirs. This scheme is unacceptable to the Serbs. The U.S. plan goes beyond the framework of the October accords, Milutinovic says. Serbia favors Kosovo's democratic self-government, but within Serbian borders. But the Americans' plan violates both the Serbian and the Yugoslav constitutions. Humanitarian problems have not been completely solved although considerable resources -- $150 million (EU countries are paying two-thirds) -- have been allocated to overcome them. In icy winds thousands of homeless and starving people are wandering along Kosovo roads and hiding in forests. So far the food, medical, and material aid delivered to Kosovo has been clearly inadequate. The Kosovo crisis might not flare up as it did before but it is like a pile of smoldering wood which could catch fire again at any moment. Jiri Dienstbier, UN special representative for human rights, warns that Kosovo is on the brink of a new catastrophe in which the West will be fully involved. "Neither the OSCE mission nor anybody else has found it possible to force the so-called 'Kosovo Liberation Army' to lay down its arms." Here it is important to observe that the task of the observers who are traveling around in jeeps is to monitor the Serb police's activities without paying attention to Albanian gunmen, as if they do not exist in Kosovo. In these conditions new armed clashes between UCK gunmen and Serb police officers are a distinct possibility. The Americans and NATO members are predicting such a turn of events. NATO rapid response forces -- a 1,700-strong contingent of soldiers which could be moved to Kosovo in a few hours -- have been stationed in neighboring Macedonia. In this case it is not hard to figure out the result: If they enter a neighboring country a situation analogous to the Bosnian situation will arise. But we have, as the saying goes, already had that lesson.... Russia has done much to solve the military conflict in Kosovo, using personal contacts with Yugoslav leaders and diplomatic moves. Recently at NATO headquarters in Brussels our military men agreed to participate in Operation Eagle Eye -- a system of carrying out monitoring flights over Kosovo. Russian An-30B's will be used for aerial observation in the province. The NATO members politely declined ground cooperation, specifically with our military intelligence officers. NATO would like to keep Russia at a distance in the present phase of overcoming the crisis. True, a group of Russian observers has been allowed into Kosovo. On viewing the events in Yugoslavia, the thought that the United States would like to undermine and if possible completely destroy the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia -- the leading country in the Balkans -- no longer seems absurd. It would be easier to deal with small or weakened states in this refractory region. That is obviously why it wants to bring down Milosevic, who is a thorn in its side. But the unabated conflicts in the Balkans are also apparently to its advantage They, these conflicts, enable NATO not only to show itself as a peacemaker but also to talk about the need for its eastward expansion. It is well known that the United States always has the last word in NATO.... The Kosovo crisis is now entering a crucial phase. Another 1,500 observers are due at any moment to join the 500 who are already here. But calm without peace is deceptive. Too much mutual hostility and hatred has accumulated in the hearts of Serbs and Albanians, too many weapons are in their hands. Have all sides involved in the conflict got enough fortitude and common sense to defuse the Kosovo time bomb? [Description of Source: Rossiyskaya Gazeta -- Government daily newspaper.] THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu12021998000209 Document Id: 0f3gkgd00a3tp3 Insert Date: 12/04/98 Purge Date: 12/17/99 Publish Date: 12/02/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 56 Title: Bulgaria: Daily Sees US Attitude to Milosevic as 'State Terrorism' Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-336 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe, The Americas Document Date: 2 Dec 1998 Division: Balkan States, North America Subdivision: Bulgaria, United States, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Sourceline: AU0212084198 Sofia Duma in Bulgarian 2 Dec 98 p 7 AFS Number: AU0212084198 Citysource: Sofia Duma Language: Bulgarian Article Type: BFN Subslug: Commentary by Ventseslav Karaivanov: "State Terrorism in Action" Several days ago, the London Observer reported that the CIA and other US services are developing plans to topple the legally elected President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milosevic, and to tear Montenegro and Kosovo away from the federal state. Instead of the anticipated denials, State Department spokesman James Rubin officially stated that the US Administration "would approve of removing Slobodan Milosevic from power." He promised the Serbian opposition and Montenegrin "reformers" help in removing the President. According to him, in the last 10 years, Milosevic has been "at the center of all Balkan crises." Without him, Yugoslavia would become a "real democracy." Everyone has the right to like or dislike a certain politician, but no one has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of another state. This applies even more to a diplomat of a superpower. In addition, the open support for terrorist and separatist forces is a violation of international law. This is being done by a state that claims to be the most democratic state in the world. There is no other definition of such actions other that "state terrorism," which the United States otherwise likes to publicly denounce. The Yugoslav nations have elected their President, and in addition, the elections took place under international observation. The international observers did not contest even one election in the FRY. Only the Serbs and the Montenegrins have the right to decide who will rule them and how. No one has the right to interfere with their choice, and even less to inspire revolts and putsches. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu11081998000084 Document Id: 0f280x104cb9ce Insert Date: 11/10/98 Purge Date: 11/23/99 Publish Date: 11/08/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 297 Title: Albania: CIA Crackdown on Islamists in Albania Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-312 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe, The Americas, Near East/South Asia Document Date: 8 Nov 1998 Division: Balkan States, North America, Arab Africa Subdivision: Albania, United States, Egypt Sourceline: JN0811085198 Paris Al-Watan Al-'Arabi in Arabic 6 Nov 98 pp 30-32 AFS Number: JN0811085198 Citysource: Paris Al-Watan Al-'Arabi Language: Arabic Article Type: BFN Subslug: Report by Riyad 'Alam-al-Din in Tirana At the beginning, the custom's official at Renas International Airport, which is around 25 km from the capital Tirana, thought that a military coup had taken place in Albania. During the many years of his work at the airport, he never saw this much military mobilization, this many tanks, and such strict security measures all over the airport and the areas around, as on the evening of that Sunday, 28 June 1998. Even during the Pope's historic visit to Albania, Renas Airport did not go through a similar state of siege. The airport staff were worried throughout the night. When troops took up their positions on runway number 1, a gray colored plane landed bearing the insignia of the US airforce and parked in a remote area away from everyone's sight. In the dim light and the confusion of the security measures, a group of civilians and military men were seen accompanying two shackled men to the steps of the airplane; three members wearing civilian clothes went up to the plane with them. Within minutes, the US plane took off from the runway and flew out of sight. The state of siege at the airport also ended, and with it ended one of the biggest secret operations the US intelligence organization, the CIA, has implemented in years. However, the following weeks revealed that what happened at Renas airport was the first battle, not the last, of a silent and violent war of chase waged by units from the CIA commandos against the most dangerous symbols of Islamic terrorism and extremism in the world. The operation of blowing up the two US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es-Salaam on 7 August, and all that happened after it and is still happening now, came to confirm that the war continues everywhere and with the use of all means. The two people who were taken away by the US airforce plane to Cairo were among the most dangerous symbols of extremism, not only Egyptian extremism, but in the whole world. The investigation that was conducted by the CIA agents with them in the offices of the Albanian intelligence in Tirana the whole week--they were arrested on 21 June--confirmed that they belong not only to the Egyptian al-Jihad Organization, but to Bin-Ladin's international terrorism network, in addition to their being wanted by Egyptian justice. The 35-year old Ahmad Ibrahim al-Najjar is one of those who carried out the assassination operation of al-Sadat in 1981. He was sentenced to death for his role in the Khan al-Khalili operation. Abu-Mahmud was arrested on 21 June on the road between Aliyasan [as transliterated] in central Albania and the capital where he worked as an accountant in an Islamic charity society and resided on a forged Egyptian passport under the name of Muhammad Fudah. The Albanian intelligence, which cooperates with the CIA, did not find any difficulty in revealing al-Najjar's real mission in Albania where he is the chief of the Egyptian al-Jihad branch there. It seems that al-Najjar's arrest took place months after they tracked, watched, and monitored him, especially after the US spying satellites recorded a series of telephone calls between him and other Egyptian jihad groups in Milan, Italy. As for the other person arrested, Majid Mustafa, he was arrested on the same day in Tirana. He is an employee in the same charity society and a kalashnikov machine gun was found in his office, as were official seals and stamps for forging passports, identity cards, and visas. Despite the fact that the detainees belong to the Egyptian al-Jihad Group, it seems that the real reason the CIA became involved in their chase and arrest was because they were considered among the ranking members in the Bin-Laden network. There were suspicions that they supervised and are supervising the transformation of Albania into the biggest base for Islamic extremism in Europe and the biggest center of operations in the world after Afghanistan. Perhaps the most telling piece of evidence regarding how dangerous and important these men were, in particular al-Najjar, is the speed with which Bin-Ladin sent an envoy from the Egyptian al-Jihad group. He reached Albania two weeks after the arrest carrying a huge sum of money with instructions to personally supervise the transfer of al-Najjar's wife and his three children to Afghanistan. Information Al-Watan al-'Arabi acquired confirmed that the arrests did not stop at al-Najjar and Majid. Albania has been witnessing since mid-June the biggest tracking and arrest operation of its kind with firm cooperation between Shabak and the CIA. But because of the secrecy enshrouding the operation, and even its illegitimacy for the American side, the campaign continued to take place under great secrecy. This campaign was so secret even the Islamic extremists in Albania continued to ask questions about the disappearance of their friends, until the number of the disappearing people from different nationalities went up and the whole matter was exposed. It is worth mentioning that the details of this operation, which was headed by the CIA in total secrecy, did not reach the Islamic sides until the end of July. It was noticed that the Islamic information monitor, despite its strong relations with and information about the extremists in general, was unable to find out what had happened to al-Najjar until 2 August when the leaders of the fundamentalist networks in London got the order to demonstrate outside the Albanian Embassy. On 6 August, Western security sides specialized in combating terrorism were taken by surprise with a threatening statement issued by Bin-Ladin in which he said that he will respond to the Americans in the language the Americans know very well: terrorism. At the time when these agencies, which were not informed about the secrets behind the CIA activities in Albania, were trying to analyze Bin-Ladin's threats, they received news about the two blasts that destroyed the US Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es-Salaam. On the same day and before US President Bill Clinton officially declared his country's determination to avenge the 258 victims killed in Kenya and Tanzania by saying "We will find these terrorists wherever they may be," CIA stations around the world were put on a state of extreme preparedness to implement the scheme of tracking down the terrorist organizations and their symbols everywhere. Those who noticed the series of arrests that took place and their geographic distribution realized quickly that the CIA plan was ready with all its details and elements and through the complete coordination with the majority of the local intelligence agencies. Hours after the Nairobi and Dar es-Salaam blasts, Pakistani intelligence arrested at Karachi airport Muhammad Sadiq 'Awdah, 35 years old, and [name indistinct] al-'Awali. On 16 September, German intelligence arrested in Friesling, Bavaria, Mahmud Salim, the financial director and official responsible for buying weapons for the Bin-Ladin network. And on 23 September, British authorities stormed the hideouts of and arrested seven Islamic fundamentalists in London, most notably Khalid al-Fawwaz who is considered to be the official spokesman for Bin-Ladin, and the Egyptian 'Abd-al-Bari 'Abd-al-Majid, who is sentenced to death in his country. At the same time, the NBI [not further identified] in Texas reported the arrest of Bin-Ladin's private secretary, Wadi' al-Haj. After London, Italy started its arrest campaign of a group the majority of whose members are Egyptians belonging to the Bin-Ladin group. All these arrests were not sheer coincidence. They were the fruit of the biggest secret tracking operation of the extremist organizations, launched by the CIA launched, which continues to this day, and in which Albania played a limited role. Why Albania and what is the role of the Egyptian extremists in the Bin-Ladin network? Information made available to Al-Watan al-'Arabi confirms that European and Western intelligence interest in the phenomenon of Islamic extremism in Albania proceeded on an equal level with the Islamic awareness that gripped over three million Muslims after the collapse of the Communist rule in that country. It seems that this phenomenon began drawing attention when Sali Barisha took over power and adopted an open policy toward the Arab and Islamic countries. He opened his country's doors wide before the Arabs and Muslims, who began to enter Albania without visas and whose residence in the country was facilitated. Ever since 1992, Barisha's policy worried some countries, particularly Washington, who discovered that the Albanian president is applying a dual policy by getting close to both the United States and Iran at the same time. This is what enabled the extremist Islamic groups to implement their policy of infiltrating this European country with a poor Muslim majority. These groups found the opportunity appropriate for entering Albania, benefiting from the Muslim charity groups operating in the country to help the poor Albanian Muslims, whether to build mosques, or spread Islamic schools, or offer humanitarian aid. Since 1993, some European security organs that have been tracking down the Islamic networks in Europe, found out that some extremist groups began to use Albania as their headquarters, in particular the Egyptian and Sudanese groups, which controlled the mosques through Sudanese and Egyptian imams and preachers. At that time, an Egyptian businessman of Albanian origin raised suspicions by donating 100,000 copies of the holy Koran containing in the introduction a call to jihad. With the eruption of war in Bosnia and the emergence of the Bosnian Arabs, along the lines of the Afghan Arabs, the Albanian headquarters' importance increased in its ability to provide logistics, and even financial support. Ever since that time, particularly since 1996, Albania began to acquire a reputation for being a center for smuggling weapons to the Islamic networks in Europe, as well as a center for trade companies and Islamic charity organizations that are used as fronts for funding these cells. Among them are the companies that belong to Bin-Ladin and societies belonging to Arab countries that have been "infiltrated" by the Bin-Ladin group. The storming and arrest operations, which were being implemented by many European countries within the framework of their campaign to track down the extremists and their networks that are linked to the Afghans of Bosnia, only increased the suspicions and indications about Albania's growing role. Information Al-Watan al-'Arabi has acquired says that the first to reveal the details about the extremist Islamic centers