DATE=11/17/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=O-S-C-E SUMMIT (L OVERNIGHTER)
NUMBER=2-256280
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=ISTANBUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Heads of state of the 54-member Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe --the O-S-C-E -
- have gathered in Istanbul, Turkey for a two-day
summit to discuss security issues of mutual concern.
But as V-O-A Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports from
Istanbul, the conflict in Chechnya is already casting
a shadow over the meeting, with the likelihood of some
stern warnings to Russia from its O-S-C-E colleagues.
TEXT: The official agenda of the two-day meeting
focuses mostly on security issues such as updating the
conventional weapons treaty and expanding the O-S-C-
E's role in peacekeeping operations like Bosnia and
Kosovo.
But Russia's military offensive in Chechnya will cloud
the discussions. Most of the leaders attending the
Istanbul summit have publicly or privately criticized
Moscow's operation. Russian President Boris Yeltsin
will use the summit meeting to defend his tough line
on Chechnya.
O-S-C-E officials insist the summit should demand a
timetable from Russia on the withdrawal of troops from
Chechnya. The increased number of Russian military in
the area counters the Conventional Weapons Treaty
ceiling for troops and equipment along Russia's
southern flank. The treaty is to be updated at the
Istanbul meeting.
Outside of the official agenda, the O-S-C-E's current
chairman Knut Vollebaek of Norway will meet
Montenegro's leader and a delegation of Serb
politicians opposed to Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic.
Mr. Vollebaek is also hosting a breakfast meeting of
more than 40 foreign ministers from the so-called
Stability Pact countries, dealing with reforms in
southeastern Europe. Last July, the group pledged to
help break down trade barriers and rebuild investor
confidence in the region. But few projects have
actually materialized.
Wednesday evening, Mr. Vollebaek also met with the
five leaders of Central Asia who are attending the
summit.
The high-level gathering has raised Turkey's profile
as a European partner at a time when Ankara has sought
a way into the European Union. But the meeting comes
at an awkward time for Turkey, which is digging out
from the rubble of its second devastating earthquake
since August. (Signed)
NEB/LMK/JWH/gm
17-Nov-1999 14:07 PM EDT (17-Nov-1999 1907 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
