Headlines
- Talks between the Yugoslav negotiating team and NATO resumed in Kumanovo
- Chernomyrdin rejected the possibility of Russian troops in Kosovo falling under NATO command
- Serbian Patriarch Pavle served the holy arhiere liturgy in Janje near Sipovo
- Simitis against appointment of Solana as an official of the EU
The members of the Yugoslav negotiating team and representatives of NATO today in Kumanovo resumed talks on the withdrawal of FRY security forces from Kosmet. According to agency reports, the talks are being conducted in a well-camouflaged tent in the seat of the French NATO base in this city, north-east of Skopje. According to world news agencies, the talks today suffered a serious crisis. SKY news reported that the main problems were the issues of supervising the border between Yugoslavia and Albania in Kosovo and a NATO request to form a demilitarised zone in Serbia along the border with Kosovo, which would go 25 km into Serbian territory. A spokesman for NATO, Lt. Col. Robin Clifford stated in Kumanovo that he believed the Yugoslav side would sign the agreement on withdrawal of forces from Kosovo.
Chernomyrdin rejected the possibility of Russian military forces in Kosovo being under NATO command, SRNA reports.
Clinton stated this morning that he agreed with the cessation of the air campaign against Yugoslavia and approved the commencement of the special plan for withdrawal of Yugoslav forces from Kosovo, ONASA carried.
Britain approved another 7, 500 soldiers for the deployment of international forces in Kosovo.
NATO air action last night and today: Kopaonik, Klina, Urosevac, Bujanovac, Pristina, Suva Reka, Djakovica, Pec, Decani, Gnjilane, Kosovo Polje, Bijelo Polje (SRT correspondent from BG)
NATO briefing: The spokesman for NATO Jamie Shea stated today at a press conference in Brussels that the talks in Kumanovo were being held in a professional atmosphere but did not give details of the talks. He said that yesterday 80 refugees crossed into Albania. General Walter Jertz said that NATO had received reports that Serb forces were bombing (grenading) internally displaced Albanians in the area around Kosovska Mitrovica and that in the vicinity of Pristina looting of Albanian property was extensive.
The FRY Government expressed regret and concern at the decision of the international court of justice in The Hague to reject requests for temporary cessation of the bombing of Yugoslavia because of, as it was stated in today’s press release, formal reasons regarding the competence of the court , Tanjug carries.
Reactions to events in Yugoslavia:
Solana stated today that the division of Kosovo was unacceptable and stressed that the province would remain a united entity, Beta reports. The Presidency of the Democratic Party from Yugoslavia assessed that acceptance of the plan of the international community was unduly delayed, which had tragic consequences for all the citizens of Yugoslavia, Beta reports. Democratic Party of Serbia accused the USA of, as BETA carries, having as its real goal Kosovo becoming part of Serbia under American control with as few Serbs as possible.
Protests against the NATO aggression against Yugoslavia (Italy, Washington, Vienna)
Early this morning on the Lukavica-Pale road, members of the Sarajevo Canton MUP arrested an SRT cameraman, Rade Popovic, and transferred him to the Central prison in Sarajevo. (Report by an SRT corespondent talking with a co-passenger who described the event). Regarding the arrest, the SRT Director General Andjelko Kozomara issued a press release (carried in full).