[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 115 (Thursday, September 3, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9929-S9934]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 KOSOVO

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I would like to report on a recent trip 
which I made in my role as a senior member of the Senate Armed Services 
Committee to a very troubled region of the world. During this trip, I 
took quick but informative visits through Bosnia, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 
Macedonia, Kosovo, and NATO South Headquarters, in Naples.
  To make this trip possible, I asked for and received the full support 
of the Department of State and NATO. I particularly wish to express my 
appreciation to Admiral Lopes, Ambassador Miles, posted to Belgrade, 
and Ambassador Hill, posted to Macedonia.
  In my view there are parallels and distinctions between the situation 
in Bosnia and the situation in Kosovo. Kosovo is an integral part of a 
sovereign nation--Yugoslavia. It is a civil war between the ethnic 
function of Albanians and Serbs.
  The parallels are to be found in the tragic tactics of this war. 
While both factions are open for condemnation for human rights 
violations, the preponderance of evidence weighs against the Serb 
forces--regular army and ``so-called'' police. Clearly, President 
Milosevic must be held accountable for the continuing destruction of 
dwellings, the farm land, and most of all, the continuing cruel 
repression against innocent people driven from their homes and land by 
the combined Serb forces.
  Currently, there are estimates in the hundreds of thousands of 
refugees fleeing--many to the hills and forests near their villages. In 
a short time, with the coming of winter, the weather will compound 
their misery and sufferings.
  Diplomatic efforts by U.S. and other nations have made a credible, 
good faith effort to reach some measure of resolution. As I departed 
Kosovo on Monday, August 31, the very able Ambassadors Miles and Hill 
assured me they were continuing to press for some solution so that the 
U.S. and other nations and ``NGO's'' can put in place programs and 
logistic plans to bring relief to victims of both ethnic factions.
  In my view, the short time between now and winter, will not permit a 
solution that will embrace a form of limited government acceptable to 
Belgrade. That must come in time, but for the present, we must get a 
framework solution for the refugee relief program.
  I commend the efforts of Assistant Secretary of State Julia Taft, 
who, during her visit just days ago, sounded a fervent appeal. I attach 
a copy of her analysis.
  I also visited some of the towns ravaged by the war and continuing to 
be ravaged by the roaming Serb forces. This must be stopped. Today I 
learned that Senator Dole, who, like me is greatly concerned for the 
need to stop this conflict, is going to visit on his own initiative, 
Kosovo and the region. I briefed him on my trip and recommended he work 
with the consortium of nations, including the U.S., Canada, Russia and 
E.U. nations known as ``KDOM''.
  I have great praise for the U.S. personnel of KDOM who provided me 
with a trip through some of the war torn regions. I place in this 
record a briefing given me by KDOM, together with their credible 
petition for more assistance--logistic--from the Departments of State 
and Defense. I personally will endorse their needs.
  While in NATO South Heights, I received a briefing on options 
involving military forces--U.S. and other nations. This weekend I will 
receive further briefings.
  I close by urging all Senators to devote time to the growing problems 
in the Kosovo region. I support the doctrine--time tested--that 
diplomacy can be no stronger than the resolve to back it up by force if 
necessary. I urge all Senators to carefully stand by the complexity of 
the problems--many unique and different than Bosnia--with the use of 
force.
  Hopefully, negotiations will produce a cease-fire and force can be 
avoided. A problem still exists as to who are the KLA leaders, are they 
in some agreement among themselves, and how would they be represented 
at the negotiating table.
  I will continue to give this troubled area a high priority and urge 
others to do likewise. I ask unanimous consent that the documents I 
referred to during my remarks be printed in the Record.
  Mr. President, I understand the Government Printing Office estimates 
the cost of printing this material in the Record to be $1,949.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

             [From the USIA Washington File, Aug. 26, 1998]

              Assistant Secretary of State Taft in Kosovo

       Washington.--Julia V. Taft, assistant secretary of state 
     for population, refugees and migration, is visiting Serbia-
     Montenegro, including the province of Kosovo, to assess the 
     situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees 
     and encourage the return of Kosovar IDPS to their homes.
       Taft ``will urge Serb officials to make concrete progress 
     on creating conditions for the return of IDPs, particularly 
     those who are shelterless and inaccessible to the delivery of 
     humanitarian aid. She also will meet with relief agency 
     representatives to encourage their increased presence in key 
     areas of return,'' said the State Department August 26.
       Following is the text of a statement by Deputy Spokesman 
     James Foley:


                      statement by james b. foley

       A senior State Department official is visiting Serbia-
     Montenegro, including the province of Kosovo, to assess the 
     situation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees 
     in the region, and encourage the return of Kosovar IDPs to 
     their homes.
       Julia V. Taft, Assistant Secretary of State for Population, 
     Refugees, and Migration, will meet with government officials 
     in the region and representatives of major international 
     organizations and non-governmental organizations during her 
     visit, which will last from today until Saturday. The Bureau 
     of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), which she 
     heads, has primary responsibility for U.S. refugee assistance 
     programs.