in Albania was Italy as a result of the operation the network carried out in many Italian cities toward the end of 1996. The most important two points revealed by that issue were: First, that the mujahidin had moved from Bosnia to Albania and taken advantage of the confusion that reigned in the country and the facilities Barisha was offering to transform Albania into a springboard for the terrorist networks, not only in Europe, but the whole world. And second, that the leadership of the extremist networks in Albania is in the hands of the Egyptian extremists. They have had strong relations with the Afghan Arabs of all nationalities ever since the establishment of Afghanistan, and were transformed later on to become the masterminds and managers of these groups. The Italian security agencies' information reports that Egyptian extremists from the Islamic Group and al-Jihad Organization are now supervising all the activities of the extremist groups in Albania. These include training operations in the camps, weapons-smuggling operations, and operations to recruit the Muslim Albanians, particularly since some of these Egyptians occupied sensitive positions in the charity organizations and the companies, i.e. the fronts that control the funding process. It seems that the CIA began to pay special attention to the Albanian headquarters with the eruption of the Kosovo crisis and the establishment of the Kosovo Liberation Army. CIA agents, who were based in Bosnia and some Balkan countries to protect the US forces, discovered that groups of Bosnian mujahidin went to Kosovo to take part in the jihad against the Serbian forces. These were joined by about 150 fighters from Albania. At the beginning, the US intelligence was interested in learning about the Iranian role in supporting the Kosovo mujahidin along the lines of what happened in Bosnia. The Americans based their approach on the history of the distinguished relations between Iran and Albania, which started in 1993, and which allowed Tehran to smuggle weapons and military equipment through Albania. But the US intelligence were taken by surprise with respect to the relations between the active Islamic extremists in Albania and the Bin-Ladin network. They were so surprised that one of the security reports considered Albania a base for the "base organization" that is supervised and financed by Bin-Ladin, while noting the control the Egyptian and Sudanese extremists have over these networks. Information Al-Watan al-'Arabi received confirmed that the US intelligence previously tried to confront the operation of basing the Islamic extremists in Tirana. In 1994, it tried to step up pressure on President Barisha to expel them and close down their centers. But the American requests fell on the deaf ears of the Albanian authorities at that time. In fact, the chief of the Albanian intelligence, Gazi Dada Bashkim, categorically refused to respond to the US lists. He had to pay the price later because he fled to Turkey and then settled in an Arab country. Barisha himself also had to pay the price. When Fatos Nano came to power in 1998, the first thing he did was issue orders to his new intelligence chief, Fatos Kalusi, to respond to the US demands. He thus opened the door to the CIA to have one of its biggest stations in Europe and be able to fight the biggest base of Islamic extremism. Information Al-Watan al-'Arabi has acquired from Albanian intelligence sources reveals that al-Najjar and Majid provided during one week of extensive interrogation, in which advanced technology was used, some very important confessions that led to escalating and intensifying the track-down operations in Albania and outside. On 14 July, the Albanian intelligence arrested another symbol of extremism in Tirana, the Egyptian Muhammad Hasan. Hasan is considered a big fish in the Albanian network and one of the original founders of this network since his arrival in Albania in 1992 as an employee of the Islamic Charity Society. He settled in the country and married an Albanian woman whom he met in a mosque in Alexander Bey square in Tirana, the meeting place of the fundamentalists. Hasan later became a director of a society for reviving Islamic heritage, which is funded by a Kuwaiti relief society many Western security agencies believe has strong ties with Bin-Ladin. Al-Watan al-'Arabi has learned that Albanian intelligence stormed Hasan's office when he was there, seized the computer belonging to the society, and handed it over to the US intelligence. US intelligence has begun to analyze all the information in it with the objective of revealing new details about the network, how it is funded, the role of the charity organizations and some of the Islamic banks in them, like the Albanian-Islamic Arab Bank, which some security agencies believe handles all the bank transfers to the extremists. Western security sources confirm that the process of arresting Muhammad Hasan was succeeded by a fourth "disappearance" of an Egyptian extremist. Some other Islamists from other nationalities also disappeared before a state of panic gripped the circles of the extremists in Albania and they just went underground and disappeared from sight. Since August, after its role was revealed, the US intelligence took up public action to track down the suspects. This is what led to the death of Salah Muhammad al-Sa'id in Tirana a few days ago, where he was also working in one of the relief organizations after he participated in the Bosnia war. He was also a member of the Egyptian jihad group. The al-Sa'id assassination process shows that the war to track down the extremists continues. But European security sources indicate some expected difficulties with respect to US and Albanian intelligence. From the official perspective, the Shabak intelligence figures indicate that the number of Arabs in Albania does not exceed 218 citizens, most of whom are Egyptians and Sudanese working under the cover of the humanitarian institutions or married to Albanian women. But this figure is for those who are officially registered only. Unofficial information reports about a few hundred, or even a few thousand Arabs and Muslims who are not registered. In addition the Albanian security did not begin the process of investigating and monitoring the activities of the Islamic societies until about four months ago. However, the more dangerous aspect of all of this is the state of chaos and demonstrations that spread in Albania in March 1997, leading to the disappearance of over 700,000 guns, 3,600 tons of explosives, and 3.5 million bombs from the army's warehouses. These are weapons that are of great interest to the terrorists. In addition, there is ambiguity with respect to the situation in Kosovo and its effects on Albania, which maintains this country's importance in sheltering the extremists and their bases. Perhaps the biggest piece of evidence that the decisive battle between the US intelligence and the Albanian Bin-Ladin network has not ended yet is the fact that the CIA agents continue to fortify themselves very well from a huge revenge operation, which the extremists are preparing for, against the US Embassy in Tirana. The US Embassy closed down on 14 August and took all its employees and Americans out of Albania, leaving behind only 200 marines to protect the ambassador and the CIA agents. [Description of source: Pro-Saudi news magazine] THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: drsov10291998001208 Document Id: 0f1neth03x2qot Insert Date: 10/30/98 Purge Date: 11/12/99 Publish Date: 10/29/98 Publish Region: Central Eurasia Lines: 140 Title: Russia: 'Tablo' Section From 20 Oct 98 Zavtra Document Number: FBIS-SOV-98-302 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: Central Eurasia,The Americas,East Europe Document Date: 29 Oct 1998 Division: Russia,North America,Balkan States Subdivision: Russia,United States,Kosovo Sourceline: 99R44020A Moscow Zavtra in Russian 20 Oct 98 No 42 p 1 AFS Number: 99R44020A Citysource: Moscow Zavtra Language: Russian Article Type: CSO Subslug: Den Security Service intelligence reports --Western embassies, according to information from diplomatic circles, are attaching fundamental significance to the vote in the Federation Council, when 79 members of the upper chamber representing the regions of Russia voted for a resolution on the early retirement of Yeltsin from the office of president. The subsequent direct appeal to the President of 22 members of the Federation Council is seen as the signal for the start of a campaign for the total isolation of Yeltsin and his "family." It is the general opinion that Zyuganov has sharply strengthened his political positions, which is being helped also by his veiled maneuvers in regard to a "possible alliance with Luzhkov." These steps of the leader of the CPRF together with the obvious weakening of Yeltsin have completed altered the entire structure of interactions in the power institutions of Russia. It is noted here that Zyuganov has gained freedom of political maneuver and may on the one hand step up in planned fashion the campaign for the removal of President Yeltsin and the adoption of the pertinent decisions by the legal legislative bodies and, on the other, replace in the very near future the "pro- Yeltsin Stroyev" in the position of chairman of the Federation Council, which would drastically weaken the positions of the "democrats".... --Milosevic's acceptance of the categorical demands of the United States (the commitment of foreign military observers, the withdrawal of all police and other armed forces of Yugoslavia from Kosovo, and unrestricted flights by NATO aircraft) is tantamount to a renunciation of sovereignty over Kosovo and consent to the further dismemberment of Yugoslavia. According to information obtained from Strasbourg, Milosevic's resistance was broken with the help of Ivanov, minister of foreign affairs of the Russian Federation (formerly Gorbachev's special representative in Spain), who executed Primakov's directive of "maximum assistance to the United States and the NATO members in Yugoslavia." This line of the Russian Government was dictated by the decision of the US House of Representatives to allocate additional funds (approximately $18 billion) for the IMF with a fixed share for the Russian Government. The Primakov government thereby confirmed its readiness to follow the "course of the IMF" that had been pursued earlier by the Gaydar-Chernomyrdin- Kiriyenko cabinets and that is designed to "increase Russia's dependence on the United States".... --In the past 10 days the US federal reserve system twice lowered the prime rate, which caused an appreciable rise in the value of shares in the United States itself and on Asian markets. This decision was prompted by the approach of a "domestic stock market collapse." The crisis and the wave of bankruptcies within the United States were to have led here to the victory of the Republicans and to Clinton's inevitable impeachment.... According to information from the Kremlin, at the end of last week presidential Chief of Staff Yumashev held a secret meeting with a number of the most influential chief editors of the democratic news media. It was pointed out in the course of this meeting that Yeltsin is becoming completely unmanageable and is increasingly succumbing to "fits," in the course of which he is "capable of the most appalling actions." The question of the need for the "soft preparation" of public opinion for the "handover of all authority to Primakov and the confinement of Yeltsin in a health center" with periodic TV appearances was raised in the light of this. The media figures were asked to observe the strictest secrecy, particularly with regard to the "actions of the family." This information is interpreted by our experts either as a purposive provocation for establishing Berezovskiy's influence on Primakov or as a demonstrative action with the actual "evolutionary riddance of the president from the political process".... --According to the information of a source from among Yeltsin's service personnel, the President's physical condition has stabilized at a very low level of operability. At the same time he continues to take an active interest (at moments of lucidity) in politics and to interfere in the official decisionmaking process. Specifically, he ordered Primakov to "leave Rosvooruzheniye alone," keeping this entity within the framework of the influence of the "family" and Berezovskiy. Simultaneously Yeltsin was disturbed by the "union of Luzhkov and Zyuganov" reducing to nothing all actions against the State Duma and geared to his peaceful relinquishment of his presidential powers. As a result, "Tsar Boris" directed the security services "to begin prompting" Seleznev's speeches against Luzhkov and his promotion of his own candidacy (as a counterweight to Zyuganov) at the future presidential elections.... --A situation analysis was conducted 17-18 October in Washington under the sponsorship of a subdivision of the CIA, which considered the consequences of the implementation in Russia of the "constitutional assembly" formula. It was acknowledged as a result of the analysis that this is the optimum path for the reshaping of the virtually unitary Russian state into a loosely linked confederation. The breakup of Russia into 89 semi-independent states will be a reality as soon as the opposition secures the reform of the constitution without elections and with the promotion of the Constitutional Assembly as the supreme institution of power "capable of accepting any matter for consideration and a decision." The planned 800 participants (both chambers and representatives of the regions, all religions, the executive authorities, and public organizations) are to work for no fewer than three weeks in order that individual components "walk out" and complete "their own constitutional formalization." In this case, the conference established, "the final solution of the 'Russian question' will be realized by the Russian political elite." In the course of the discussion it was noted repeatedly that such an initiative, which was conceived in the Bonner-Sakharov group, would lead to a strategic result with the commitment of foreign military contingents for control over Russia's nuclear facilities.... --Seleznev's letter to the US Congress requesting an "acceleration of the decision on the allocation of funds for the IMF" that was sent to Washington recently was seen in the US intelligence community as the "decisive step in the reorientation of the speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation toward support for the seven-year Chubays-Gaydar policy of reforms with their reliance on an intensification of Russia's debt dependence on the West." The possibilities of active financial support for Seleznev in his "presidential campaign" are being assessed anew in this connection.... [Zavtra: Influential leftist-nationalist weekly.] THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. 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Article Id: drnes10271998000175 Document Id: 0f1jwcc01j855a Insert Date: 10/28/98 Purge Date: 11/10/99 Publish Date: 10/27/98 Publish Region: Near East & South Asia Lines: 77 Title: Saudi Arabia: London-based Paper on CIA-Bin-Ladin Activities in Albania Document Number: FBIS-NES-98-300 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: Near East/South Asia, East Europe, The Americas Document Date: 27 Oct 1998 Division: Arabian Peninsula, South Asia, Balkan States, North America Subdivision: Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Albania, United States Sourceline: JN2710083298 London Al-Quds Al-'Arabi in Arabic 26 Oct 98 p 1 AFS Number: JN2710083298 Citysource: London Al-Quds Al-'Arabi Language: Arabic Article Type: BFN Subslug: Report by Al-Quds Al-'Arabi bureau in Tirana, Albania Informed sources in Tirana have affirmed that Albanian police have killed an Egyptian fundamentalist, suspected of collaborating with Saudi Opposition Leader Usamah Bin-Ladin, following an armed clash in a residential suburb of the capital Tirana. However, an Albanian Interior Ministry spokesman said that the Egyptian fundamentalist Salah Muhammad al-Sayyid, 29, was found dead in the bathtub of the villa where he lived with his Albanian wife in a Tirana suburb Saturday. The spokesman said that the investigations revealed that al-Sayyid "committed suicide in a moment of psychological crisis" after an unknown person called the police to the villa. The police came under fire when they arrived and one police officer was wounded in the exchange of fire. A source, who asked to remain anonymous, said that al-Sayyid was an active member of the Egyptian al-Jihad Organization and was under surveillance by the American CIA. Last July, four Islamists were arrested in Albania and handed over to Egypt as part of an operation, which the Tirana press said was carried out in cooperation with the CIA. The source said that al-Sayyid was sent to complete the work of the detained fundamentalists whose arrest uncovered their exploitation of the unstable situation in Muslim Albania as a secure refuge. However, the Tirana press mentioned that al-Sayyid was a member of the Bin-Ladin group and he was suspected of connection with the abortive attempt to blow up the American Embassy in Tirana. The United States temporarily closed its embassy in Albania following the August explosions, attributing that to threats by fundamentalists. The embassy is still closed and traffic has been diverted away from it. The sources said that Albanian police went to arrest al-Sayyid following information they received from the CIA about a network of Bin-Ladin supporters in Albania. The police have recently launched a major campaign of arrests in the Arab community in Albania following the explosions at the US Embassies in Africa to preempt other attacks. Sources close to Islamic societies in Tirana said that the Arab Afghans had established in Albania their largest center of operations outside Afghanistan in the past two years. They provide passports to leaders and senior cadres to move freely in Europe and help wanted elements to leave Middle Eastern countries and Pakistan to Europe. They added: The fundamentalists have used the Islamic societies as a cover for their activities, collecting donations from Gulf states on the pretext of helping the Muslims in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. Fundamentalist sources denied any knowledge of a connection between the dead Egyptian and Usamah Bin-Ladin's group. They believe that the Albanian police, backed by the American intelligence, are using the embassy explosions in Africa to liquidate members of fundamentalist organizations wanted by certain Arab states to avoid the complexities of arrests and extradition, which often lead to reprisals. