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World - Europe

NATO prepared to act quickly against Yugoslavia

warplane
A U.S. warplane takes off from the deck of the USS Eisenhower  

B-2 stealth bomber on list of U.S. warplanes

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October 7, 1998
Web posted at: 6:10 p.m. EDT (2210 GMT)

BRUSSELS, Belgium (CNN) -- NATO officials said Wednesday the military alliance could mobilize to carry out airstrikes against Yugoslavia as quickly as within the next few days -- and that limited ground-troop deployment could follow.

"As far as we are concerned, ... we have finalized all the planning process and we are ready to act. I think that is clear enough," NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana said after meeting with Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Solana refused to provide a specific deadline for carrying out the strikes. NATO is considering the operation as a means to prevent further attacks against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, where separatists are seeking independence for the southern Serbian province.

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Asked if NATO could authorize an airstrike without a U.N. resolution, Solana said, "NATO takes a decision on its own."

Toward that end, sources told CNN that U.S. planes would make up the bulk of any NATO attack force.

'We are moving toward an activation order'

The Pentagon has designated more than 250 warplanes that would be available, including two $2 billion B-2 stealth bombers. The radar-evading bombers never before have been used in combat.

Solana's comments came shortly after a top NATO official told CNN that the alliance was prepared to launch possible airstrikes against Yugoslavia "in the next few days" and that a limited ground-troop deployment in Kosovo may complement the air attacks.

"The next decision we take will actually (be to) begin operations," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We are moving toward an activation order within the next few days."

INTERACTIVE
NATO naval forces currently on maneuvers in the Mediterranean include:

Such an activation order would transfer authority over the NATO operation to its top military chief, U.S. Gen. Wesley Clarke, who is the organization's supreme allied commander.

Ground troops could be involved

Meanwhile, NATO allies were meeting in various capitals to complete preparations for a possible military attack.

"We are an alliance of democracies. Before momentous decisions like this one can be taken, parliaments and Cabinets have to be consulted," the top NATO official said.

In addition to NATO members, NATO partners in the region surrounding Yugoslavia were being consulted about their willingness to contribute ground troops.

Before NATO acts, the allies would have "a collective understanding of what the legal basis for action is," according to the official.

The legal basis would be defined by ambassadors "within the next 48 hours," he said. He explained that all 16 NATO nations must be comfortable with a common legal basis for action.

But he added, "Definition of the legal basis is important, but will not be a block on NATO."

Asked to define the legal basis for airstrikes and whether another U.N. resolution would be required, the official said: "If 16 democratic nations come up with a solid legal basis, then that will stand up under international law."

Quarrel with Milosevic, not Yugoslavs

NATO intelligence indicates little evidence that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has complied with U.N. demands to withdraw forces from Kosovo.

NATO estimates there are 14,000 Yugoslav troops in Kosovo, and about 11,000 paramilitary police.

NATO on Wednesday also told the people of Yugoslavia that it had no quarrel with them, and was seeking a solution to the Kosovo crisis that would benefit the country as a whole.

A NATO official said the alliance always planned meticulously to avoid civilian damage or casualties.

"NATO has no quarrel with the people of Yugoslavia. If anything, it's the people of Yugoslavia, and not just the Kosovo people, who have suffered grievously from the policies assumed by President Milosevic," the official said.

Brussels Bureau Chief Patricia Kelly and Reuters contributed to this report.

 
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