[[Page S9930]]

       Her visit will underscore U.S. concern and commitment to 
     provide assistance for conflict victims in Kosovo and the 
     region. The U.S. Government--through PRM and the U.S. Agency 
     for International Development--has provided more than $11 
     million in recent months to meet humanitarian needs caused by 
     the conflict in Kosovo.
       As a result of the ongoing conflict, there are some 250,000 
     IDPs in Kosovo and another 26,000 in Montenegro, plus 14,000 
     refugees in Albania. It is estimated that between 60,000 and 
     100,000 of those displaced within Kosovo are without shelter, 
     a situation that becomes increasingly grave as winter 
     approaches.
       Assistant Secretary Taft will urge Serb officials to make 
     concrete progress on creating conditions for the return of 
     IDPs, particularly those who are shelterless and inaccessible 
     to the delivery of humanitarian aid. She also will meet with 
     relief agency representatives to encourage their increased 
     presence in key areas of return.
                                  ____


            Daily Press Briefing, Wednesday, August 26, 1998

       Mr. Foley. Welcome to the noon briefing. (Laughter.)
       My watch stopped about two hours and 20 minutes ago. I beg 
     your indulgence.
       I have a few announcements to make before I get to your 
     questions. First, a senior State Department official is 
     visiting Serbia Montenegro, including the province of Kosovo, 
     to assess the situation of internally displaced persons and 
     refugees in the region, and to encourage the return of 
     Kosovar internally displaced persons to their homes. I'm 
     talking about Julia Taft, who, as you know, is the Assistant 
     Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration. 
     She will meet with government officials in the region and 
     representatives of major international organizations and non-
     governmental organizations during her visit, which will last 
     from today until Saturday.
       The bureau that she heads has primary responsibility for US 
     refugee assistance programs. Her visit will underscore US 
     concern and commitment to provide assistance for conflict 
     victims in Kosovo and the region. The US Government has 
     provided more than $11 million in the last few months through 
     AID and the PRN bureau to meet humanitarian needs caused by 
     the conflict in Kosovo. As a result of the ongoing conflict 
     there, we estimate there are some 250,000 internally 
     displaced persons in Kosovo, another 26,000 in Montenegro and 
     14,000 refugees in Albania. It is estimated that between 
     60,000 and 100,000 of those displaced within Kosovo are 
     without shelter--a situation that becomes increasingly grave 
     as winter approaches.
       Assistant Secretary Taft will urge Serb officials to make 
     concrete progress on creating conditions for the return of 
     internally displaced persons, particularly those who are 
     shelterless and inaccessible to the delivery of humanitarian 
     aid. She will also meet with relief agency representatives to 
     encourage their increased presence in key areas of return, 
     which we think is very important.
       Julia Taft's visit to the region will be one in a series in 
     coming weeks by senior United States Government officials as 
     the US acts to help meet humanitarian needs in the region.
       The second announcement has to do with----
       Question. (Inaudible)--where she's been, and I didn't quite 
     grab it. You mentioned the stops she made or is making, did 
     you?
       Mr. Foley. In the region. I believe that she is in Belgrade 
     and going to Pristina today.
       Question. (Inaudible)--to the architect of this whole 
     business?
       Mr. Foley. Yes, yes--well, I don't believe she is meeting 
     with President Milosevic. Ambassador Hill met with President 
     Milosevic yesterday. I did not have an opportunity to talk to 
     him; he called and we didn't connect earlier this morning. 
     But the high agenda item yesterday in Belgrade for him with 
     Milosevic was, indeed, this issue of allowing humanitarian 
     access. I can get to that if we come to this question a 
     little later in the briefing.
       Question. Well, this is short, but far from allowing 
     humanitarian access, it appears that the Serbs are now 
     targeting aid workers. They blew up a convey carrying three 
     Mother Theresa workers. How does she expect to reverse this 
     trend?
       Mr. Foley. Well let's get into the topic, then. I have a 
     few other announcements to make. Barry, you're the dean; what 
     do you want to do?
       Question. Let's just go--(Inaudible).
       Mr. Foley. Okay. You're absolutely right that international 
     organizations and non-governmental organizations continue to 
     report serious access problems throughout Kosovo. A UNHCRCRS 
     convoy was unable to deliver humanitarian supplies to the 
     region south of Pec yesterday.
       As I said, Julia Taft is in Belgrade and Pristina today, 
     where she is meeting with humanitarian organizations. That's 
     in answer to your specific question, Barry.
       The assessment team from the US Office of Foreign Disaster 
     Assistance had planned to arrive in Kosovo this week, but is 
     yet to receive its visas from the FRY. Clearly, in answer to 
     your question, Jim, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is not 
     fulfilling its previous commitments to the international 
     community of unrestricted access to Kosovo and to internally 
     displaced persons by humanitarian organizations and 
     diplomatic observers.
       The Kosovo diplomatic observer missions have confirmed 
     reports that three humanitarian aide workers were killed 
     between Malisevo and Kijevo yesterday. The three victims are 
     Kosovar Albanians who were working for the Mother Theresa 
     Society, a local NGO that distributes aid directly to 
     internally displaced persons. The evidence indicates that the 
     workers' vehicle was deliberately targeted by a Serbian 
     armored vehicle less than one kilometer away in broad 
     daylight. The targeting of civilians is, indeed, a cowardly 
     act. We deplore deliberate attempts to disrupt humanitarian 
     relief work, which shows indeed the emptiness of Mr. 
     Milosevic's promises.
       We call on Serb authorities to halt immediately their 
     offensive. All NGOs--both local as well as international--
     must be allowed to deliver humanitarian assistance to 
     internally displaced persons, free from fear and obstruction.
       Can I move on to my other announcements?
       Question. Can I just--who did you say has not received 
     visas?
       Mr. Foley. This is the Office of Foreign Disaster 
     Assistance. They have been held up. But I understand that 
     Assistant Secretary Taft had some difficulty in getting her 
     visa also, which eventually came through. We certainly expect 
     that will be the case for the OFDA personnel.
       A couple other announcements. The United States regrets the 
     incidents of August 26, 1998, that's today, in Northern 
     Israel and Southern Lebanon--especially in view of the 
     casualties which have occurred on all sides. We have been in 
     contact with both the government of Israel and the government 
     of Lebanon, and are urging restraint.
       The April 1996 understanding, which established the Israel-
     Lebanon Monitoring Group, provides a process for resolving 
     complaints. We call upon all the parties to use this process. 
     The Monitoring Group should meet as soon as possible to 
     consider these latest incidents.
       Lastly, the United States welcomes the August 25 
     announcement by the chairman of the Independent National 
     Electoral Commission of Nigeria, presenting the time table 
     for the forthcoming elections designed to return Nigeria to 
     civilian democratic rule. I won't go into the particulars, 
     because the announcement you'll see we'll post lays out the 
     different elections at all levels of government to be held 
     late this year and early next year.
       The announcement fulfills head of state, General Abubakar's 
     public pledge to schedule the election of a civilian 
     president in the first quarter of 1999. It is also consistent 
     with his statement that the new elected president would be 
     sworn into office on May 29, 1999. We are committed to 
     working with Nigeria to ensure continued progress toward a 
     rapid, transparent and inclusive transition to civilian 
     democratic rule.
       Question by Barry Schweid. Libya apparently has told the UN 
     it isn't ready to say yea or nay to your compromise 
     arrangement, which I though the US--it is a compromise--that 
     is, a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. Do you suppose they're 
     expecting you to fall back even further?