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: drweu10191998000128 Document Id: 0f158c700owvv5 Insert Date: 10/20/98 Purge Date: 11/02/99 Publish Date: 10/19/98 Publish Region: West Europe Lines: 120 Title: Turkey: Link Seen Between Kurds, Oil in US Approach Document Number: FBIS-WEU-98-292 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: West Europe, Near East/South Asia Document Date: 19 Oct 1998 Division: West Europe, Near East Subdivision: Turkey, Syria, Iraq Sourceline: NC1910070998 Istanbul Milliyet (Internet version) in Turkish 17 Oct 98 AFS Number: NC1910070998 Citysource: Istanbul Milliyet (Internet version) Language: Turkish Article Type: BFN Subslug: From the column "Today" by Guneri Civaoglu: "The Two Ends" Wednesday is the critical day on which "Syria's answer will be received." Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that "our posture with regard to Syria remains serious." In other words, there is no relaxation in tensions. By abandoning its policy of the last 16 years, by acting to do what it has not done for 16 years, Ankara is actually expressing its sentiment that the knife has hit the bone. The truth is that there is no meat buffer left. The state in northern Iraq will be a center of attraction for all the Kurdish groups in the region. The Lego pieces may turn into a unitary structure. I would also like to draw attention to some more interesting and larger-scale games on this issue. It will be seen [at the end of the article] that the current situation has nothing to do with Turkey's blood boiling. A Memory [subhead] I do not remember whether I wrote this in this column or in Sabah where I wrote earlier. Let me briefly recount after so many years. The air operations of the Gulf War were still continuing. The land war had still not begun. I was reporting my impressions from the Dhahran Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Allied aircraft were taking off from this base to keep Iraq under hellish bombardment. In one room in a hotel that US forces were using as their headquarters in Saudi Arabia, I listened to the remarks of an American officer who spoke very good Turkish. He ran his palm over northern Iraq on a map of the Middle East and said: "After the land operation is over, Iraq will have no control over this area. A Kurdish state will be established. They will take possession of the arms left by Saddam. They will be strong. They will also make territorial claims on you. You will either give them what they want or you will fight them." He may not have said these verbatim, but this was the gist of the message. I was shocked by what I heard. Now the arranged hand shaking in Washington between the two Kurdish leaders of northern Iraq, Barzani and Talabani, without Turkey's presence, have brought back memories of this conversation. Maps of a Kurdish state published on the Internet by northern Iraqi Kurds already encompass Turkey's southeast. Smell of Oil [subhead] One comment that may explain the US winds better is: "On October 28, it will be disclosed that the pipeline for the transportation of Azeri oil will be the Baku-Ceyhan route." This route must be secure. In past years whenever this project became serious and was reported in the press, the PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party] staged operations around its possible route. This is not a coincidence. On the other hand, it would not be reasonable to think that a terrorist organization can plan and organize sabotage acts which may convey such big messages. A serious command structure can be sensed behind it. For example, the Syrian General Staff. Because US oil interests mandate that the oil pipeline passing through this region be secure, the United States has taken a posture against the PKK and has supported Turkey indirectly. In fact, it often gives some covert encouragement. What we see in southeast Anatolia and northern Iraq is the PKK's wagging tail. Its head is in Syria. This may the reason Turkey has unveiled its stick against Syria. Moreover, the establishment of unity in northern Iraq will form a force that will prevent the PKK from extending into northern Iraq. This theory may be criticized on various grounds. However, that theory is being blown this way from Washington, and the seeds of a Kurdish state are being sown. Other Theory [subhead] In 1992 Turkey was excluded from the Paris conference on the reorganization of northern Iraq. Behind the guise of "local elections" a virtually independent state was established in that region. A state with its capital in Erbil. A state with an assembly, a government, and a president. The next step was recognition by the UN. Indeed, the prerequisite of recognition by the UN is to become part of a federal state. Applications by Kosovo and Vojvodina for UN membership were turned down in 1996 on the grounds that they were "not federated states." However, Talabani and Barzani began to quarrel over revenues earned from the Habur border crossing point. They began to fight. Between 1992 and 1995 Turkey effectively closed off northern Iraq to foreigners. In August 1996, Turkey supported--by secret diplomacy--Saddam's operation against Talabani in cooperation with Barzani. The CIA Director openly criticized Turkey for this reason. Thus it became necessary to include Turkey in the Dublin process on the reorganization of northern Iraq. This time Turkey blocked the unification of northern Iraq from inside. Indeed our armed forces backed the Kurdistan Democratic Party in 1996. Now, with the new US policy, this covert war is being replaced by overt differences. The United States is reorganizing northern Iraq in Washington on a platform where Turkey is not present. In response, by threatening to hurt Syria, Turkey is sending to the United States the message that "it is present" in the region. There: two different interpretations. [Description of source: Centrist, Mass Appeal Daily; One of Country's Top Circulation Papers Root URL: http://www.milliyet.com.tr/] THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu10011998000934 Document Id: 0f07smi00106j8 Insert Date: 10/02/98 Purge Date: 10/15/99 Publish Date: 10/01/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 75 Title: Serbia: Seselj Accuses West of 'Orchestrating' Crimes in Kosovo Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-274 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 1 Oct 1998 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Serbia Sourceline: AU0110160698 Belgrade BETA in Serbo-Croatian 1416 GMT 1 Oct 98 AFS Number: AU0110160698 Citysource: Belgrade BETA Language: Serbo-Croatian Article Type: BFN Belgrade, 1 October (BETA) -- Today, Vojislav Seselj, leader of the Serbian Radical Party [SRS] and Deputy Prime Minister of the Serbian Government, accused the United States, Great Britain, and France of openly pursuing a hostile policy against the Serb people, noting that their goal is to have Serbia and the FRY bombed. Seselj said at a news conference in Belgrade that the crime in the village of Gornja Obrinja in Kosovo "was orchestrated in the West by those same countries in order to create legal grounds for the UN Security Council to authorize the bombing of Serbia." "The Radicals appeal to the governments of Russia and China not to allow one such resolution to be passed in the UN Security Council, and if they turn a deaf ear to the fate of the Serb people, the same evil may happen to them tomorrow as well," Seselj said. "All propaganda services and agencies for waging propaganda war of the Western powers have joined forces in an orchestrated campaign against Serbia, the Serb people, and the FRY," Seselj said. "What we saw yesterday in Kosovo, in the village of Gornje Obrinje, is identical to the promulgation of false reports on the events at the Markale market place, Vase Miskina Street, and the Partisan Cemetery in Sarajevo, when Alija Izetbegovic had his own civilians killed in order to impute those killings to the Serbs," Seselj said. According to his assessment, the same was done by "the Siptar [derogatory term for Albanians] terrorists, because they were militarily defeated by the police and the army, who used the most perfidious and corrupt means, sacrificed their own people, and called up foreign diplomats and correspondents at 0400 [0200 GMT] in the morning to represent the crimes as actions done by the Serbian police." To the remark by a foreign correspondent that he had seen massacred bodies in Gornja Obrinja, and that they had not been set up by Western intelligence experts, Seselj replied: "The bodies were not set up by Western experts, but the crime was. The bodies were real, and I believe you, but you may as well recall a similar experience involving the Markale market place, when Izetbegovic's government, in collaboration with the CIA, organized the killing of a great number of civilians." "Why did the crime in Kosovo occur precisely when we announced that our police had vanquished the terrorists, when we announced that we had started to withdraw the police forces, and when some units had already departed from Kosovo?" Seselj wondered, adding that the reason was that "the Western powers no longer had any arguments against Serbia and the FRY, so they needed to invent something else to cause indignation among Western public opinion." Seselj also said that "the essence of the fabricated crime was to convince the citizens in the West that the Serbs are savage and that they deserve to be bombed." THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu09181998001068 Document Id: 0ezn3r001prrrt Insert Date: 09/21/98 Purge Date: 10/04/99 Publish Date: 09/18/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 89 Title: Serbia: Daily Reports CIA Competition for Teachers of Serbian Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-261 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe, The Americas Document Date: 18 Sep 1998 Division: Balkan States, North America Subdivision: Serbia, United States Sourceline: AU1809151998 Belgrade Blic in Serbo-Croatian 17 Sep 98 p 13 AFS Number: AU1809151998 Citysource: Belgrade Blic Language: Serbo-Croatian Article Type: BFN Subslug: Report by M.Ivanovic: "CIA Looking for Teachers of Serbian" Belgrade -- The assurances of US officials that their administration is steering clear of interference in FRY internal affairs are now questionable. The US secret service CIA posted on the Internet under "urgent" an open competition for an unlimited number of teachers whose native language is Serbian. Among other requirements, it is desirable that candidates and future lecturers of CIA agents be graduates of the School of Philology or the School of Pedagogy and that they have experience teaching adults. In the announcement, the employer pointed out that all interested persons must be US citizens and undergo a rigorous investigation. Among other things, applicants would have to undergo an excessively thorough medical checkup and answer questions for a commission while hooked up to a lie detector! Those who pass through the fine selection filter are offered by the CIA a salary of between $125 to $175 a day, depending on their experience, professional qualifications, and recommendations. The wages are paid every two weeks. In addition, employees receive special allowances, such as a special benefit for working overtime, for teaching over the weekend, and for working night shifts. They are also offered loans and other privileges. All travel costs, as well as costs of moving the family members of the newly acquired teachers of the Serbian language, as much as 18,000 pounds [as published], are paid by the CIA. It is pointed out in particular that teachers who would like to spend a "vacation" abroad (what is probably meant is the panoramas of Kosovo, Sandzak, and other parts of Serbia) with their students are given a leave of 45 days (it would normally be 30 days) while those who are giving "special training in the field" are given three months of annual leave. Those who are not discouraged by the strict criteria should send their applications, as it is put, under a secret code, to "DA/OTE Rep-Dep I" to the CIA branch in Arlington, Virginia. CIA promises to reply to all candidates within 45 days. It is impossible to inquire about other details and the opinion of the selection commission over the telephone, because the CIA uses the most up-to-date computer system which, it is said in the competition announcement, is capable of investigating all data from the supplied biography, capabilities, and other information about the candidate.The candidate is supposed to state in the application his job experience, whether the "linguist" is ready to travel abroad, what pay he expects, and other important data. A candidate must state in what countries he has traveled or about which countries he possesses considerable knowledge. Tourist trips "are not relevant." Our goal is to be a support for America, which is the best country in the world. We shall achieve this by performing our job with good quality work and because we have the best people, it is said at the end of the competition announcement. [Box, p 13] Life Separated from the World [subhead] It says in the announcement that the teaching of Serbo-Croatian would be carried out at the main CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia, on the bank of the Potomac River, about 10 km from Washington. All employees will be given special passes for bus travel, and the life in the center is in the form of a closed camp with beautiful spaces for amusement and work. "As the center is completely cut off from the world, there is no noise or other stressful factors," relevant CIA officials say. The Agency has adopted a special dress code. The food is excellent, and there is a restaurant on the seventh floor of the main building. There are gyms, jogging tracks, shops, clubs, dry cleaners, and cinemas. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: fbtot09011998000511 Document Id: 0eynx5x01tpmy8 Insert Date: 09/02/98 Purge Date: 09/15/99 Publish Date: 09/01/98 Publish Region: Undetermined Lines: 60 Title: Bulgaria: US, Russian Intelligence Activities in Sofia Viewed Document Number: FBIS-TOT-98-244 Document Type: FBIS Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 1 Sep 1998 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Bulgaria Sourceline: AU0109111798 Sofia Pari in Bulgarian 1 Sep 98 p 4 AFS Number: AU0109111798 Citysource: Sofia Pari Language: Bulgarian Article Type: BFN Subslug: Pari staff article: "Sofia -- the Hot Zone" Spies from various countries are waging a quiet war on our territory. This is indicated by counterintelligence information and leaked press reports. Secret reports show that the strongest rivalry on our territory is between the two superpowers, the United States and Russia. Why do the foreign intelligence services prefer to locate their residencies in Sofia? It is not so much because of the tolerance shown by our services as due to country's geostrategic position. After 1990 the CIA relocated its intelligence center for the Balkans in Sofia. Prior to this, the center was located in Frankfurt. At the same time, repairs were carried out at the US Embassy on Suborna Street. According to information from an observation post that our secret services set up, 60 metric tons of special equipment were taken into the building. This made it necessary to reinforce the walls of the building with metal braces, the 168 Chasa weekly reported recently, referring to a secret report. One of the three technical centers for US intelligence in Bulgaria is located in the Sofia embassy. According to the newspaper, this center controls the US residencies in Kosovo, Albania, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Russian Embassy in Sofia contains a technical section to which only a few staff members have access. It is located in the basement of the building. The Russians give priority to keeping watch on the US and German Embassies. The Americans for their part are interested in the Russians. A building belonging to a Bulgarian-American nongovernmental organization is located near Moscow's embassy. According to Bulgarian counterintelligence, the superpowers are competing for total monitoring of information, paying particular attention to commercial secrets and economic strategies. