DATE=12/9/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S / RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-257011
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The U-S general who led NATO through the
Kosovo conflict is sharply criticizing Russia for its
unrestricted use of military firepower in Chechnya,
which has caused heavy civilian casualties. V-O-A's
Jim Randle reports from the Pentagon.
TEXT: Russian officials have complained about Western
criticism of their actions against Chechen rebels,
saying they are doing nothing more than what NATO did
in Kosovo. But NATO Commander Wes Clark says unlike
NATO, Moscow takes too little care to avoid civilian
deaths.
/// CLARK ACT ///
I think they are doing in Chechnya what
Milosevic tried to do in Kosovo.
/// END ACT ///
Yugoslavia's President Slobodan Milosevic is accused
of launching a murderous campaign to drive Kosovo's
ethnic-Albanian Muslim majority out of the Serbian
province. The bloodshed prompted months of bombing by
NATO that ended the attacks on Albanians and forced
Serb troops out of Kosovo.
General Clark says NATO pilots took great risks to
avoid hitting civilian areas when they pounded Serb
military targets across Yugoslavia.
/// 2nd CLARK ACT ///
I don't see those inhibitions [in Chechnya]. In fact,
I see the opposite in the case of the Russian threats
that have been given against these urban areas, and
the use of their weapons and the way they have
generally followed in the campaign.
/// END ACT ///
General Clark's comments (Thursday) came as Russian
forces continued to attack the last rebel-held
villages around the Chechen capital, Grozny.
Russian artillery continues to blast the city, but
international pressure has apparently prompted Moscow
not to enforce an ultimatum to Grozny's civilians to
leave the city by Saturday -- or die. (Signed)
NEB/JR/WTW
09-Dec-1999 18:00 PM EDT (09-Dec-1999 2300 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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