                           *   *   *   *   *

       The Assistant Secretary's visit to the region will be one 
     in a series in coming weeks by high-level USG officials as 
     the United States acts to help meet humanitarian needs in the 
     region, calls attention to the potential for a greater 
     humanitarian crisis in Kosovo, raises awareness of the human 
     rights situation there, and presses for a cease-fire between 
     Serb and rebel forces and cooperation from Serb officials.
                                  ____


             [From the USIS Washington File, Aug. 28, 1998]

         Assistant Secretary Taft Press Conference in Belgrade

       Belgrade.--``With the snow may come the death of more than 
     200,000 people who have been displaced from their homes 
     because of the conflict in Kosovo,'' said Assistant Secretary 
     of State Julia V. Taft at a press conference in Belgrade 
     August 28 after a visit to Kosovo.
       ``It was one of the most heart-wrenching experiences I have 
     had in 25 years of working in humanitarian relief. We have a 
     catastrophe looming, and we only have as a world humanitarian 
     community six weeks to help the government of Serbia respond 
     to this crisis. The snows come early, I understand, to this 
     part of the world.''
       Tarft said, ``While I was there, the authorities in 
     Pristina unveiled their new concept for targeted assistance 
     to 11 points within Kosovo. They indicated that the 
     government was prepared to provide building material, food, 
     water and electricity, and they encouraged and hoped that the 
     international community, the NGOs, would also have the 
     ability to go into those same locations as part of the 
     confidence-building effort. Planning for those centers is 
     going on now. These are not safe havens, but they are going 
     to be places where there will be opportunities for people to 
     come down from the mountains [and obtain supplies].''
       While humanitarian assistance is desperately needed for the 
     internally displaced persons (IDPs), Taft said, ``There are 
     many Serb families and other ethnic groups that have to be 
     assisted by the relief community. We are going to try to make 
     sure that there is equity for everybody.''
       Following is the transcript of the press conference:

[[Page S9931]]