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu08181998000476 Document Id: 0exy9re03fesc8 Insert Date: 08/19/98 Purge Date: 09/01/99 Publish Date: 08/18/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 84 Title: Albania: NATO Official Cited on Aims of Maneuvers in Albania Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-230 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 18 Aug 1998 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Albania Sourceline: BR1808110398 Paris Liberation in French 18 Aug 98 p 7 AFS Number: BR1808110398 Citysource: Paris Liberation Language: French Article Type: BFN Subslug: Report by Jean-Dominique Merchet: "Cautious NATO Maneuvers in Albania --- 14 Countries Are Taking Part in This Gentle Warning to the Serbs About Kosovo" Tirana -- For the first time NATO is organizing large-scale maneuvers in Albania, while no doubt taking care not to become involved in the crisis surrounding Kosovo. No troops will be deployed within at least 150 km of the border with Serbia. The exercise, dubbed "Cooperative Assembly 98," which was launched yesterday [17 August] and will continue until 22 August in the Tirana region, is intended to "develop a joint appreciation of operations conducted to shore up peace" and to "practice interoperability between the military forces of the participating countries." Clear Message [subhead] According to Admiral Joseph Lopez, who is in charge of these NATO maneuvers, "this exercise is not specifically aimed at Kosovo or Belgrade. However, I hope it will send out a clear message for all the warring factions. NATO is ready to mount peacekeeping operations and also prepared for any other option. The exercise currently under way is essential for the stability of the region. Being on hand is essential if war is to be prevented." So there is no question of an explicit demonstration of force designed to put pressure on Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic or of preparing for a potential deployment in Kosovo or on the border between the two countries. Russia, which is hostile to a scenario involving military intervention by NATO in Kosovo, has symbolically detached around 30 infantrymen to take part in the maneuvers with their Western comrades. Nonetheless, the presence of nearly 1,500 NATO troops in Tirana and of combat aircraft in the skies over Albania should not go unnoticed by Belgrade. In mid-September, a military exercise will be staged in the neighboring republic of Macedonia. Americans Thin on the Ground [subhead] In all, 14 countries are taking part in "Cooperative Assembly" within the framework of the Partnership for Peace, an arrangement linking NATO with neutral and formerly Socialist countries. The United States were supposed to be thick on the ground, but as it turns out there are barely 150 of them. The official line is that the marines were called away elsewhere following the events in Congo. In reality, Albania is now considered a high-risk country by the State Department, which decided on Friday [14 August] to reduce its diplomatic representation there to a minimum and advised US nationals to leave the country for fear of possible attacks. The previous day [Thursday, 13 August], a militant Egyptian Islamist named Ahmed Ismail Ossman had been arrested by the Albanian police, probably aided by the CIA. This man, who stands accused of terrorism, has been condemned to death in his own country. So there is no question of leaving any GI's hanging around in the area. The Italians, who constitute the largest contingent, totaling 500 men, had to replace the Americans at a moment's notice. Albania is a country they know well and which was even annexed by Rome under Mussolini. In 1997 the Italian Army was the main force in the "Alba" peacekeeping operation implemented after domestic unrest triggered off by the collapse of the banking system. Like last year, the French are also on hand, using 150 sappers, from the 2nd regiment of engineers, to renovate a school in Kruje, northern Tirana. These construction specialists should not cause Milosevic's troops too much of a headache. [Description of source: Paris Liberation in French -- left-of-center daily newspaper] THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu08171998000719 Document Id: 0exwe8u003h6x5 Insert Date: 08/18/98 Purge Date: 08/31/99 Publish Date: 08/17/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 62 Title: Albania: NATO Exercise Begins in Albania Despite Bin Ladin Cell Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-229 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Transcribed Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 17 Aug 1998 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Albania Sourceline: LD1708134998 Belgrade Tanjug in English 1203 GMT 17 Aug 98 AFS Number: LD1708134998 Citysource: Belgrade Tanjug Language: English Article Type: BFN TIRANA, Aug 17 (Tanjug) -- NATO began war games in Albania on Monday [17 August], at a time when the American nationals in this country are busy packing their bags and leaving at their Administration's recommendation because of a threat of Islamic terrorist attacks. The joint NATO-Partnership for Peace exercise involves land, naval and air forces of the United States and 13 other countries. The games, codenamed Cooperative Assembly 1998, are designed to develop a common understanding of peace support operations, doctrine and training, according to ranking NATO officers. News agencies note, however, that the main purpose is for NATO to flex its muscle, though not in the face of Albania, which allows terrorists in its north to smuggle arms daily into neighbouring Kosovo-Metohija in the Yugoslav republic of Serbia. The exercise is being held precisely in areas where western media report the existence of Albanian terrorist bases from which the terrorists smuggle arms into neighbouring Macedonia and Kosovo- Metohija. Naval Captain Steve Burnette, spokesman for the exercise, said on Monday that the five-day games were directed at regional stability, as were all Partnership for Peace exercises. News agencies say, however, that the games are being held in unstable Albania, where the notorious Islamic terrorist, Osama bin Ladin, suspected in recent Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam bombings, founded his cell on Monday. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), in cooperation with the Albanian police, has so far arrested at least five Egyptians belonging to this terrorist cell. The NATO exercise involves about 1,700 troops and 78 aircraft. According to the latest reports, there are also 250 U.S.troops, although there had originally been planned more. However, a part of the U.S. force has had to be diverted to Tirana to protect the U.S. Embassy there. There are 890 U.S. nationals in Albania, who are busily getting ready to leave. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu08081998000356 Document Id: 0exjge00247o02 Insert Date: 08/11/98 Purge Date: 08/24/99 Publish Date: 08/08/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 168 Title: Serbia: Foreign Intelligence Said Active in Kosovo Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-220 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 8 Aug 1998 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Serbia Sourceline: AU0408115698 Belgrade Politika in Serbo-Croatian 1 Aug 98 p 17 AFS Number: AU0408115698 Citysource: Belgrade Politika Language: Serbo-Croatian Article Type: BFN Subslug: Commentary by Darko Knezevic: "Well-Established Mechanism of Instigating Low-intensity Conflicts" In the last several months, ever since the beginning of the crisis in Kosovo and Metohija, the police and Yugoslav Army border patrols have stopped numerous transports of smuggled arms and equipment as well as terrorists, and the authorities have also arrested a number of foreign nationals who claimed they were members of humanitarian organizations. Such things are not new to military analysts in the Balkans. On the contrary, this is a well-established mechanism of instigating so-called low-intensity conflicts, which is a form of special warfare. "What we have here is a scenario that has a lot in common with something that we have already seen in the former Bosnia-Herzegovina," military analyst Dragan Dzamic said. Dzamic has recently written a book called Bosansko bojiste sumraka" [Bosnian Twilight Battlefield] (published by IKP "Nikola Pasic"). Politika also published parts of this book, which has created considerable interest locally and abroad. "Terrorism is a very perfidious and specific form of aggression and it was present, albeit not in this form, in the civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Terrorist activities in Kosovo and Metohija as a form of political-repressive activity are one of the most dangerous forms of activity in the world," Dzamic said. He says that Bosnia was a very important link in the chain of the so-called Islamic terrorist international, which is organized in such a way that it has its branches not only in the Middle East, but also in Europe and the United States. Neighbors as "Ferryboats" [subhead] During the civil war Bosnia became a haven for members of the most extreme terrorist organizations such as Hamas, Hizballah, the Algerian GIA [Armed Islamic Group]... "Unlike Kosovo, Bosnia was crisscrossed by several parallel terrorist channels. They used one branch for infiltrating through Turkey and Italy, while the other branch of these terrorists that came from Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, went through France. They entered Bosnia from Slovenia and Croatia, and also through the port of Ploce and then along the Neretva River valley. These channels were also used by the Mujahidin, who in addition to the terrorists, as part of the Bosnian leadership's government strategy, gave the bloodiest dimension to the war," Dzamic said. When we compare the current problems in Kosovo and Metohija we can clearly see a parallel in that there is always a neighboring country that supports the crisis. "In the Bosnian war it was Croatia, which was a kind of ferryboat for transporting arms and terrorists, and now that country is Albania, and it has the same role," Dzamic said. "These crisis areas show that the activities have been planned in advance and financed from an outside center that conducts so-called crisis-management," Dzamic said. In the present situation there are two branches for supplying of arms and terrorists. The major route leads from the port of Bari, to Durres, Tirana, Tropoje, and Bajram Curri, to the Yugoslav border, while the lesser branch goes through the western parts of Macedonia. Double Standards [subhead] The application of double standards, or poor moral principles, also shows a common facet of low-intensity conflicts that was conducted in Bosnia, and now here in Kosovo and Metohija. During the Bosnian war -- the United States, Germany, Britain, Turkey, and other countries advocated strict adherence to the arms ban to the states of the former SFRY [Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia], based on a UN Security Council resolution. "In contrast to their publicly proclaimed views, these countries conducted secret operations and delivered arms and military equipment and by doing so applied double standards," Dzamic said, recalling also the night flights of the "Hercules" airplanes, which were headed for the airports in Tuzla and Visoko, as well as the arming of the special units that were present in Bosnia even before the official arrival of the IFOR [Implementation Force]. Large quantities of arms and military equipment had been delivered through the port of Ploce by ships that sailed under the flags of countries whose soldiers were stationed as peacekeepers in the Bosnian entities, such as Ukraine. NATO troops, who conducted a blockade of the Adriatic Sea, did not control these ships, which mostly carried Russian weapons from the former East Germany, and also from Lebanon. "Now a similar thing is happening in Kosovo and Metohija, primarily because of last year's raids of Albanian army depots and because of the Contact Group's recent bans. No one condemns Albania for shipping in arms, and from today's perspective we can see that the rebellion and the seizure of large quantities of arms was not accidental," Dzamic said. In order to successfully manage a crisis area it is also necessary to have logistic support in the form of stable funding of terrorist operations. Funds for Terrorists [subhead] During the Bosnian war there was an agency in Vienna called the "Agency for Aid to the Third World," designated as a nongovernmental humanitarian organization, headed by Al-Fatah Hassanayn, a former Sudanese diplomat and a former student of medicine in Belgrade. Bypassing the embargo, this organization proclaimed itself as the main supplier of the Sarajevo government with money collected by Muslims throughout the world. "The Austrian secret police and the CIA were informed about this activity, but they remained discretely quiet because there was big money at stake. Now there is a recurrence of the situation with the secret accounts that the so-called OVK [Kosovo Liberation Army -- UCK in Albanian] has in Germany, France, and Denmark. Now the Shqiptars [Albanians], having learned a lesson from the Bosnian experience, have organized themselves quite well and are coordinating this fund-raising network. It is quite impossible for things like this not to be noticed by the national security services," Dzamic said, illustrating this with the more than lenient attitude of the German intelligence service, BND, toward the activity of the Albanian terrorists in that country. Dzamic said that it was impossible that the intelligence services of the different countries, the BND, CIA, DIA, and also the services in Belgium and Switzerland, officially did not know that there were training camps on their territories that prepared terrorists for their activities in Kosovo and Metohija. This greatly discredits the work of these services. "There are statement made by arrested terrorists, testimonies and written affidavits, that they were organized and trained in Germany by members of the secret and special services, and that is probably the same case in all the other countries where terrorists were trained," Dzamic said. "Hunting Dogs" [subhead] The intelligence agents and special forces, such as the "green berets" and the SAS in Bosnia, were the "hunting dogs" that paved the way for military intervention, and their presence in a given region indicated the possibility of a major political or military involvement of the country from which they were sent to "sniff around." The recent cases of the arrest of Sally Becker, a British citizen, as well as the wiretapping of the Serbian police by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, points to the "activities" of various humanitarian organizations, among which there are certainly those that have come to a certain area with honorable intentions. There was a similar case three years ago in Bosnia when "humanitarians" smuggled ammunition for the Fifth Army in Bihac, and when members of the Foreign Legion guarded convoys of medical supplies. Foreign newspapers also wrote about these cases. In April of 1996 the Guardian wrote that the British regularly used humanitarian aid vehicles to disguise their intelligence activities. "The recent capture of a local activist of the committee for the protection of human rights, who was in fact a member of the OVK, shows to what extent humanitarian activities are being abused," Dragan Dzamic said. [Box, p 17] The Mighty Triad and Negative Stereotypes [subhead] In order to prepare certain activities in selected countries, it is necessary to create so-called negative stereotypes, in other words, to proclaim the governments of those countries as belligerent and criminal. By using "negative stereotypes" it is possible to create support in the international media for an eventual military intervention. In the United States, according to Dragan Dzamic, this work is done by the so-called mighty triad -- the State Department, the Pentagon, and powerful media companies like CNN and the Washington Post. "In every one of these three components there are teams that work together with the joint aim of implementing current state interests," Dzamic said. