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DATE=7/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251843
TITLE=CHINA / U-S (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ROGER WILKISON
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO:  TALKS IN BEIJING BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES ON  
COMPENSATION FOR NATO'S BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN 
YUGOSLAVIA HAVE  ENDED WITHOUT A SETTLEMENT.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT
ROGER WILKISON REPORTS A  SENIOR U-S OFFICIAL SAYS THE 
DISCUSSIONS WILL RESUME AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
TEXT:  THE MAIN TOPIC OF THE TALKS IS COMPENSATION FOR THE DEATHS
OF THREE  CHINESE JOURNALISTS WHO WERE IN THE EMBASSY WHEN IT WAS
HIT BY NATO BOMBS  ON MAY 7TH.  ANOTHER 20 PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN
THE ATTACK AND THE EMBASSY WAS REDUCED TO RUBBLE.
STATE DEPARTMENT LEGAL ADVISER DAVID ANDREWS -- WHO HEADED THE 
U-S DELEGATION -- READ A PREPARED STATEMENT TO REPORTERS AT THE 
U-S EMBASSY IN  BEIJING AFTER TWO DAYS OF TALKS WITH CHINESE 
OFFICIALS.  BUT HE WOULD NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS.  MR. ANDREWS SAYS 
THE UNITED STATES HAS OFFERED COMPENSATION TO THE INJURED AND THE
FAMILIES OF THOSE KILLED, BUT DID NOT SAY HOW MUCH WASHINGTON IS 
PREPARED TO PAY.
            //ANDREWS ACTUALITY//
 UNITED STATES HOPES TO MAKE THESE PAYMENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 
BOTH  SIDES ALSO RAISED THEIR RESPECTIVE PROPERTY CLAIMS.  THE 
ATMOSPHERE WAS  PRODUCTIVE AND PROFESSIONAL.  WE MADE PROGRESS ON
THESE SENSITIVE AND COMPLEX ISSUES.
             //END ACTUALITY//
ON THURSDAY, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN ZHANG QIYUE 
SAID THE TALKS WOULD  NOT  COVER DAMAGE SUSTAINED BY U-S MISSIONS
IN CHINA DURING THREE DAYS OF FURIOUS PROTESTS AGAINST THE 
BOMBING OF CHINA'S EMBASSY IN  BELGRADE.  MOST OF THE WINDOWS OF 
THE U-S EMBASSY IN BEIJING WERE BROKEN, AND THE U-S CONSUL 
GENERAL'S RESIDENCE IN CHENGDU WAS BURNED.  BUT MS. ZHANG SAID 
THE DAMAGE TO THE U-S MISSIONS COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE PUT ON THE 
SAME PAR WITH THE DESTRUCTION OF CHINA'S EMBASSY.
MS. ZHANG -- SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER -- ALSO REITERATED 
CHINA'S BOTTOM LINE BEFORE THE TWO COUNTRIES CAN REPAIR SEVERELY 
STRAINED DIPLOMATIC TIES.
            //INTERPRETER ACTUALITY//
 WE HOPE THAT THE U-S SIDE WILL CARRY OUT A THOROUGH AND FULL 
INVESTIGATION AND PUNISH THOSE RESPONSIBLE AND MAKE PROMPT, 
ADEQUATE AND EFFECTIVE COMPENSATION FOR THE HUMAN LOSSES AND 
LOSSES OF PROPERTY.
             //END ACTUALITY//
WASHINGTON SAYS THE BOMBING OF CHINA'S EMBASSY WAS A MISTAKE AND 
BLAMED IT  ON INTELLIGENCE AND TARGETING ERRORS.  BEIJING SAYS 
THAT EXPLANATION IS UNCONVINCING.  (SIGNED)
NEB/RW/GC/JO
16-Jul-99 6:49 AM EDT (1049 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.