       Assistant Secretary Taft. Thank you very much for your 
     patience. I have been delayed because of some very important 
     meetings with government officials today to discuss the 
     tragedy that is unfolding in Kosovo. I have just returned 
     from a visit, although short, to Kosovo. It was one of the 
     most heart-wrenching experiences I have had in 25 years of 
     working in humanitarian relief. We have a catastrophe 
     looming, and we only have as a world humanitarian community 
     six weeks to help the government of Serbia respond to this 
     crisis. The snows come early, I understand, to this part of 
     the world. With the snow may come the death of more than 
     200,000 people who have been displaced from their home 
     because of the conflict in Kosovo.
       My mission here has been to meet with government officials, 
     with the international organizations, with the United Nations 
     High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR] representatives, the 
     International Committee of the Red Cross and many non-
     governmental organizations who are providing relief at this 
     moment to many villages and towns in Kosovo. I believe 
     that we have to work together, to support the efforts of 
     this government, to support the efforts of the relief 
     community, to find the way to deal with this emergency. 
     Yesterday in Pristina I announced that the United States 
     had already invested $11 million in providing relief over 
     the past few months. This compares to about $10 million 
     that we have provided for Serbian refugees in this area. 
     About $11 million was focused mostly on the humanitarian 
     crisis up to now. I have asked my office in the State 
     Department to prepare a request to the President of the 
     United States to allow us immediately to invest many 
     millions of more dollars within the next few weeks to try 
     to avert this disaster. We're here to share with you our 
     impressions, our concern, and our commitment that Kosovo 
     and the people of Kosovo will not have to face the 
     consequences of death when the snows arrive.
       I would be very pleased to answer any questions that you 
     might have. Let us begin with the first question:
       Q. You were speaking about the humanitarian side. Were you 
     involved in any way in the political issues that have, after 
     all, created the humanitarian catastrophe that you are 
     talking about?
       Assistant Secretary Taft. Well, I am involved in those 
     because they, of course, are driving the crisis that we have 
     now. However, Ambassador Chris Hill is the one that is 
     leading the negotiation team working with Dr. Rugova and 
     working with the authorities here on a peace process. I don't 
     know how quickly that process will come to a positive 
     conclusion. I hope it is soon, but I don't know if it will be 
     as fast as when the snows come. So we have to deal with this 
     humanitarian crisis right now, because its outcome will also 
     affect the political outcome.
       Q. Have you talked to the representatives of the Albanian 
     people about these humanitarian issues and how much they 
     could affect their forces in the field, the so-called Kosovo 
     Liberation Army, to allow access for the humanitarian 
     organizations, because recently Ms. Emma Bonino couldn't even 
     reach the place she intended because of this situation in the 
     field?
       Assistant Secretary Taft. I had access to every place I 
     wanted to go. I went with the KDOM forces, and I went from 
     Pristina to Pec, to Decani, and to Junik, and saw many 
     villages along the road and met with some of the displaced 
     persons who were camping out in some of the destroyed 
     villages. It was a very moving experience. I then had a 
     chance to speak with Dr. Rugova to ask for a clarification on 
     a statement he allegedly made, which said that the Albanian 
     people should not come down from the mountains, that they 
     should stay up there because it was not safe to come down. He 
     denied having expressed in that way. I assured him that every 
     effort was going to be made to build the confidence so that 
     people come down from the mountains, and I hope that he would 
     change or clarify his position. While I was there, the 
     authorities in Pristina unveiled their new concept for 
     targeted assistance to 11 points within Kosovo. They 
     indicated that the government was prepared to provide 
     building materials, food, water and electricity, and they 
     encouraged and hoped that the international community, the 
     NGOs, would also have the ability to go into those same 
     locations as part of the confidence-building effort. Planning 
     for those centers is going on now. These are not safe havens, 
     but they are going to be places where there will be 
     opportunities for people to come down from the mountains.
       I spoke today with the authorities in Belgrade and said 
     that we would be prepared to fund operational expenses over 
     the next six months, but it was absolutely critical that the 
     government considered this an emergency--to wave restrictions 
     that have existed in the past for getting relief workers in, 
     getting commodities delivered, and providing for reduced 
     military presence, particularly in those 11 areas. I believe 
     we've made a lot of progress in our discussions, and I'm 
     hoping that this new initiative starts with the 11 locations 
     and will expand and multiply in the weeks ahead.
       Q. What kind of assurances did you get from the Serbian 
     government that people could go back to their homes? What 
     kind of security measures would make the people feel safe so 
     that they could go back?
       Assistant Secretary Taft. The assurances have been made 
     public by the authorities through leaflets, through the 
     notification and announcement of these locations. They are 
     not yet safe, because there is not the kind of presence that 
     needs to be there. I am hoping that quick planning will 
     result in some real movement back to towns soon. You know, 
     there is something called safety in numbers. Where there is 
     the presence of Western relief workers, where there is the 
     presence of the United Nations, where there is the presence 
     of KDOM observers, I think, that will add to a sense of 
     credible safety. But, quite frankly, let me say I think that 
     the entire area of Kosovo is under serious strain, 
     economically and psychologically, right now. It is not just 
     assistance dedicated to those people who are on the 
     mountains, cold and hungry and some dying, but it's also for 
     the other people in Kosovo that have to have assistance, too. 
     There are many Serb families and other ethnic groups that 
     have to be assisted by the relief community. We are going to 
     try to make sure that there is equity for everybody.
       Q. When you say that you had talked with the 
     representatives of the so-called KLA, did you, as a 
     humanitarian worker, remember to ask them what has happened 
     to the at least 115 abducted and missing citizens of Kosovo-
     Metohia?
       Assistant Secretary Taft. I did not speak with KLA 
     representatives, I spoke with Dr. Rugova. We did express 
     grave concern about the missing Serbs. I think there are 
     about 176 that are missing. This is a great concern. On the 
     other hand, there have also been many missing and killed 
     Albanians, too. I think this underscores that no one has been 
     left untouched by the tragedy that has happened, and that 
     makes it even more compelling that we stop the war, stop the 
     killing, and try to provide a humanitarian alternative. It is 
     not responsibility of the international community, however, 
     to stop it. It is the responsibility of the people within 
     Kosovo and Serbia to try to find conditions for confidence-
     building and assistance. We stand ready to try to support 
     financially, and through whatever technical assistance we 
     can, to mobilize the planning and deployment of external 
     resources that can help bridge the requirements that exist 
     right now.
       Q. Ms. Taft, how would you estimate the level of the 
     humanitarian catastrophe?
       Assistant Secretary Taft. On the scale of one to ten? I'd 
     say about nine. It is a crisis now, where some lives have 
     been lost, but we still have time to work together to save 
     about 200,000 lives. It's not too late.
       Any other questions? Yes, San Francisco Chronicle.
       Q. Yes, my question is: Do you think that it is realistic 
     that you can employ the kind of measures that you would like 
     to, humanitarian measures, without a cease-fire?
       Assistant Secretary Taft. A cease-fire would be our hope. 
     In the absence of a cease-fire, we have identified, however, 
     a number of things that need to go forward. We believe the 
     KDOM needs to be expanded. I will be asking my own government 
     to try to make additional contributions, and work with other 
     donor countries to expand the presence of KDOM. We have to 
     get more experienced relief workers into Kosovo working with 
     the international relief community. There is a proposal we 
     offered to try to accelerate the approval, on an emergency 
     basis, of those visas. There is a problem of communications. 
     You know, it's very difficult to have a far-flung relief 
     assistance program if the people in the field cannot 
     communicate with their base offices.
       And we believe it's a security and a protection issue. 
     Radios are very difficult to manage in Kosovo, so we have 
     raised this question, and it needs to be resolved. There also 
     is the local economy, which has collapsed. There's very 
     little in the stores. There are some stores in the major 
     cities that are functioning, and some markets that are 
     functioning. But, basically, there is in effect an embargo on 
     commercial availability of some of the most important life-
     sustaining requirements. And we have asked, on an emergency 
     basis, that the informal ``blockade'' be lifted for such 
     things as wheat flour, sugar, oil, milk, and detergent, which 
     did not sound life-threatening to me, but everybody needs it. 
     Those are the elements that we are going to ask to try to get 
     the government to lift this informal blockade on the 
     commercial sector. We've got to get food to people, and these 
     commodities to people in the cities and the villages down 
     there. Those are elements of what we are considering, what we 
     have offered the government to consider. We are not managing 
     this disaster. We are only trying to help those who are 
     responsible for making sure the security of people in Kosovo 
     exists, and that their livelihood and lives are sustained. I 
     had assurances at all levels today that, in fact, the 
     government here is desirous of living up to the agreement 
     that was made between Yeltsin and Milosevic two months ago, 
     which had a number of elements in it that are not really 
     operational now. Although KDOM was part of it. This Kosovo 
     Diplomatic Observer Mission was part of it. There were other 
     requirements that were in that communique, in that agreement 
     which related to unfettered access by humanitarian workers, 
     and that's what we have been particularly focusing on. It is 
     important to know that our President, the President of the 
     United States, will be meeting with [President Boris] Yeltsin 
     in the next few days, and we are going to be raising this 
     issue with the Russian authorities, too, because they have 
     been a very effective interlocutor with the authorities here.
       Q. Were you informed by the Serbian authorities they have 
     for the past several