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu08071998001680 Document Id: 0exhrfb01clcl1 Insert Date: 08/10/98 Purge Date: 08/23/99 Publish Date: 08/07/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 120 Title: Serbia: Daily Claims Foreign Intelligence Officers Within UCK Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-219 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 7 Aug 1998 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Serbia Sourceline: AU0708144298 Belgrade Politika Ekspres in Serbo-Croatian 3 Aug 98 p 2 AFS Number: AU0708144298 Citysource: Belgrade Politika Ekspres Language: Serbo-Croatian Article Type: BFN Subslug: Report by Momcilo Kovacevic: "CIA and BND Bone of Contention Among Terrorists" The Islamic-terrorist organization calling itself the Kosovo Liberation Army [OVK -- UCK in Albanian] is a conglomerate of nuclei mostly consisting of Albanians and some NATO member-countries' intelligence agents. However, their national interests in the Balkans outweigh their covert alliance and their support for terrorists in Kosovo, which is also why the so-called OVK has never grown into a single organization. Furthermore, it is highly unlikely that it will ever become that, because the CIA and the German Federal Intelligence Service, BND, are unable to agree which one will have primacy over the terrorist bands. According to reliable sources, the terrorist nuclei have been reinforced by supporters of the Kosovo separatists from Albania and Macedonia, Mujahidin from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Arab countries, and foreign mercenaries. They operate in selected parts of Kosovo and Metohija and are currently based in the Municipalities of Decani, Djakovica, Malisevo, Klina, Orahovac, Prizren and Srbica. They Imitate "SS" [subhead] Each terrorist nucleus is responsible for the "defense" of the zone it controls. The job is done by armed bands wearing different uniforms, depending on what their specific assignments are. For instance, the so-called OVK terrorist units wear black uniforms. Their numbers vary, from 200 in Malisevo, 350 in Junik, and so on. They refer to themselves as the OVK police, allegedly enforcing law and order. Terrorist blackshirts check identification papers, make arrests, search and rob people, collect "racket money" from more affluent Albanians, abduct women to satisfy the sexual needs of combat unit members, and commit murders and every other kind of crime. In addition to the terrorist "elite," which is very reminiscent of the Third Reich's notorious SS units, there are the so-called OVK intervention groups. They consist of Albanian fanatics, volunteers and "returnees" from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as well as Albanians from Macedonia and Albania and the Mujahidin. They wear camouflage uniforms and are constantly moving from place to place, that is, they close in upon a location where an attack is to be carried out on a Yugoslav army or police unit, or some facility, like the Stari Trg or Belacevac mines. The terrorist intervention force numbers some 2,000 men. The majority of the 10,000-to-12,000-strong terrorist formations are Albanians who were, to a degree, mobilized by force by being told that they had to defend their villages. They Shoot Comrades-in-Arms [subhead] Armed attacks against army and police units are most often carried out by blackshirts and their allies wearing patterned caps. As soon as the fire is returned, they run back to villages, where the "defenders" take them in. In most cases, they pull back to the village center under the pretext of coordinating the defense, but, in actual fact, they use the time to organize their escape, loot houses, and take along everything that can be carried. The blame for recent heavy losses, averaging 20 to 30 men per day, has been put on Siptars [derogatory term for Albanians] who had been forcefully mobilized and their incapability. Because of that, a large number have been shot dead. In the village of Lapusnik alone, 21 Albanians were executed by firing squad. The terrorists are particularly alarmed about the infiltration of Serb spies in their ranks, primarily former JNA [Yugoslav People's Army] officers whom the KOS [Counter Intelligence Service] has trained well and is now effectively using to break up the terrorist organization. Since many of them hold leading positions, the mutual accusations of treason border on fantasy. Such an exchange of accusations among the leaders of the villages of Streoc and Istinic recently ended in the use of fire arms and the killing of five terrorists. Many are seeking a way out from this situation by fleeing to Albania where Richard Holbrooke's partners in the Junik talks have already found refuge. The runaways include Naim Maloku, self-styled minister of defense of the "Kosovo Republic," who disappeared the minute he became aware that the noose around Junik was beginning to tighten (or maybe he received the information from the KOS, which had sent him to prepare another siege and the destruction of one more terrorist nucleus). The Prominent Are the First To Run [subhead] A particularly big disillusionment for the majority of Albanians in Kosmet [Kosovo and Metohija] was the self-appointed spokesman of the so-called OVK, Jakup Krasniqi, whose fiery statements had, in the beginning, stirred the imaginations of many Siptars. Reports have leaked out that Krasniqi had taken his children to a safe place abroad, so that, instead of being receptive to his messages on the need for continuing the violence, those who these messages are intended for are calling him a traitor. In spite of the state of disorganization and chaos among the terrorists, one should not think that they will be beaten quickly and easily. There are still some 2,000 blackshirts and patterned caps moving back and forth in Kosmet, waiting for a chance to commit some evil deed. They would certainly fall much faster if Albania were to stop its aggression against the FRY. What all this comes down to in the end is that there are between 5,000 and 7,000 terrorists based in Albania ready for incursion into Kosovo and Metohija. The terrorists and their helpers are quite clear that the police and the army will continue neutralizing them until total destruction. That is the reason for the increasingly frequent appeals to their Western sponsors to the effect that, without NATO intervention, a defeat, which they should have expected anyway, will be inevitable. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu07191998000388 Document Id: 0ewg8bq02n8z86 Insert Date: 07/21/98 Purge Date: 08/03/99 Publish Date: 07/19/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 131 Title: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: Commentary Assails CIA, Pentagon Support for 'Terrorists' Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-200 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 19 Jul 1998 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Kosovo Sourceline: AU1907160398 Belgrade Radio Beograd Network in Serbo-Croatian 1300 GMT 19 Jul 98 AFS Number: AU1907160398 Citysource: Belgrade Radio Beograd Network Language: Serbo-Croatian Article Type: BFN Subslug: Commentary by Milika Sundic -- recorded Ultimately, it had to happen. The Pentagon has admitted to misconceptions about the reasons for the crisis in Kosovo and Metohija, and the CIA has admitted that it had known for some time that Albanian terrorists in Kosmet [Kosovo and Metohija] were procuring weapons from neighboring Albania and West European countries. Finally, since the United States [words indistinct] Atlantic treaty, NATO Secretary General Javier Solana has said that NATO had never planned a military action in Kosovo and Metohija. Less than a month ago, this type of [word indistinct] turnabout in US policy could not be expected. Today, all this has to be taken with great reserve because you never know when someone in the West will [words indistinct]. However, this does not in any way mean that we do not attach great significance to these favorable [words indistinct] particularly if one knows that US officials condemned the abduction of civilians by Albanian terrorists in Kosmet, and that they expressed sharp disagreement with the attempt to constitute the so-called parliament of the phantom republic of Kosovo and Metohija. This is the first step towards the United States finally admitting that terrorism, pure and simple, is at work in Kosovo and Metohija, rather than rebels seeking justice for the Albanian national minority. Of course, the question immediately arises as to what crucially influenced the United States to adjust, at least a little, its views to the position which the Serbs [words indistinct] and Federal Republic of Yugoslavia [FRY] President Slobodan Milosevic have always held, specifically, that the situation had nothing to do with the violation of human rights and liberties, but rather with attacks on the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and the FRY. First of all, and above all, Serbia's arguments pertaining to the real reasons for the escalation of Shiptar [derogatory Serbian term for Kosovo Albanian] secessionism and terrorism in Kosovo and Metohija are far more convincing than the fabrications about Serbia's alleged violation of human rights and liberties in Kosovo and Metohija, and its responsibility for the situation in its southern province. Second, the West has understood that Serbia will never, under no circumstances, reconcile itself to the secession of Kosovo and its annexation to Greater Albania, or with giving Kosovo the status of the third federal unit in the FRY. Finally, the joint Moscow statement by Presidents Milosevic and Boris Yeltsin could not be discredited because of Russia's decisive 'No' to a NATO military intervention in Kosovo and Metohija. Russia moreover warned the West that this sort of action could ignite all of the Balkans and southern Europe. Of course, all this was accompanied by Serbia's peace initiatives to resolve all controversial issues in Kosovo and Metohija through peaceful means. However, the mentors of the Albanian secessionists and terrorists in Kosovo were able to come to the same conclusion that Serbia was aware of from the very start. Namely, the West's overall treatment of Serbia and the FRY has fed terrorism in Kosovo and Metohija, starting with the introduction of economic sanctions for Serbia to threats of a military intervention [words indistinct]. The explanation by various officials that the Moscow declaration and the maneuvers in FYROM's [Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia] and Albania's air space have played an equally important role in influencing the behavior of Serbia and the FRY are unacceptable and inaccurate. On the contrary, the NATO maneuvers in FYROM's and Albania's air space meant [words indistinct] Slobodan Milosevic's visit to the Russian Federation. In other words, these actions, fatal for Serbia and all the citizens in Kosovo and Metohija, only stoked the hopes of the Shiptar secessionists and terrorists. During their recent visit to Kosmet, the US and Russian envoys came to a joint conclusion that there is no trustworthy collocutor among the leaders of the Kosmet Albanians, that is, that Ibrahim Rugova either does not want to or cannot control terrorism in the province. In any case, the very attempt to constitute the so-called Shiptar parliament is a deed to be ascribed to Ibrahim Rugova and his supporters. The fact that Rugova never condemned the terrorism practiced by his fellow countrymen and that he himself favors the secession of Kosovo from Serbia only confirms this. At the latest session of the so-called Contact Group in Bonn, one of the adopted conclusions reads as follows: [words indistinct] from supplying Shiptar terrorists with weapons as everyone knows that the countries in question are leading West European countries headed by Germany. No one can dissuade Serbia and FRY that terrorists in Kosmet did not have and still do not have the greatest support in Western intelligence services, that is, in the intelligence services of precisely the countries which have threatened, and are still threatening Serbia and the FRY the most. In any case, we need to ask why this truth has been kept from the Western public for so long, and why has the Western press been manipulated to publish lies about Serbia and its policy? If the CIA and the Pentagon were aware that the Shiptar terrorists were being supplied with weapons from Albania and the West, we need to ask why they failed to say so until now? Or more precisely, how does one explain that Albania demands [words indistinct] economic, political, and military sanctions? This calls into question Western claims that the Albanian Government is not in control of the northern part of the country, because if the Albanian Army can be a partner in military maneuvers to the strong and powerful United States, then it can hopefully also prevent terrorist groups from infiltrating the FRY and Serbia from its territory Serbia's readiness to resume the dialogue with the political leaders of the Kosmet Albanians was never called into question, but only within the Serbian constitution. This means the suspension of all terrorist actions and an unreserved condemnation of terrorism. Shiptar terrorists cannot be Serbia's collocutors, and any attempt to win this status for them would mean the violation of the basic principles of world peace. Terrorism in Kosovo must be both supressed and destroyed; all countries in the world follow this course of action wherever terrorism [word indistinct]. Surely Shiptar terrorists are not better than terrorists in Corsica, the Basque Provinces, or in Northern Ireland? Serbia's readiness to cooperate with the world on equal terms is confirmed by the visit of the numerous OSCE delegation to the FRY, that is, Serbia. However, [words indistinct] the OSCE must accept the FRY back into its ranks, rather than appear in the role of mediator or controller, because neither the FRY nor Serbia will ever accept this. Therefore, cooperation with the OSCE must be a two-way street and not a dead-end alley, which is what certain leading countries are trying to impose on us. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu07161998000596 Document Id: 0ew8z3502c7mjp Insert Date: 07/17/98 Purge Date: 07/30/99 Publish Date: 07/16/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 98 Title: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: Tanjug Reports 'Marathon' CIA, Pentagon Briefing on Kosovo Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-197 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Transcribed Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 16 Jul 1998 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Kosovo Sourceline: LD1607123098 Belgrade Tanjug in English 1119 GMT 16 Jul 98 AFS Number: LD1607123098 Citysource: Belgrade Tanjug Language: English Article Type: BFN New York, July 16 (Tanjug) -- The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Pentagon know that weapons for the terrorists in Serbia's province of Kosovo and Metohija (Kosmet) come from Albania, but also from western Europe, and that the militant separatists also receive substantial financial aid from abroad. The U.S. officials have these and other data, which they confirmed in the course of a long press conference held late Wednesday [15 July] at the Pentagon. The so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (a terrorist organization) may not have the most modern military equipment at present, but it has machine-guns, a certain quantity of mortars, and much weaponry of smaller calibre obtained from different sources, U.S. officials said, specifying that the arms were being smuggled in primarily from Albania and western European countries. The CIA and Pentagon officials asked not to be named, which was probably aimed at giving the entire briefing an air of conspiracy. The group of officials, addressed by numbers instead of names, mostly spoke about this terrorist organization which seems to be in the focus of Washington's interest. It seems that neither the Pentagon, the CIA, nor the defense ministry have all the data that they would like to have. They still do not know the command structure of the terrorists, referred to by the U.S. officials as alleged rebels. The CIA and the Pentagon do not know who is the key figure of this terrorist organization, either. This is why the U.S. side still does not know who to talk to and how to bring these alleged rebels to the negotiating table, it was heard at the conference. The officials also showed they did not know much about foreign mercenaries in Kosmet, not even the ones mentioned by Greek Defense Minister Akis Tsochadzopoulos during a recent visit to Washington, who said that mercenaries had come from as far as Tajikistan. Asked by reporters about the sources from which the terrorists obtained funds, an official said they had intelligence that large sums were coming from abroad, from Albanian emigrants in Europe and North America, but cautiously added that this was difficult to confirm. Asked about the training of the terrorists and whether there were any U.S. citizens among the instructors, the officials gave a vague answer, merely saying they were Albanian emigrants returned to Kosmet from different parts of the world, including Europe and North America. Reporters then went back to weaponry, asking about recent U.S. press reports that the Kosmet separatists also had arms of big calibre, and even anti-tank missiles. The Pentagon, however, said the terrorists were trying to secure such arms, but had allegedly not succeeded. The so-called Kosovo Liberation Army has the most modern communications equipment, said a reporter, pointing out that he had knowledge that voices speaking the German that is spoken is Switzerland are often heard on these instruments. A CIA official replied that they had no information about that. It was evident that no knowledge and lack of information were very symptomatic whenever some more sensitive question was asked. In the end, it turned out that reporters did not get much data or information to help them better to understand the situation in Kosmet. Reports on developments in Kosmet in U.S. papers, particularly in pro-government media, are mostly one-sided and largely unobjective. Reporters were interested to hear that there was less and less consideration of a NATO intervention in Kosmet because of the evident restraint of the legal organs of authority, and the increasingly complicated situation, where separatists were becoming ever more aggressive. The thing that might provoke such considerations is a situation where there would be a great wave of refugees or cases of massive violence, U.S. officials said, disregarding the fact that the militant separatists might take such stands as advice for future actions, as they have done time and time again, and again launch lies about alleged ethnic cleansing. At the end of the marathon briefing, the unidentified Pentagon and CIA officials reiterated the official stand that the United States does not support the independence of Kosmet and that a solution must be found within autonomy. