DATE=8/4/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=BRITAIN / YUGOSLAVIA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-265145
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Britain is pressing Yugoslav authorities for
the release of two British citizens who Belgrade says
are being detained, along with two Canadians, on
suspicion of spying. As correspondent Laurie Kassman
reports from London, the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe - the O-S-C-E - says the two
Britons are employed as police trainers.
TEXT: Britain's Foreign Office has protested to the
Yugoslav representative in London over the detention
of two British nationals and has asked the Brazilian
embassy in Belgrade to do the same. Brazil represents
British interests in Yugoslavia since London closed
its embassy there more than a year ago.
A foreign office spokesman says Britain is demanding
immediate consular access to the men, who were working
as police trainers for the O-S-C-E in Kosovo. The
spokesman says Yugoslav authorities have agreed to the
consular visit "in principle" but nothing more has
been done. A Canadian diplomat in Belgrade is
traveling to Montenegro in the hope of visiting the
Canadian businessman and his nephew also being held
there.
O-S-C-E spokesman Mans Nyberg in Vienna says
Yugoslavia accuses the four men of illegally entering
the province of Montenegro and of training rebel
forces there. No official charges have been brought
against them, but Serb television showed the four men
at a table with knives, wiring and other equipment.
/// NYBERG ACT ///
We've heard about illegal weapons and terrorist
activities. They seem to be pure fabrications.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Nyberg says the two British police trainers and
two Canadians had traveled to neighboring Montenegro
for a weekend visit.
The province has distanced itself politically from
Belgrade and does not require visas for foreigners
traveling there, but Yugoslavia's central government
does.
/// OPT NYBERG ACT TWO ///
You don't need a visa according to the
Montenegrin authorities to enter Montenegro.
However, the Yugoslav federal authorities do
demand a visa. So, unfortunately, what happened
was our mission members were caught at the
border by the Yugoslav federal army. So when
they didn't have visas they were arrested.
/// END OPT ACT ///
As a precaution, the O-S-C-E now has banned staffers
from traveling to Montenegro.
The arrests come a few days after Yugoslav authorities
detained four Dutch nationals, accusing them of
plotting to kill Yugolsav President Slobodan
Milosevic. Belgrade has accused several NATO
countries of hiring mercenaries to seize war crimes
suspects.
The arrests also coincide with rising tensions ahead
of the September presidential elections, which
Montenegro's leaders have threatened to boycott.
(Signed)
NEB/LMK/GE/JP
04-Aug-2000 10:55 AM LOC (04-Aug-2000 1455 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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