[[Page S9932]]

     months been offering a dialogue to the Albanian party, that 
     Mr. Hill has had a very hard job of convincing the Albanian 
     party to negotiate, that the new negotiating team was formed 
     thanks to the representatives of the European Union, but 
     there is no dialogue yet? In the meantime Mr. Adern Dernaci, 
     UCK representative, announces a guerrilla war. How do you 
     think there can be any improvement of the humanitarian 
     situation in Kosovo?
       Assistant Secretary Taft. That is a very troublesome but 
     appropriate question. I don't know the answer. All I can say 
     is that, from previous experiences, where there has been a 
     threat of guerrilla action, that guerrilla action takes its 
     root from the people who are displaced who have no hope, who 
     have no food, and are discontent. I think that what we need 
     to do is reinforce a better alternative for people by having 
     these areas, and appropriate distribution and shelter, so 
     that they are not victims. This is a very important feature, 
     of course, of Ambassador Chris Hill's initiative. He feels 
     that there has been some progress. I was with him yesterday, 
     but as I say, the political and humanitarian time frames may 
     be different. I do think that if we are able to find ways to 
     accelerate the flow and effectiveness of relief, so that 
     people's lives are not so tortured--I mean, these people that 
     I met with and saw, they are not political, they are 
     peasants, they are people who just want their families with 
     them, they have so many needs, they've been dispossessed and 
     moved to often--that's what they want, they don't care what 
     the politicians want. We need to be part of an international 
     effort that provides them a different alternative and some 
     hope back to their villages.
       I hope you will all follow this story. For those of you who 
     can get down and see what is happening, you will understand 
     how appalling and how heart-wrenching it is for all the 
     people down there. Six weeks is not a long time. It will be a 
     real test of whether or not there is a viable future for the 
     people of Kosovo.
       Q. You said that the international community is not 
     responsible for bringing the war in Kosovo to an end. So what 
     about NATO air strikes? Would you suggest to your own 
     government that they shouldn't take place?
       Assistant Secretary Taft. I will not be making 
     recommendations about the NATO air strikes. My portfolio is 
     humanitarian. I do not think we need any more killing, any 
     more destruction, or any more bloodshed. We have got to focus 
     right now on the next six weeks, if people are still in this 
     hills, and still dying, I think that will be the point of 
     decision-making internationally about what else should be 
     done. I pray we don't get there. There seems to be energy, 
     interest and a commitment to try to avoid that catastrophe, 
     and that's what I am praying for.
       Thank you very much.
                                  ____


      [From the United States Information Service, Aug. 28, 1998]

 Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration 
       Julia V. Taft's, Press Conference in Pristina, Yugoslavia

