(4 Oct 1998) English/Nat
United States political leaders are backing President Clinton's ultimatum to the Serbian President to halt fighting in Kosovo or risk NATO air strikes within two weeks.
NATO allies are set to meet on Wednesday to decide whether or not to intervene in the troubled province, following reports of Serb massacres.
They're also angered by Yugoslavia apparently shunning a U-N Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire and a political
settlement.
Leading politicians in Washington agree that after six months of shadow boxing with Yugoslavia's president, Slobodan Milosevic, it's time for action.
But some feel Americans should know what they're getting into if air strikes do go ahead.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I don't think the American people have been properly informed about what is at stake and what American interests are in Kosovo. I think the president needs to make that clear. I think that Congress needs to be involved in that discussion, maybe have some debate. I have been advocating for months that NATO take strong action to stop the deaths of people in Kosovo."
SUPER CAPTION: Senator Trent Lott (Republican-Mississippi),
Senate Majority Leader
The Serb government appears to be complying with most of the world's demands including the withdrawal of some military forces from Kosovo.
U.S. mediator Christopher Hill was expected in Belgrade on Monday in a fresh effort to persuade both sides to open negotiations on autonomy for Kosovo.
Leading Democrat, Richard Gephardt, believes it's not too late for diplomacy to work.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I think we've got to try to get this diplomatic solution. I certainly hope for it, I think it's possible to do that. If as part of that, NATO has to do some more peacekeeping as we're now doing in Bosnia, I think that's something we ought to seriously entertain. What we've done in Bosnia has worked. We haven't gotten the people out quickly, but we've drawn down the number of people we have there. The violence has stopped and I think we've created a climate in the country where long standing peace can occur. If we can do that in Kosovo and defuse that second situation in this very troubled part of the world, that would be a good thing to do."
SUPER CAPTION: Representative Richard Gephardt (Democrat-Missouri), House Minority Leader
Pressure among Western governments to restore the NATO threats has grown hugely over the last week after allegations that Serbs troops and police massacred several dozen villagers.
But Russia, a traditional ally of the Serbs, is against NATO intervention.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
