Headlines
- Yugoslavia Decided to Join Alliance with Russia and Belorussia
- NATO Shelled Civilian Train Belgrade – Salonika, in Grdelicka Klisura
- Meeting of NATO Ministers Completed, Standpoints Remain Same
- Representatives of Banja Luka Visited Belgrade
According to Reuters, at least 9 passengers were killed and 16 wounded in an explosion of a NATO missile which hit a civilian international train Belgrade – Salonika, in Gradelicka Klisura, southeast Serbia.
The Parliament of Yugoslavia today adopted a decision for FRY to join the Alliance of Russia and Belorussia.
Spokesperson of the Socialist Party of Serbia, Dacic, stated that the decision on FRY joining the RB Alliance was not only one of the ways to defend Yugoslavia, but also a beginning of organizing greater resistance from the entire world against NATO.
President of the Democratic Party of Serbia, Kostunica today questioned the usefulness of the initiative for FRY joining the RB Alliance.
Principal Deputy PM of Russia, Gustov, today stated that the issue of FRY joining the RB Alliance would not be on the agenda of tomorrow’s meeting of the Alliance Executive Committee.
Leader of the Russian Communists, Zyuganov stated that leftist powers have a positive view on the decision of the Yugoslav Parliament.
All the leading electronic media in Greece broadcast the news on today’s decision of the FRY Parliament on joining the RB Alliance.
A number of citizens gathered today before the Parliament building during the session of the FRY Parliament, to support passing the decision on joining the RB Alliance.
NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs adopted a joint statement at today’s meeting in Brussels, emphasising the need to start work on establishing a political framework for a peaceful solution of the Kosovo crisis, based on the Rambouillet Agreement.
NATO Secretary General, Solana, stated after the meeting in Brussels that the air strikes on Yugoslavia will continue until the President of the FRY, Milosevic accepts demands of the IC. US Secretary of State, Albright also addressed the press and stated that Milosevic was trying to divide NATO, but NATO was united and patient. British Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cook, said that NATO was not planing to carry out an invasion of the FRY, but the aim of stronger air strikes was to change the relation of forces in the field.
British Minister Cook today met with representative of the OVK (KLA), Krasnici, who informed him about the difficult situation of Albanians who remained at Kosovo.
US President Clinton today acknowledged the contribution of the US air force in Kosovo, as all the soldiers are helping Kosovo refugees.
Italian police stopped three trucks with weapons in Ancona, reportedly meant for Shqiptar separatists in Kosovo. According to Associated Press, the drivers, with BiH citizenship, were detained for questioning.
Kragujevac car factory “Zastava” was shelled last night and 160 employees were wounded in the attack. Pristina and Kosovo were shelled on several occasions last night. The Yugoslav Army confirmed that the enemy once more used cassette bombs, banned by international conventions. The shelling on Pristina was repeated in the afternoon.
Civilian targets in Kursumlija were shelled again today and there were casualties.
Krusevac was shelled today for the first time and there was extensive material damage on the heating plant, but there were no casualties. There was large material damage during the shelling on the Pancevo refinery.
FRY PM, Bulatovic, stated that the NATO attack on Yugoslavia is a coup de maitre in international relations.
Head of the FRY Mission in the UN, Jovanovic, said in an interview to CNN that there is a peace process going on in Yugoslavia and that the third round of talks between FRY officials and Rugova’s Kosmet Shqiptars is on-going.
President of Montenegro, Djukanovic, stated to the “Daily Telegraph” that the best step NATO could take for solving the Balkan conflict would be cessation of shelling of Yugoslavia and assistance in strengthening democratic forces within it.
Reactions of SPO and DPS.
Chairman of the Saustrech Committee for Human Rights, Alomerovic stated that the stories of alleged forcible recruitment of Muslims into the Yugoslav Army in the area of Raska, i.e. Sandzak and that their property is being robbed, are false.
Russian President Yeltsin, in a telephone conversation with the French President, Chirac, confirmed the standpoint of the need to stop shelling Yugoslavia. German Minister of Defence, Scharping stated that NATO land forces in Kosovo could not reasonably succeed. French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vedrine, stated that the way for a solution of the Kosovo crisis leads through the UN. As a concession to Yugoslavia, the West could accept refugee return to Kosovo through the military under the command of the OSCE, said French Minister of Defence, Richard. Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, stated in Ankara, that Turkey had requested a larger role in NATO plans about Balkan crisis.
Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kavan refused the possibility of NATO and Prague entering a classic war with Yugoslavia. Representative of the separatist OVK in Bonn stated that the recruitment of Kosovo Albanians abroad for the struggle against the FRY is going well. UNESCO Director General, Mayor, today appealed for a return to the UN as the only framework for solving the Kosovo problem on an international level.
The Red Cross of China allocated assistance to the Red Cross of Yugoslavia, in the sum of DM 2,250,000. UN SG, Kofi Annan, will attend an extraordinary summit of the EU in Brussels on Wednesday.
Representatives of the Banja Luka Municipal Assembly, artists and humanitarians of Banja Luka visited Belgrade today. Rally of support to Yugoslavia in Janja (Bijeljina area). Concert in Novi Sad – “NATO is Killing Europe”.
Peaceful demonstrations against NATO aggression on Yugoslavia on daily basis in Moscow.
Several thousand Spaniards gathered in Seville yesterday for a peaceful protest against NATO attacks on Yugoslavia. The Serbian Writers Association held its 18th protest meeting – “Belgrade is not the doorstep of Washington”.
Hungarian blockage of a humanitarian assistance convoy from Russia and Belorussia for Yugoslavia was resolved today.
Today’s SDS press conference referred to influence of NATO strikes on the entire DA project.
SFOR Commander, Meigs stated that SFOR will do everything to prevent the spreading of war from Yugoslavia into BiH.
News from the BiH Federation.