       Secretary Taft. As you all know, I just returned from a 
     six-hour field trip today to Junik and Decani, and visited a 
     number of empty villages along the way, and was able to see 
     first hand the level of devastation that has been occurring 
     during this conflict. It would be an understatement for me to 
     say that I am just concerned. I am really appalled by the 
     devastation and overwhelmed by the need for urgent 
     humanitarian assistance. As you know, a number of United 
     Nations agencies and non-governmental agencies have been 
     working very hard to meet some of the needs that the 
     internally displaced persons, the refugees and the local 
     families are facing in Kosovo. One of the things that was 
     particularly positive about my trip was seeing so many 
     families who had welcomed internally displaced people into 
     their homes--people they didn't know, and people with whom 
     they were willing to share whatever food and shelter they 
     have.
       In the end, of course we know that the suffering will only 
     stop when the conflict stops. I hope that would be true soon, 
     certainly within the next few months. But therefore then, I 
     am very much afraid there is a looming catastrophe within the 
     next six weeks, because of the weather and the cold that will 
     come. So, my energy is here, and the focus of the 
     humanitarian investments we are planning to make over the 
     next few days and week, or so, will be focused on how to help 
     accelerate and underscore a massive, innovative program for 
     humanitarian assistance. It will require all of the energy 
     and creativity of the NGOs. It will require the cooperation 
     of the government officials. It will require generosity on 
     the part of the donors, and it will be very important that 
     those elements of the conflict put down their arms.
       Six weeks is almost here, and I hope very much to see in 
     six weeks that we have been able to have enough confidence on 
     the ground, and security on the ground, so that these people 
     will be able to come home.
       In the last very few months, the United States has given 
     more than 11 million dollars to support the humanitarian 
     requirements in Kosovo. I am going back to the States over 
     the weekend, and I have already indicated today to my office 
     to prepare a request for President Clinton to offer 
     additional millions of dollars.
       I am looking here over the next few days on how this money 
     can best be spent, but it will be significant, and it will be 
     able to, I think, help quite a lot.
       As you know, we are participating in the Kosovo Diplomatic 
     Observer Mission. I'm going to try to urge even fuller 
     participation by our government in that, it's an excellent 
     innovation, and we appreciate the willingness of the 
     government officials to allow this observer mission as much 
     access as it does have.
       Today, when I was meeting with the government officials, I 
     was told that they had come up with a new idea to open up a 
     special focus on eleven locations here for coordinated 
     humanitarian response. We welcome this initiative. We will 
     look forward to seeing how they are able to fulfill it.
       We also met with the non-governmental organizations to 
     encourage their participation in a focused coordinated 
     manner, which we hope will help.
       Eleven cities is not enough. The whole country needs help. 
     And we are going to try to do whatever we can to work with 
     the people of this wonderful area, and to work with all of 
     the relief agencies, so that we will be able to avoid a 
     catastrophe that is looming in front of us.
       Thank you very much, and I'll be glad to answer your 
     questions.
       Question. How do you mean to help the population of Kosovo 
     in these circumstances when we see that everyday Serbia is 
     burning and destroying every village, every town, and every 
     place in Kosovo?
       Secretary Taft. It is true, I saw even today several 
     different buildings burning--fresh fires in places that were 
     already destroyed.
       My sense is that we have to deal with it on many different 
     levels. There's the diplomatic level, and our ambassador, 
     Chris Hill, is working very closely on that. He also met with 
     Dr. Rugova today to try to move the process along, and he met 
     yesterday with Mr. Milosevic. The Contact Group meets every 
     week and is working very hard on the diplomatic side. I think 
     what we would welcome is a standing-down over the next six 
     weeks of any aggressive action on the part of any group in 
     this area. We have got to be able to help the citizens of 
     Kosovo, and we've got to make sure that the government here 
     is responsible for security. We also have to make sure to the 
     extent possible that there is safe distribution of relief 
     supplies by relief workers, and that means no guns and no 
     fire.
       Question. Do you have any word of the reports that the 
     Serbs actually opened fire on a family of eleven people 
     killing them in the back of a tractor today in the city of 
     Gracka?
       Secretary Taft. Oh, God, no I don't. We did, of course, 
     raise the issue of the deaths of the three Mother Theresa 
     relief workers with great sorrow that they were victims of 
     this conflict when their whole lives had been dedicated to 
     volunteering to help people. We expressed our condolences not 
     only to the president of the Mother Theresa Society, but I 
     raised it today with the authorities to find out what they 
     are going to do to find out who actually committed the 
     killings. I must say I was very reassured by both the regret 
     and the apology by the authorities that these people had been 
     killed, and there is gong to be an inspection. It is also 
     true that the NGOs were invited in to the government to 
     discuss not only this plan for the new eleven locations, but 
     also they expressed great regret and apology to the NGOs.
       Question. Mr. Milosevic has said from time to time that 
     there have been irresponsible units that have destroyed 
     villages (inaudible). Shouldn't somebody be pushing him to 
     prosecute these people or actually (inaudible) them the way 
     that so-called irresponsible units would be in any normal 
     army?
       Secretary Taft. Absolutely. It's my understanding that the 
     last incident in which there was an identified errant unit 
     that had attacked maliciously, that that unit was removed and 
     was replaced. Whether there is a broader observer mission 
     that can do this reporting and accounting, I think really we 
     have to build on the existence of KDOM and get more people 
     out there. On the issue of the willingness of the government 
     to rein in their army, my position is get the army out of 
     here and you'll have less of a problem. This all needs to be 
     negotiated in terms of this concept of unfettered access 
     which the NGOs are supposed to have--well, it's fettered and 
     we need to work on some agreements about the level of 
     security and this will be a high priority.
       Question. Should the six weeks you've been mentioning be 
     considered as a deadline for Milosevic to stop all his 
     hostilities?
       Secretary Taft. There are hostilities on all sides and all 
     must be stopped. The message I would like to send is that the 
     world is watching what's happening in Kosovo and we need to 
     make sure that the people who purport to lead the citizens of 
     Kosovo, whatever their background, they need to make sure 
     that there is access and there is no fighting so that people 
     can be having some degree of assurance that they can come 
     down from the mountains. Six weeks? I don't know. This is the 
     first time I've ever been to Kosovo. It's already getting a 
     little cold at night, but I do believe that, from the people 
     with whom I have discussed, six weeks is a time frame that--
     if we can meet--will certainly alleviate much of the 
     suffering.
       Question. Six weeks for politicians is a short time, but 
     six weeks for civilians who are in the mountains--and exactly 
     for children--is a very long time. We have there children who 
     are dying even from cold