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu06181998001407 Document Id: 0euyo26017mlhh Insert Date: 06/22/98 Purge Date: 07/05/99 Publish Date: 06/18/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 61 Title: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: Seselj Says CIA, NATO Behind Kosovo Situation Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-169 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Transcribed Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 18 Jun 1998 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Kosovo Sourceline: LD1806192198 Belgrade Tanjug in English 1828 GMT 18 Jun 98 AFS Number: LD1806192198 Citysource: Belgrade Tanjug Language: English Article Type: BFN BELGRADE, June 18 (Tanjug) -- Serbian Radical Party (SRS) President Vojislav Seselj said Thursday that a meeting between Presidents Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia and Boris Yeltsin of Russia came at the right moment and confirmed the validity of Yugoslavia's stand on the crisis in its republic of Serbia's Kosovo-Metohija province. Yugoslavia's stands have been confirmed that any interference in the internal affairs of Serbia and Yugoslavia is impermissible and also that any outside military intervention and jeopardizing of its sovereignty and territorial integrity is out of the question, Seselj told a news conference. The Serbian and Yugoslav governments will keep insisting on dialogue with Kosovo-Metohija's ethnic Albanian representatives, Seselj said. "We are seeking a peaceful and democratic solution to the crisis in Kosovo-Metohija," he said. Seselj stressed that there could be no talks with terrorists, adding that terrorism did not have the legitimacy anywhere in the world, and it could not become legal in this country, either, regardless of the fact that Western countries were clearly behind terrorist action in Kosovo-Metohija, that were namely organized by the CIA. He said that foreign intelligence services find their allies in some traitorous parties in Serbia and also in some media that have been tipped the wink to wage a campaign so as to create psychological effects that would serve NATO's interests. The task of the Yugoslav Army is to protect the borders. In border clashes, the army is mostly using professionals, while recruits are not sent to crisis spots even after their basic training course, Seselj said. Referring to activities of ethnic Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova, Seselj said that Rugova was obviously going for new orders by NATO. He also said there were three parties to the same conspiracy -- NATO and its puppets, ethnic Albanian political parties and ethnic Albanian terrorist organizations. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: drsov06051998000903 Document Id: 0eu8wph026ce1k Insert Date: 06/08/98 Purge Date: 06/21/99 Publish Date: 06/05/98 Publish Region: Central Eurasia Lines: 257 Title: Belarus: Expert on U.S., West's Destabilization Plan Document Number: FBIS-SOV-98-156 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: Central Eurasia, The Americas Document Date: 5 Jun 1998 Division: Western Region, North America Subdivision: Belarus, United States Sourceline: WS0506143398 Minsk Narodnaya Hazeta in Russian 26 May 98 pp 1-2 AFS Number: WS0506143398 Citysource: Minsk Narodnaya Hazeta Language: Russian Article Type: BFN Subslug: Interview with political expert Nikalay Syarheyew by Yuryy Dudzinaw; place and date not given: "Is Military Intervention in Belarus Possible?" -- first paragraph is Narodnaya Hazeta introduction Political expert Nikalay Syarheyew is well known in Belarus due to his patriotic stance. He is also known as an advocate of Slav unity. We decided to seek his advice in light if a number of recent events, including the opposition's statement on the early legislative election in Belarus. The Belarusian president and the leadership of the National Assembly immediately rejected this statement as groundless. Nonetheless.... Whatever one may say the fact is obvious: an attempt was made to destabilize the situation. What is the current sociopolitical situation in the Republic and what would be the consequences of that step had it been made? We started our conversation with Nikalay Syarheyew namely form this question.. [Syarheyew] To properly assess the situation in the Republic we must first try to realize what is going on in the world.. I do believe that the real authors and planners of the recent unrealized "sensation" stay beyond Belarus's borders.. Do you want proof? Here you are. Fifty years ago the United States set the objective to achieve domination in the world. This presumption may be supported by the well-known PL 86-90 law on dismembering the USSR, the "U.S. National Security Doctrine," the CIA directive for 1984-1998, and other documents. According to the latter document any form of reunification of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine is inadmissible. These states may not be allowed to set up any political union, not to mention a single state.. Many strategic concepts of the United States have been materialized in the form of specific instructions.. [Dudzinaw] Could cite at least some of them? [Syarheyew] Take, for instance, the U.S. Army Field Service Manual FM 100-20 or the instructions for the combat use of the U.S. Air Force AFP 3-20 issued on 5 December 1990. Those documents provide detailed guidance for coordinating and executing operations in low intensity conflicts (LIC). I wish to draw your attention to the fact that this document has been in force for eight years now. The document states that the principal means of achieving strategic dominance over other states are namely low intensity conflicts, and not wide-scale combat operations. One may say that the Americans are virtuoso class specialists in this field. Yugoslavia may serve as an example of successful application of the LIC strategy. As a result, a great, and -- I wish to emphasize -- flourishing Slav state fell apart into fragments and disappeared from the map of Europe. The newly established "dwarfs" are totally dependent on the U.S. and West European military machine and economy.. Attempts are currently being made to use the same script in the Union Republic of Yugoslavia and to divide it into Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosovo. The media and the so-called human rights organizations are assigned an important role in LIC.. [Dudzinaw] Some kinds of education centers and financial funds have been set up beyond the borders of our Republic to train and support the Belarusian opposition. What does this mean? [Syarheyew] I wish to remind Narodnaya Hazeta readers that all kinds of opposition centers have opened in Brussels (which hosts NATO's European headquarters), Germany's Dortmund, Poland's Bialystok, Prague (from which Radio Liberty, a division of the CIA, broadcasts) and New York, where an information center of the Belarusian "Charter-97" is located. In addition, a branch of the Belarusian Popular Front Council has opened in Lithuania.. A developed and well-organized anti-union, antipresidential, and pro-Western network has been created within the years of Belarus's independence. It includes political parties, public organizations, culture centers and think tanks, "associations," and humanitarian funds. Around 20 think tanks operate in Belarus and pursue the West's interests. Seventeen organizations comprise the Think Tank Association.. The East-West Scientific Research Institute, the Institute of Socioeconomic and Political Research led by Aleh Manayew, former head of the Soros Foundation Belarus Branch, the Euro-Atlantic Association, and many other organizations have a pro-Western orientation.. [Dudzinaw] However, the Soros Foundation has suspended operations in Belarus.. [Syarheyew] We may observe the process of mimicry. The foundation has been replaced by the Open Society Institute financed by Soros. [Syarheyew continues] We must admit that thus far the state structures have been losing the information- psychological war waged against White Russia. Neither the administration nor common people realize what kinds of modern information and propaganda technologies are used against our Republic to brainwash common people. A typical example of these methods is a report carried by Radio Liberty, according to which President Lukashenka is going to hold an early legislative election in the fall. The report claimed that Alyaksandr Lukashenka had made the decision under Russia's pressure.. [Dudzinaw] This is a lie, alright. Moreover, it is a provocation. What could happen, though, if this even took place? [Syarheyew] This would cause a great political scandal in the Republic. The point is that this step runs counter to the Constitution in force. This way or another the lawmakers would oppose the Security Council and the Belarusian president. Lukashenka's supporters who voted for the new Constitution would feel betrayed then. The president would be accused of violating the very Constitution that he had proposed. Primarily the West would do so. This means that the former Supreme Soviet would be proclaimed the sole legitimate body of power in the Republic. This could be followed by Lukashenka's impeachment under the conditions of a lack of support on the part of his advocates.. Generally, the consequences would be catastrophic for our people.. [Dudzinaw] If these kinds of provocations continue, what priority measures would you suggest? [Syarheyew] Those kinds of insinuations must be immediately refuted.. There is another shocking detail. Not only the opposition media, but also certain senior officials continue to speculate on early elections. One of those officials, speaking from the parliamentary rostrum expressed this idea at the end of last year.. [Dudzinaw] With the help of the press opposition forces are trying to hammer into people's heads that early elections are inevitable.. [Syarheyew] They are. However, no matter for how long they may holler about the illegitimate nature of the Constitution and the National Assembly a majority of our citizens supported the Fundamental Law, and House of Representatives members were elected by the people. Meanwhile, namely the 1994 constitution was passed by legislators alone. They did not even bother to ask the Belarusians to express their opinions. In addition, they acted in disregard of the results of the March 1991 referendum.. [Dudzinaw] What are the sources of such a great hatred toward the new edition of the Constitution? [Syarheyew] One of the reasons is that the Constitution instituted Belarusian-Russian bilingualism on the state level.. The main reason, however, is that the Constitution provides effective mechanisms for constructive work to develop economy, politics, the law, and the state as a whole.. [Dudzinaw] Will the opposition ever rest or will it continue to attack the authorities? [Syarheyew] A delegation comprised by H. Karpenka, S. Sharetski, Yu. Khadyka, and two more persons visited London very recently. They were directly told there that under no pretext should they expel House of Representatives members from the former Supreme Soviet. Moreover, a cooperation agreement was signed with the leftovers of the former Supreme Soviet. This is a very illustrative fact when viewed in the context of what I said earlier.. [Dudzinaw] Why was this done? [Syarheyew] The explanation is simple. If attempts to scare some House of Representatives members or to win their support succeed, [the former Supreme Soviet] may have a quorum to impeach the president. Any fabricated violations of human rights have nothing to do with this. The main objective is to come to power at any cost.. According to westerners who often visit Kazakhstan, an openly totalitarian regime has been established in that state. One of the American officials said that a "khanate has been established." However, no words of protest are heard from the West. The United States simply turn a blind eye on human rights violation in the Baltic states. Even the march by former members of the Nazi SS units did not meet with adequate reaction on the part of many Western "human rights defenders." [Dudzinaw] Double standards applied by the West European leaders and their overseas bosses are widely known. The same approach may be now observed in Yugoslavia. [Syarheyew] Of course. You see, the Albanians who are part of the Yugoslav nation, allegedly have the right to secede from the Union Republic of Yugoslavia. Meanwhile, the Republic of Serb Krajina that de facto and de jure until recently had existed on the territory of Croatia, was liquidated by military force. Foreign champions of human rights did not say a word then. The liquidation of an Orthodox Slav state served their interests. Meanwhile, the Albanians' actions are in line with the U.S. objective of dismembering the Union Republic of Yugoslavia. It is sheer hypocrisy.. Belarus that pursues an independent policy does not suit the West. The West's principal goal is to remove President Lukashenka from power. Incidentally, no matter what Alyaksandr Lukashenka does to "please" the West he will never suit the world's bosses and the their satellites, just as Radovan Karadzic does not suit them, for he pursues a policy aimed at meeting the interests of his people. Meanwhile, they would be perfectly happy with Karpenka or Sharetski [in the post of Belarusian president].. [Dudzinaw] Is a coup d'etat and military intervention in Belarus possible? [Syarheyew] To answer your question I will quote U.S. military manuals.. "Low intensity conflict ranges from subversion to the use of armed force." I think it is impossible to express the idea in a clearer way.. The document further states that "low intensity conflict is waged by a combination of means, employing political, economic, informational, and military instruments. U.S. policy recognizes that indirect, rather than direct, applications of U.S> military power are the most appropriate ways to achieve national goals." The U.S. manuals and guidelines assign the principal role to provocation of dissatisfaction, instability, and violence in society. The documents also assign a great role to the media which should "spread panic, lack of confidence in the government, and provocative rumors in society." Incidentally, the opposition papers in Belarus are already doing this.. At the same time, we must keep in mind that military intervention is not ruled out.. Special task forces exist to provoke LIC. They stage and carry out subversive and counter-subversive actions.. Military intervention may take place under the disguise of fighting terrorism or participating in peacekeeping operations. The forces involved in special missions are widely known by the name of "green berets." Let me mention an interesting fact: namely a group of "green berets" stayed in Latvia for a long time in February. Their presence was disguised as preparation for joint exercise with the reconnaissance units of the so-called "Baltic peacekeeping battalion." The Latvian media openly reported that the "green berets" practiced the methodology of staging and executing low intensity conflicts and spoke perfect Russian.. [Dudzinaw] Are they not aimed on Belarus by any chance? [Syarheyew] Since our border with the Baltic states is not yet adequately protected there is great danger of the penetration of special units to Belarus. According to certain military experts, it may not be ruled out that the "green berets" may have been on a reconnaissance mission in Belarusian territory.. [Dudzinaw] How realistic is the threat of foreign intervention in Belarus? [Syarheyew] According to the U.S. "Joint Command Plan" the United States is launching the greatest reorganization (since WWII) of its system of global military-political control. The CIS states are included in the U.S. military's zone of responsibility. The U.S. Army has been set specific tasks of maintaining order on the territory of the former Soviet Union. Two out of nine military groupings of the United States will be aimed on the CIS.. As of 1 October 1998, Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova will be added to the responsibility zone of troops deployed in West Europe. Incidentally, Henadz Karpenka mentioned namely October 1998 as the date for holding early elections. Our readers may draw their own conclusions on what coincides with what. At the same time, the U.S. Department of Defense plan states that "the responsibility zones of the U.S. troops may become theaters of war." "Reconnaissance surveillance and tactic planning" is under way with regard to these territories. An infrastructure is being prepared to expeditious delivery and deployment of military contingents. We may not slight these great preparations against Belarus.. Whether our oppositionists want it or not they are already part of the U.S. global plan of destabilizing the situation in Belarus. [ Dudzinaw] Is there any solution to this situation? [Syarheyew] The Belarusian leadership must act persistently and in strict adherence to the Constitution approved in the referendum. It must step up its activities to develop the Belarusian-Russian Union and make it more consolidated and effective, and to develop cooperation with Russia's regions. Our troops and special organs must maintain a high degree of combat readiness.. I am sure that neither Russian regions which are quite independent from Moscow nor the State Duma will allow to introduce economic blockade of Belarus. This cannot be done, no matter how often our president is threatened with this scenario.. Our opponents want to scare or persuade Lukashenka, for they want him to call an early election and "dig his own grave." I think the president will not do so.. 