KOSOVO: WESLEY CLARK MEETS RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS

(13 Sep 1999) English/Nat

General Wesley Clark, the outgoing Supreme Commander of NATO forces in Europe, has met Russian peacekeepers in Pristina to discuss the military situation in Kosovo.

NATO-led peacekeepers are said to have received several unconfirmed reports that groups of Serb fighters, some of them in uniform, have been spotted in the province.

A spokesman cited an incident last week in which three Serbs were shot dead by Russian forces trying to break up an ethnic clash.

The Russians had opened fire after the Serbs ignored an order to stop beating two wounded ethnic Albanians and started shooting at the Russians.

The spokesman said one of the Serbs who was killed wore a military uniform.

Clark said he was pleased with the cooperation between the K-FOR brigades, including the Russian battalion.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I'm just down here on one of my periodic visits. I've been so far today to the American sector and now I'm in the German sector. I've had a chance to talk to the German brigade commander. I've met the Russian battalion commander who is in this area. He's briefed me extensively on what his brigade's activities are. I'm very pleased with the cooperation that's in evidence between the German brigade and all of its support in this sector and the Russian battalion. I think that's going very well, and I'm going off now to the Italian sector, and then I'll go to some meetings elsewhere before I leave. I'll have some more to say when I leave. Thank you very much."
SUPER CAPTION: General Wesley Clark, Outgoing Supreme Commander of NATO forces in Europe

A NATO spokesman denied Serb media speculation that Yugoslav forces would return to Kosovo next week, following the demilitarisation of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

The rebel force is scheduled to demilitarise by September 19.

The United Nations and NATO officials are developing plans to turn the ethnic Albanian organisation into a lightly armed, uniformed civil emergency corps.

But as the deadline approaches, Serbia is increasing criticism of the plans to reform the force, rather than disbanding it completely.

U-N and NATO officials consider the reform crucial to bringing peace and stability to Kosovo.

Senior K-L-A figures have expressed strong opposition to a complete disbanding of their organisation, which had been at the forefront of the 18-month war against Yugoslav army troops and Serbian police.

But the Serbs argue that the plan will perpetuate the K-L-A as a military organisation.

Russia, Serbia's ally, is also opposed to the move and has signalled it will oppose the plan in the U-N Security Council.

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