[[Page S9933]]

     weather, so, if this six weeks will take so many children's 
     lives, what after?
       Secretary Taft. My sense is that if there is enough 
     presence of relief workers, if there is enough presence of 
     the KDOM, and if there is an agreement to live up to access, 
     that the people can come down, and they will be able to be 
     assisted. We have talked a lot over the last couple of days 
     about, even if there were access, is there enough food in the 
     pipeline? And are there enough relief workers and local 
     people who can help in the distribution? And we've identified 
     a few things that we can push. But one of them doesn't even 
     relate to relief, it relates to what I understand is an 
     informal embargo or an informal blockade of a number of 
     commodities that ought to be in the stores of Kosovo. And 
     I've driven by and looked for something to buy, and there's 
     nothing to buy. So we know that there are restrictions or 
     there is in essence a variety of very important commodities 
     that the people here would like to buy that they find 
     difficult to obtain. We are going to present a list of those 
     that we consider absolutely urgent and would hope that the 
     normal market could be energized in this time frame, too, 
     because that would certainly help quite a lot, 
     particularly the families who have been so generous in 
     opening up their homes. We try to do relief assistance for 
     them, but we don't have enough in the pipeline for two 
     million people. So we have to deal with the local economy.
       Question. How are you going to deal with the obstacles 
     usually coming from the Serbian authorities toward relief 
     organizations?
       Secretary Taft. I've received a number of suggestions of 
     things that would be greatly helpful. One is a more 
     forthcoming role on the part of the United Nations High 
     Commissioner to help in registering agencies that have relief 
     workers. To try to get radio frequencies is a big problem. 
     Trying to deal with the visa problem. Even the USAID team is 
     waiting for its visas. So visas are not just a problem for 
     relief workers, they're also a problem for diplomats. We need 
     to find a way to streamline that and to give assurances to 
     the authorities that the people who are coming in actually 
     have training, have functions, have a job to do. We're going 
     to take this up tomorrow, and I think the highest issues that 
     I've been asked to convey mostly deal with radio and 
     communications, access, and visas. And we'll try to deal with 
     that.
       Question. Just to speak about one issue that you've 
     raised--this informal embargo. Why should people be 
     optimistic that any one of the long laundry list of actions 
     that need to be taken, and which you are helping to identify, 
     will actually be acted upon? This embargo has been going on 
     for months. If the international community, not to mention 
     the United States, were serious about doing something about 
     it, they could have been and it seems to me, some might argue 
     should have been, banging on the doors in Belgrade for months 
     about this. It's a bit late to suddenly start talking about 
     an informal embargo when officials have known about it for 
     months.
       Secretary Taft. From my office and my perspective, I am 
     responsible for refugee programs on a humanitarian basis for 
     the State Department, and we have been working very closely 
     obviously with the authorities and everybody on the Serb 
     refugee question. The IDPs are people in refugee-like 
     situations, and with the events of the last few months, it 
     was determined that I have got to get my resources and my 
     office much more heavily engaged, which I am doing. It is 
     also a fact that the Secretary-General has indicated that 
     Sadako Ogata, who is the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, 
     is, in fact, the lead agency. We are the primary funders 
     worldwide for UNHCR, so I have a client there and a 
     relationship where we can move very quickly. So, you will see 
     not only me, but you saw Emma Bonino last week, Soren Jessen-
     Peterson. There will be a series of other people coming out. 
     All of us have different aspects in our portfolios and we are 
     going to be working very energetically to deal with this. The 
     food embargo, I think, is one that has been raised 
     diplomatically a number of times. Right now, I have put it on 
     the urgent list because of the time frame and the fact that 
     we are not going to be able to come up with enough relief 
     commodities. We've got to make sure that the normal economy 
     is working, and that there is access by the commercial 
     vendors and others. Now not all the laundry list of items is 
     realistic to try to change overnight, but if we're working on 
     this on an emergency basis to say, ``At a minimum, you've got 
     to have oil, sugar, wheat flour, a lot of people have said 
     detergent--I'm interested in that--and salt.'' Those are the 
     ones. I know the list is much longer, but we will push that, 
     and if you have other suggestions, I'd be delighted to hear 
     them.
       Question. Each day the war is spreading to new parts of 
     Kosovo. On the other side the politicians are seeking a 
     political solution. Do you think there is still time to solve 
     the problem by dialogue?
       Secretary Taft. The problem will only be solved when 
     there's a peace agreement and there is real cease-fire. I 
     have to be optimistic. We don't have a choice. We've got 
     176,000, maybe more, people who are in urgent need of help, 
     and it's up to all of us to figure out how to do it. So I 
     have to be optimistic that the good will of the people here, 
     and the government, and the NGOs will work. Now I may not 
     come back in six weeks if it's not a success, but I think 
     it's being able to identify and pinpoint exactly what 
     requirements you have that have to be met, and set up a user-
     friendly system by all of the relief agencies to be able to 
     interface with the government. The government was very 
     responsive today and I think we need to continue to work with 
     the authorities to make sure that we are all working 
     together.
       Question. You've spoken about this special focus on eleven 
     areas that the government has identified. Is that to suggest 
     that the government is going to provide security for 
     something resembling safe areas that they will guarantee will 
     be safe?
       Secretary Taft. What this is going to be, as I understand 
     it, and I think it's still in its formulative stage, is that 
     they have picked eleven locations (We can make the list 
     available; I don't have in front of me right now) where they 
     will provide electricity, water, building materials, and food 
     assistance. What I have asked the non-governmental 
     organizations if they would be willing to do is right away 
     figure out where those areas are where there are areas where 
     they can operate in as well, and sit down and figure out what 
     is going to be available, so that when assistance is there, 
     it's used effectively, right away. One of the things that 
     surprised me on this trip today was to go and see two 
     different locations where the government had made available 
     building materials, but I didn't see anyone there to use them 
     for rebuilding, or any presence of organizations that could 
     be helpful. So we have an opportunity, I think, to match the 
     manpower and skills of the NGOs with the raw materials, at 
     least in those locations and to get moving. Eleven sites in 
     this immense place is not much, but it's a start, it's this 
     week. Let's go with it, and let's see how we can open up more 
     opportunities.
       Thank you for your interest. I think the word really needs 
     to get out, not only here, but internationally. There has to 
     be more attention on this crisis, because it is here, and 
     there are opportunities for us not to have to admit to chaos 
     in about six weeks. So, I appreciate however you can cover 
     this story. It's important for the world to know the struggle 
     that's going on here. Thank you very much.
                                  ____