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Article Id: dreeu05111998000305 Document Id: 0esuj5x02vuphr Insert Date: 05/12/98 Purge Date: 05/25/99 Publish Date: 05/11/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 129 Title: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: Daily Reports Details of Army Units in Kosovo Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-131 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 11 May 1998 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Sourceline: AU1105093998 Belgrade Nasa Borba in Serbo-Croatian 4 May 98 p 4 AFS Number: AU1105093998 Citysource: Belgrade Nasa Borba Language: Serbo-Croatian Article Type: BFN Subslug: Report by N. Todorovic on interview with Modern History Institute representative Bojan Dimitrijevic; place and date not given: "The Units Have Been Filled To the Maximum" "Pristina Corps units cover the area of Kosovo and Metohija, and their strength is respectable. The rumor that, for example, tanks had arrived into this area from other parts of the country are unfounded," said Bojan Dimitrijevic, a representative of the Modern History Institute. His field is the analysis of the Army of Yugoslavia. Dimitrijevic told "Nasa Borba" about the strength and use of the army and police in Kosovo and the characteristics of the conflict. He said that the Pristina corps was divided into a number of brigades: one armored mechanized brigade is located in Pristina and another in Urosevac. One motorized brigade is located in Kosovska Mitrovica and in Pec, and another in Djakovica and Prizren. One of the two Army of Yugoslavia interceptor aircraft regiments is located at Pristina airport, and it consists of two MiG 21 squadrons. There is also a medium missile regiment for antiaircraft defense, as well as radar stations. The corps' units are positioned in two directions: one direction is Leposavic, Kosovska Mitrovica, Vucitrn, Pristina, and Urosevac. The garrisons in Pec, Djakovica, and Prizren, which form the other direction, are literally set aside and limited by mountains, and bear the burden of dealing with the forces coming from Albania. The area of Drenica, which is where the conflicts began, lies in between, where there are no larger urban centers, and where there never were any garrisons. According to our collocutor's assessment, at the moment the army leadership is not counting on the reserve formation, but if the situation becomes more severe, the forces could be strengthened by units from the 3rd Army of which the Pristina Corps forms a part. It was similar during earlier unrest when, for example, in 1981 or 1989 assistance came from Nis (parachutist, armored, and helicopter units). Counting the garrison in Krusumlija, which is in the Pristina Corps' [word indistinct], the size of the Corps can be assessed to about 10,000 soldiers. Dimitrijevic assessed that the battalion on the border to Albania had been filled by professionals, that is, by contract soldiers, but obviously according to some rules and with people from the Nis Corps' special units; with officer personnel, it seems. He said that one could easily conclude that the Kosovo units were being filled with recruits, to the maximum limit, which is otherwise reached by calling in the reserves into the units. Dimitrijevic said that the state had assessed that in Kosovo the use of professionals was the most efficient option. He added that the existence and engagement of some professional forces was a real mystery. It is known from earlier times that the public security had its special units: brigades, units,.... However, according to him the state security also had its formations, absolutely invisible to the public. These formations are named after birds of prey and "even have an airborne segment, and this can be noticed when helicopters painted in camouflage colors fly over Belgrade, bearing non-standard markings" (markings that are therefore not used by the army, police, or civilians). Dimitrijevic confirmed that according to some information these units had carried out the famous operation in Drenica. Dimitrijevic explained the characteristics of the terrain and the conflict in Kosovo to "Nasa Borba." He said that the Albanian border is extremely difficult to control. For example, in the area of Pec it reaches a height of about 1.5 kilometers (the highest mountain peak in this part of Yugoslavia is in the vicinity of Decani. According to some data given to us by our collocutor, even during the time of the Informburo an Albanian unit under CIA command operated independently in the international area by entering this territory). The area itself has been restless throughout this century: in 1912 and 1913 "carkas," mini wars, were waged; between 1918 and 1923 the Kingdom of Yugoslavia even used aviation here.... "The characteristic of the conflicts in Kosovo is banditism," said Dimitrijevic and added that this model confirmed in this century was still being used: the Albanians gather together, shoot at police stations that maintain communications during the night, and then run away when these call for assistance, and the cycle repeats itself. According to him, the police forces currently bear the main burden of fighting terrorism, while the army deals with border security. Dimitrijevic believes that the international community is a factor that will have, it seems, a dominant influence on the future of the Kosovo problem. He said that the experience so far shows that the United States has an interest in the fragmentation of the Yugoslav area "although it would probably be different if only the European powers were asked." On the other hand he said that the local authorities were incapable of leading a rational and modern policy and thus attempt to avoid the situation in which the state is the target. As opposed to Croatian forces that had "all the possible logistical" support from the Western alliance in the Krajina offensive, Dimitrijevic believes that the Army of Yugoslavia would find itself in a confrontation with the alliance because of an eventual wider operation in Kosovo. The Albanian forces cannot be compared with the Yugoslav forces, but he said that Army of Yugoslavia technology was not really (?renewed) in the last year and that the United States was waging war with high technology that is even above "our perception capabilities." [Box, p 4] Secrets and Truths [subhead] When talking about the "mysterious" units Bojan Dimitrijevic said that every country had the right to have various formations but he pointed out the danger of their being misused due to their unclear status (for example perhaps during possible increased political tension in Belgrade, he said). Here Dimitrijevic reminds us of the duality in the right to use armed force, through the Yugoslav People's Army and the Territorial Defense, which ended up in a war between the two. It should also be stated that the publication of the information in this article, although unknown to the wider public, is not an offense or "leaking" of official secrets. Dimitrijevic says that the Army of Yugoslavia regularly, according to the decrees of the Dayton agreement and the Florence agreement, regularly informs the signatories of these agreements of what it has at its disposal and its formation. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. 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Article Id: dreeu04101998000186 Document Id: 0erdtu3041wkpe Insert Date: 04/13/98 Purge Date: 04/26/99 Publish Date: 04/10/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 71 Title: Serbia: Russian Daily Cited on Existence of CIA Network in Kosovo Number: FBIS-EEU-98-100 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe, The Americas Document Date: 10 Apr 1998 Division: Balkan States, North America Subdivision: Serbia, United States Sourceline: AU1004082398 Belgrade Politika Ekspres in Serbo-Croatian 9 Apr 98 p 9 AFS Number: AU1004082398 Citysource: Belgrade Politika Ekspres Language: Serbo-Croatian Article Type: BFN Subslug: Report by Tomislav Kresovic, BINA: "Numerous US Agents in 'Humanitarian Missions'" The Russian daily Ekspert recently reported that the CIA has been active in Kosovo and Metohija since 1995 under the cover of "some information center," observing that the number of US spies in the area of Kosovo and Metohija suddenly began to increase rapidly a few months prior to the Albanian separatists' mass demonstrations." The assessment is based on an analysis of the Russian Federal Security Service (former KGB). The CIA obviously has its own interests within the Kosovo and Metohija-Macedonia-Albania triangle, which also coincide with the NATO interests in this area. Some time ago, separatist newspapers in Pristina wrote about some secret CIA plan aimed against the goals of the separatist policy in Kosovo and Metohija, and, allegedly, the CIA had prior knowledge of police actions near Drenica! There is some truth in these contradictions. In Kosmet [Kosovo and Metohija], the CIA is developing a crisis scenario of alternately instigating and checking conflicts between Serbia and the separatist nomenklatura and the terrorist organization of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army [OVK -- UCK in Albanian] -- thus, affirming the principle of achieving its own interests in conflict situations. The State Department and Pentagon's moves in the Balkans are primarily planned by the CIA and its regional centers in Greece and Bulgaria, as well as its intelligence officers in the field. It is estimated that about 100 CIA agents are active in the Kosmet-Macedonia-Albania triangle under cover of "humanitarian" missions and various observer teams. The US Information Center in Pristina has significantly influenced a more aggressive activity of the separatist movement. According to Vice President Al Gore, USIS Centers will soon become part of the network of State Department institutions. The main sources of CIA information are the Kosovo Information Center in Pristina, the Kosovo Soros Fund, the "Mother Theresa" humanitarian organization, "Doctors of the World," the "Kosovo Helsinki Committee".... The latest US "humanitarian" mission in Kosmet revealed that the reasons for its arrival in Serbia were one thing, and the mission to Kosmet -- right at the time of the separatist "parallel elections" -- was quite another. The CIA collects its information on the basis of measured and tendentious reports by some 100 separatist journalists in Kosmet, while important field data on the location of the Yugoslav armed forces, the police, and the OVK terrorist organization is obtained by "Predator" intelligence aircraft based in Albania. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu04091998000184 Document Id: 0er7gn603tzlig Insert Date: 04/10/98 Purge Date: 04/23/99 Publish Date: 04/09/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 108 Title: FYROM: MIC Views Consolidation of FYROM Intelligence Agency Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-099 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Transcribed Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 9 Apr 1998 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: FYROM, Kosovo Sourceline: AU0904073698 Skopje MIC in English 8 Apr 98 AFS Number: AU0904073698 Citysource: Skopje MIC Language: English Article Type: BFN After the staff composition was completed, the first Macedonian intelligence agency has officially stated its functioning in the domestic security systems. Its Director Vlado Popovski stated that the planned personnel structure is filled around 60 percent complete, which is completely sufficient for its unobstructed work. The staff is mostly taken form the Ministries of the Interior and Defense, which, according to Popovski is a proof that the resistance which appeared in the starting period of the formation of the agency has been overcome. Although the budgetary cash has proven as being restrictive for the needs of the agency, its director feels that this year they will survive with the approved funds. These are the basic data on the Macedonian CIA, whose legal and functional revival was postponed for years. However, as time passed, speculations were spread that the Intelligence Agency is an unwelcome "newborn" in the Macedonian security systems. There were many scandals, which most often end in the sphere of intrigues about its director. At the same time, analysts warned that the agency, still unformed, suffers political pressures. Whether and to what extend have these obstacles been overcome was our question to the Director of the Macedonian Intelligence Agency Vlado Popovski. Cross-Fire [subhead] "I can only say that there might have been some resistance among individuals, but in the complete structures, the standpoint towards the Agency prevailed towards the positive side," Popovski underlines. All conditions have been fulfilled for us to say that at the moment, the agency has completely taken over all the intelligence activities. As far as the political level is concerned, we also enjoyed the support there. The Intelligence Agency could not have been formed if we have not had the support of the Prime Minister of the Parliament. The others were only individuals and incidental opinions, which proved as irrelevant," Popovski pointed out. One of the dilemmas was whether the Intelligence Agency, which works for the head of state, financed by the Budget, which is regulated by the Government will not be exposed to a kind of cross-fire which would result from possible desires for political dominion. In fact, the largest speculations were in regard to this question, connected to the existence of the intelligence agency and its implementation in the institutional order. "The current status of the Agency is on the two tracks of the executive authority: the head of state and the government, as Popovski points out. Time will answer whether there is possibility for balancing. In principle, flaws are possible in this field if there is confrontation between the two segments. However, if this happens, the consequences from such a conflict will be far more long ranging and more encompassing and will not only remain in the Intelligence Agency. For now, we do not mind the double connection and it can be said that it is not detrimental to the agency from such personnel and functional setting. Subtenant [subhead] The Macedonian first child in the field of the intelligence service which cross the world, in its analytical services has worked out the first data which regard the situation in the country, the fact that our intelligence bureau still has the status of a subtenant in the Ministry of the Interior is an additional indicator on the fictional bond with the former intelligence service of this ministry, which, in the legal vacuum created by the closure of the similar services in the Ministry of defense has taken over the necessary intelligence activities, that is some king of an indicator on the alleged ignoring of certain security service toward him. Although there are some elements that leave room for further speculations, it is more than clear that the Macedonian CIA will successfully make the first steps, which will approach it to the security standards in the highly developed countries. This is a duty of the leadership for which Director Popovski says that it has been already selected. Kosovo Hotbed -- Real Danger [subhead] "The Intelligence Agency is following the situation in Macedonia in the sense of existence of possible risks. For now, the Republic of Macedonia is not significantly endangered and not threatened by any immediate danger," says Vlado Popovski, head of the Macedonian intelligence Agency. However, there is only one hotbed, which has complicated the situation in this country's border regions. I am talking about the Kosovo hotbed. The Yugoslav statements that Macedonia interfered with the internal affairs have no grounds whatsoever. The Yugoslav statement that in Macedonia there are around 200,000 pieces of weapons hidden is not naive at all. This is a pure speculation. Moreover, additional speculation is the Yugoslav statement that there are around 10,000 armed man which are a danger to Kosovo. This is all, in fact a creation of elements for excuses for some future slipover of the action from the Yugoslav side toward our side. There are pure speculations and mystification of the real situations, which are in function of justification of some possible activities. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
