BELGIUM: NATO KOSOVO CRISIS PRESS BRIEFING

Описание: (26 May 1999) English/Nat

NATO is backing Kosovo talks taking place in Moscow, but is committed to convincing Russia that the alliance's air campaign against Yugoslavia is an essential element to ending the conflict.

At his daily briefing, spokesman Jamie Shea also reiterated that NATO forces must be at the core of an international peacekeeping force in Kosovo, which he said would reassure the refugees when they eventually return home.

Shea also told reporters a banker for Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic was turned back from Cyprus when he tried to enter the country with his wife.

The issue of ground forces was also a key concern in Britain's House of Commons, where Prime Minister Tony Blair said NATO's decision to nearly double the force demonstrated its commitment to seeing a successful resolution to the crisis.

At the daily briefing in Brussels, reporters sat through the usual tally of NATO operations in the last 24 hours.

The 650 sorties flown was a record number of strikes in a single day, according to spokesman Jamie Shea.

He also touched upon reports that a financial banker working for Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic tried and failed to get into Cyprus.

Shea said it was unclear whether Bogoljub Karic and his wife were fleeing Yugoslavia or trying to ferry funds belonging to Milosevic into Cyprus.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It's not clear why he was going. Was it a sign that he believed that it was the moment to leave Yugoslavia? Was he trying to arrange some financial transaction for the benefit of his boss? We don't know. But the good thing is that as these people try to leave, they are finding that there are not many safe areas where they are welcome."
SUPER CAPTION: Jamie Shea, NATO spokesman

NATO has given its support to diplomatic efforts by Russia, the U-S and the European Union to find a solution to the Yugoslav conflict.

On Wednesday, Russian envoy Viktor Chernomyrdin was meeting with American and Finnish envoys in Moscow to try to forge a strong consensus to present a Milosevic.

But Shea added that Russia should recognise NATO's interest in pursuing diplomatic and not just military means to resolve the crisis.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well, we will continue to work very hard to convince Russia that our strategy is the right one because it's the only one that will successfully resolve the Kosovo crisis. But it's not a strategy that consists of bombing alone. We are not a bombing-only organisation because we are, our countries - the countries that are involved in this operation - are also, also the ones that are most committed to finding a peaceful, diplomatic solution."
SUPER CAPTION: Jamie Shea, NATO spokesman

NATO has repeatedly rejected calls from Russia and others to observe a ceasefire while political channels are pursued.

Shea vehemently told reporters that Milosevic has had plenty of time to weigh his options and that the bombing will go on until he meets all of NATO's demands.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Jamie Shea, NATO spokesman

On Tuesday, the alliance announced it would nearly double to 50-thousand the size of the international peacekeeping force which will enter Kosovo once Serb forces leave the Serbian province.

Shea said despite Yugoslavia's objections, it is essential that NATO troops remain at the core of such a force.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Jamie Shea, NATO spokesman

Britain's House of Commons was focusing on Kosovo as well when it held question time with Prime Minister Tony Blair.


SOUNDBITE: (English)



Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...