Kosovo Diplomatic Observer Mission Command Briefing by Senator Warner, 
                            August 31, 1998


                                purpose

       Observe and report on the situation in Kosovo: Freedom of 
     movement/freedom of access; human rights issues and 
     humanitarian relief efforts; internally displaced persons/
     refugees; and general security situation.


                               Background

       Milosevic offer of 8 March.
       PC decision in April to establish KDOM.
       London Contact Group meeting.
       Milosevic/Yeltsin meeting.
       First mission--6 July.
       Headquarters security approved by DOS 31 July.


                               operations

Patrol planning................................................\1\ 1900
Patrol/protection briefing.........................................0730
Vehicle preparation................................................0830
Departure..........................................................0900
Return.............................................................1500
Debrief/team report................................................1900
Final report to Embassy............................................2300

\1\ Day prior.

                                                  DAILY RHYTHM
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Patrol day       Plan/Medevac day      I&W/analysis           Reports
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0730............................  Update............  Additional jobs or  ..................  ..................
                                                       MEDEVAC.
0830............................  Inspection........  ..................  ..................  ..................
0900............................  Depart............  ..................  ..................  ..................
1500............................  Return............  ..................  ..................  ..................
1600............................  Verbal debrief....  ..................  Debrief assist....  Debrief assist
1900............................  Team reports......  Mission prep......  ..................  Draft report
2300............................  Reports done......  ..................  Analysis..........  Report to Embassy
                                  ..................  ..................  KSU receipt.......  ..................
                                  ..................  ..................  Brief prep........  ..................
                                  ..................  ..................  Update brief......  ..................
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          security/protection

       Permanent RSO.
       Hotel upgrades.
       Guards/interpreters.
       Communications.
       Medical.
       Procedures.


                               Successes

       Fully integrated interagency operations.

[[Page S9934]]

       Fully integrated with international partners.
       Since 6 July, 155 missions--34 joint (US & EU and/or 
     Russian Federation); and 6 weekly joint reports to contact 
     group and NAC.
       Established functional headquarters from scratch.
       Command and control and reporting system that reaches from 
     the observer in the field to the Capitol in Washington.


                               way ahead

       Commenced partial operations since 6 July.
       Full operations since 15 Aug.
       Improve fleet of vehicles.
       Personal rotations/fills.
       Continuous freedom of access.
       Punlic information.
       Communications.
       Danger benefits (DoD).

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank the Chair and yield the floor.
  Mr. COATS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Indiana.
  Mr. COATS. Mr. President, the remarks of the Senator from Virginia, 
as always, are thoughtful, articulate, and in this case somber and 
serious, given the gravity of the situation that he described. They are 
important remarks and important for each of us in this body to 
thoughtfully and seriously consider.
  The Senator's commitment, as a valued member of the Senate Armed 
Services Committee, and ex-chairman of that committee--his commitment 
to traveling to where the action is taking place and meeting with 
representatives from all sides, analyzing the problem and bringing back 
the very latest of information, is invaluable to those of us who serve 
on that committee and everyone here in this body who needs to make 
decisions about what the policy of the United States should be in 
regard to these difficult situations that arise.
  The Senator has indicated he has made close to 10 separate trips to 
this very difficult area of the world. This is not easy travel. This is 
a commitment that is extraordinary but also extraordinarily important 
to us in terms of formulating our policy. I thank the Senator for his 
leadership in that effort.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I express my humble gratitude to my good 
friend who has served these many years that we have been together on 
the Armed Services Committee and, indeed, has made trips to remote 
parts of the world. I remember well a trip to the gulf region, and 
other regions. And I and other Members of this body on both sides of 
the aisle will dearly miss the wisdom and the insight that you have in 
these complex problems, and problems that you have addressed very 
forthrightly in your distinguished career in this body. As you bring it 
to a close, we wish you well.
  I thank the Chair and thank my colleague.
  Mr. COATS. I thank my colleague from Virginia for those kind words.

                          ____________________