Article Id: dreeu03171998000162 Document Id: 0eq2lpx028i0h3 Insert Date: 03/19/98 Purge Date: 04/01/99 Publish Date: 03/17/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 106 Title: Albania: Deployment of US Troops to Albania Viewed Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-076 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe, The Americas Document Date: 17 Mar 1998 Division: Balkan States, North America Subdivision: Albania, United States Sourceline: AU1703082398 Tirana Albania in Albanian 15 Mar 98 p 7 AFS Number: AU1703082398 Citysource: Tirana Albania Language: Albanian Article Type: BFN Subslug: Commentary by A. Rrozhani: "Americans 'Occupy' Gjader" The United States is re-establishing its bases in Albania. The Pentagon has decided to include the territory of this small Balkan country on US military maps. This is because of the aggravated situation in Kosova [Kosovo] and the negative stand that the CIA expects Belgrade to maintain vis-a-vis the Albanians' demand for self-determination. US Army troops landed at the Albanian port of Durres to prepare a logistic base, but Durres is not their destination. About 1,000 US soldiers are going to march in the direction of Gjader military air base, known by Pentagon officials to have been a successful area for observing the war in Bosnia in 1995. Their mission will not only be to monitor developments in Kosova from the closest base in the heated north, but also to establish a secure buffer zone and a preventive force against the conflict spilling over to the south of the Balkans, and in the direction of Albania. Tumor Growth in Albania [subhead] Foreign soldiers set out on their first march in Albania in 1991. These were the unarmed troops of the PELIKAN humanitarian mission, who traveled all over extremely poor Albania. Italian troops were stationed in Durres and distributed food and clothing worth about 30 billion Italian liras, despite the Levante & Co. affair that ensued and the imprisonment of Prime Minister Fatos Nano by the Albanian judiciary on the grounds that he appropriated about $8.5 million. Albania has welcomed foreign troops in the last few years only in the context of the Partnership for Peace Initiative and Balkan maneuvers. Everything has been done in the context of restructuring and streamlining the Army, which was disintegrated following the violent anarchy that erupted in Albania after January 1997, when Army munitions depots were looted and raided. The most successful mission, that was also endorsed by the United States, was that of Gjader in Lezhe. About 800 US troops, most of them reserve forces, were stationed on the largest air base in the country as part of the PREDATOR mission from May to November 1995. The Gjader military airport was used by four unmanned airplanes called "Predators" to film the bloody battles that went on in the Bosnia and Herzegovina territory. Two of these expensive planes were shot and damaged, but they managed to gather useful information, which threw light on the strength of the forces of the warring parties, especially those of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. US troops left in November 1995, but John Shalikashvili promised the democratic government that their cooperation would continue. Things did not develop as predicted. Albania of "Gray Uniformed Tourists" Shakes Its Hands [subhead] The Army soldiers will apparently be the only foreign tourists in Albania, even during the summer. Foreign soldiers seem to replace to some extent the former army of tourists who used to guarantee poor Albania about 100,000 nights of tourism. If we recall the defeated ALBA mission, Albanians should at least look forward to some trade boom. The Italian-led mission deployed about 7,700 soldiers to Albania from 10 European countries. It was an army of gray uniforms that did not fire a single shot for five months in response to crimes that took, on average, 10 Albanian lives per day. A few months after their disgraceful departure, only 205 Greek soldiers remained in Albania and about 100 European advisors who assist the Albanian police . . . record the crimes that continue to grow. The Greek soldiers who are deployed in Albania -- without a decision of parliament -- protect a barracks in Yzberisht (in the Tirana outskirts) and the main Military Hospital. The opposition has demanded their departure but has been unable to do anything about these foreign troops on Albanian territory. Advisors to the Albanian police have declared that they are going to remain in Albania for about a year. They have extended their mandate, which was declared by Cutiliero, a representative of the WEU, which is the armed wing of the EU. Apart from a feeling of indifference and a nationalist sentiment, their presence has not aroused any other feeling among Albanians. The Greek forces patrol the streets of Tirana, whereas the WEU and the MAPE [Multinational Advisor Police Element] French and Italian forces do not want to be involved in Albanian police actions. The presence of foreign troops is cheered by merchants and restaurant owners more than anyone else. The news of the return of US troops has doubled their joy, not because of the feeling of security and order that they may contribute to, but because of the mountains of US dollars they like to spend. They are not going to be paid like the US soldiers in Bosnia and Croatia, but like their counterparts in the UNPREDEP [UN Preventive Deployment Force] mission in Macedonia. With a daily allowance of about $100, the US soldiers will be the most respectable clients in Albanian markets, restaurants, and souvenir shops. They certainly have to be careful not to offend the Albanians' pride and honor. The wounding of a US soldier by a 21 year old in Durres is a warning for the "gray uniformed tourists" of Albania. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: drsov03121998000287 Document Id: 0eps0nf02cra85 Insert Date: 03/13/98 Purge Date: 03/26/99 Publish Date: 03/12/98 Publish Region: Central Eurasia Lines: 48 Title: Russia: Zavtra Sees U.S. Goal as Further Division of Yugoslavia Document Number: FBIS-SOV-98-071 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: Central Eurasia, East Europe Document Date: 12 Mar 1998 Division: Russia, Balkan States Subdivision: Russia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Sourceline: MC1203091898 Moscow Zavtra in Russian No. 10, Mar 98 (signed to press 10 Mar 98) p 1 AFS Number: MC1203091898 Citysource: Moscow Zavtra Language: Russian Article Type: BFN Subslug: Untitled "field report" by the Den Security Service The current events in Kosovo, according to information from Rome, are the consequence of the failure of the hard line endorsed by U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who demanded that preemptive mass strikes be delivered against Iraq. The CIA has recommended that the head of the foreign policy department divert her attention to a new and more promising target, proposing the activation of her potential to exert influence on the Albanian separatist organizations. After this proposal was accepted, attacks on Yugoslav policemen became more frequent, as did "acts of protest," ambushes on the streets, and other events intended to aggravate the situation in the autonomous region of Kosovo. Our source says that the ultimate goal is the further division of Yugoslavia and, apart from that, the intensification of the discord between Germany and Russia and between the Orthodox believers and the Muslims. Plans not just to deliver a propaganda strike against Belgrade, but also to bring "peacekeeping forces" into Serbia, according to the Bosnian scenario, are being examined. The same model is supposed to be used in late 1998-early 1999 in Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, and Chechnya.... THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu03091998000866 Document Id: 0epm8ba00zdiem Insert Date: 03/10/98 Purge Date: 03/23/99 Publish Date: 03/09/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 61 Title: Kosovo: US Seen Giving Belgrade Indirect Go-Ahead for Kosovo Action Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-068 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Excerpt Document Region: East Europe, West Europe Document Date: 9 Mar 1998 Division: Balkan States, Benelux Countries Subdivision: Kosovo, Belgium Sourceline: BR0903145798 Brussels Le Soir in French 9 Mar 98 p 6 AFS Number: BR0903145798 Citysource: Brussels Le Soir Language: French Article Type: BFN Subslug: Article by Philippe Deprez: "'We Still Have To Liquidate 2 Million Albanians'" Pristina -- [Passage omitted] American Go-Ahead to Belgrade [subhead] On Saturday [7 March], the Serbian police reinforced their checkpoints around the villages of Vojnik and Llaushe. "You cannot go any further; the Mojahedin will kill you," says one Serbian policeman, while two buses drive by filled with policemen. "Their job is probably to clean up the scene before the organized trip for the journalists," says one diplomat. The (ethnic) "cleansing" operation is coming to an end, according to Belgrade. But the policemen in the special units do not seem to have had their bloodlust satisfied: "We killed the terrorist leader," said one policeman at a roadblock, "but we still have to liquidate 2 million Albanians." According to one US source, the guerrilla fighters in the UCK (Kosovo Liberation Army) present in the Drenica region have left the "battlefield" and regrouped near the Albanian border. According to the summary of a CIA document on the UCK, currently in circulation in Belgrade and Pristina, their training base is in northern Albania. According to diplomats, this document, dating from February, explains why President Bill Clinton's special envoy, Robert Gelbard -- in contrast to the opinions of US diplomats posted in Belgrade -- has called the UCK a "terrorist organization" and indirectly given Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic the go- ahead. In support of the "antiterrorist" operation, the Serbian media have, as a whole, stepped up the number of racist accounts and carefully downplayed reports on massacres perpetrated by Serbian units. For its part, on Saturday the "Kosovo Democratic League" tried to work a short, fruitless con job, producing an "Albanian witness from Prekaz" -- a woman -- whose exaggerated accounts and repeated acts of fainting failed to convince anyone. [Description of source: Brussels Le Soir in French -- leading centrist daily] THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu01221998000458 Document Id: 0en9bh601lcv83 Insert Date: 01/23/98 Purge Date: 02/06/99 Publish Date: 01/22/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 65 Title: Serbia: Belgrade Daily Claims CIA Playing 'Active Role' in Kosovo Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-022 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 22 Jan 1998 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Serbia, Kosovo Sourceline: AU2201121498 Belgrade Politika Ekspres in Serbo-Croatian 21 Jan 98 p 7 AFS Number: AU2201121498 Citysource: Belgrade Politika Ekspres Language: Serbo-Croatian Article Type: BFN Subslug: Report by T. Kresovic: "Underground Diplomacy" The CIA plays the most active role in Kosmet [Kosovo and Metohija]. In addition to monitoring the region by satellite, it perfidiously acts through the Information Center in Pristina and the Soros Fund for Kosovo. The CIA also uses the information provided by the KIC [Kosovo Information Center] and the Helsinki Committee for Kosovo. Next in line is Albania's intelligence service, with its developed network, the operations of which are synchronized with separatist organizations in Kosovo directly from the Embassy in Belgrade. The CIA also exerts indirect influence through the Independent Student Union and the Union of Independent Trade Unions. Albania's intelligence service is also active among "nongovernmental" organizations. For years, the German intelligence service, BND [Federal Intelligence Service], has had its own well-developed network, because more than 130,000 Albanian political asylum seekers and emigrants, OVK [Kosovo Liberation Army -- UCK in Albanian] training centers, and the Albanian narco-Mafia branch organizations are in Germany. The BND influence is reflected in the activities of the Roman Catholic humanitarian organization Caritas, which has "quietly" moved most of the Croats from Janjeva to Kistanje in Croatia. The Iranian Intelligence Service, is also intensifying its activities using fundamentalist methods. The Iranian Intelligence Service is active in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, and its goal is to establish a Muslim "Green Route" from Bosnia-Herzegovina, via Raska, Kosovo and Metohija, to Western Macedonia. The Iranian Intelligence Service also works through Shi'ite sects in Kosovo and Metohija, mainly in Prizren, and through the "El-Beyt" and "Hanefi" organizations. The Iranians also operate through the Iranian Cultural Center in Belgrade. The majority of foreign intelligence services are using official channels for their activities and devoting increasing attention to analytical and strategic studies of the Kosmet phenomenon. NATO's interest in Kosovo and Metohija and in linking up Kosmet to Bosnia-Herzegovina indicates the presence of a regular intelligence war in Kosovo. The Albanian separatist movement and the OVK would not be able to operate on such a large scale but for the support of powerful intelligence services and their "good" offices. THIS ARTICLE MAY CONTAIN COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL. COPYING AND DISSEMINATION IS PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE COPYRIGHT OWNERS.
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Article Id: dreeu01151998001266 Document Id: 0emyqc400k7t0t Insert Date: 01/17/98 Purge Date: 01/31/99 Publish Date: 01/15/98 Publish Region: East Europe Lines: 100 Title: Kosovo: Daily Views Goals, Policy of Kosovo 'Separatist Movement' Document Number: FBIS-EEU-98-015 Document Type: Daily Report Document Title: FBIS Translated Text Document Region: East Europe Document Date: 15 Jan 1998 Division: Balkan States Subdivision: Kosovo Sourceline: AU1501192598 Belgrade Politika Ekspres in Serbo-Croatian 13 Jan 98 p 5 AFS Number: AU1501192598 Citysource: Belgrade Politika Ekspres Language: Serbo-Croatian Article Type: BFN Subslug: Commentary by Tomislav Kresovic: "Differences Exist, But the Goal Is the Same" The separatist movement's pragmatic policy has three active segments. The first is a political form for manifesting the separatist will as defined in political parties, above all Dr. Ibrahim Rugova's LDK [Democratic League of Kosovo] and the opposition forum, which consists of Adem Demaci's PPK [Parliamentary Party of Kosovo], Rexhep Qosja's Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo, Luljeta Pula-Beqiri's Social Democratic Party of Kosovo, and Hajrulla Gorani's Independent Trade Unions of Kosovo. The second aspect is the activity of the "government in exile," the link with Albania, and the lobbying in Western countries, and also links with intelligence services, primarily the CIA, the BND [Federal Intelligence Service], and the Albanian and Iranian secret police. The third segment is lobbying in the United States (Congress) and the United Nations through a third party, the public relations agency "Rudder Fin," as well as global internationalization. The Call to Resistance [subhead] The separatist movement is not unified, but it does have a coherent policy in terms of its final goals. The goals are an independent Kosovo and Metohija ruled by the ethnic, in other words, demographic majority. In effect, the political wing is active in Kosovo through parties and student and union organizations and through semi-military and terrorist organizations, such as the OVK [Kosovo Liberation Army -- UCK in Albanian] and the NPOK [National Movement for Liberation of Kosovo -- Nacionalni Pokret za Oslobodjenje Kosova in Serbo-Croatian]. There are differences within the LDK. Its leaders, Dr. Rugova, and Prof. Fehmi Agani, advocate a "step-by-step" strategy by internationalizing the Kosovo issue and exhausting Serbia's official state policy. The LDK wing under Hydajet Hyseni, the PPK of Adem Demaci, and the "government in exile" under Bujar Bukoshi promote a combination of political radicalism and a civic, even armed, resistance. Rugova enjoys the greatest support in Kosovo and Metohija, but Demaci and Bakalli are becoming increasingly popular among the younger members of the movement. Demaci's aim is to create conditions for Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to agree to concessions through the use of selective terrorism, but also through the Islamic formula of inspiring the people to put up active resistance. The Independent Students Union of Bujar Dugolli is the LDK's offensive wing, while the Indepen |