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World - Europe

Chernomyrdin calls for greater U.N. role in Kosovo diplomacy

Chernomyrdin and Annan
Chernomyrdin, right, asked Annan to expand the United Nation's role in diplomatic efforts to resolve the Kosovo conflict

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InteractiveIMAGE GALLERY:
Latest from Kosovo

The Kosovo refugees

The Serbs and Kosovo
 ALSO:
NATO claims best success yet against Yugoslav ground forces

Solana stresses NATO resolve in Kosovo conflict

Yugoslav's Jovanovic blames NATO for humanitarian crisis

 THE DELUGE OF REFUGEES:
Where are they going?
 CNN WORLD REPORT CONFERENCE:
Follow CNN's 1999 World Report Conference this week in Atlanta and New York
 MESSAGE BOARD:
Crisis in Kosovo
 MAPS:
NATO officials describe the air campaign
 IN-DEPTH SPECIAL:
NATO at 50

Strike on Yugoslavia
 

May 4, 1999
Web posted at: 6:46 p.m. EDT (2246 GMT)


In this story:

Peacekeeping force still key issue

'A deeper understanding'

Jackson brings letter from Milosevic

Europe pushes for resolution

RELATED STORIES, SITES icon



UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- Russian envoy Viktor Chernomyrdin urged the United Nations to play a more active role in Kosovo diplomacy after he met Tuesday with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Chernomyrdin said the meeting was the result of "new developments" in his talks with U.S. leaders in Washington, but did not elaborate.

Annan is "determined to participate in the settlement of the crisis," Chernomyrdin told a news conference.

"There is no other organization which has the experience ... so it's very important to engage the United Nations," he said.

The Russian envoy's arrival in New York was delayed by a second round of talks with U.S. President Al Gore on Tuesday. Chernomyrdin met with President Clinton, Gore and other U.S. leaders Monday.

Peacekeeping force still key issue

Clinton said Monday that current initiatives from Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic fall far short of what it will take to end NATO's airstrikes on the country.

However, Clinton did indicate that the U.S. would welcome troops from non-NATO countries -- most notably Russia and the Ukraine -- to take part in an international peacekeeping force in Kosovo.

Yugoslavia has publicly balked at the idea of an international peacekeeping force to protect returning Kosovo refugees.

On Tuesday, Chernomyrdin sidestepped questions about what kind of force might be sent to Kosovo.

"Whether they will be a paramilitary or civil force, of course, is subject to negotiations," he said.

'A deeper understanding'

Chernomyrdin planned to return to Moscow, but said he may visit Belgrade again later.

Chernomyrdin said he "will keep on this shuttle diplomacy until this conflict is resolved," adding that it would take "political will both in Belgrade and NATO."

Russia strongly opposes NATO's bombing campaign, and Chernomyrdin's efforts are part of an intensified Russian effort to find a peaceful end to the conflict.

His diplomatic efforts have been welcomed by the United States.

Chernomyrdin demonstrated a "deeper understanding" of American demands for the withdrawal of all Serb troops and paramilitary units from Kosovo, State Department spokesman James P. Rubin said Tuesday.

Jackson brings letter from Milosevic

Shortly after the Clinton-Chernomyrdin meeting, the Rev. Jesse Jackson -- fresh from his Belgrade mission to free three U.S. soldiers captured by Yugoslav forces -- went to the White House and hand-delivered a letter from Milosevic.

The civil rights leader urged Clinton to phone the Yugoslav president -- an effort administration sources said the president has rejected.

Jackson also said the United States should free the two Yugoslav prisoners of war who were taken captive in April by Kosovo Liberation Army rebels and handed over to the United States. U.S. administration officials said that request is under review.

"A gesture of diplomacy deserves some reciprocity," Jackson said, adding that Milosevic released the U.S. soldiers despite internal pressure to keep them as "trophies."

"We have the power to fight; we must show the strength to negotiate and to break this cycle of violence and this gulf of distrust," Jackson said.

The three freed U.S. soldiers -- Staff Sgt. Andrew Ramirez, 24, of Los Angeles; Staff Sgt. Christopher Stone, 25, of Smiths Creek, Michigan; and Spc. Steven Gonzales, 22, of Huntsville, Texas -- are recuperating at a U.S. Army hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, where they were reunited with family members.

Europe pushes for resolution

Meanwhile, European Union president-designate Romano Prodi, citing fears that a prolonged conflict could hurt Europe's economy, called for an international conference on the Balkans.

"Growth in the European economy is slowing down," said the former Italian prime minister. "Europe is involved in a war, the grave consequences of which will be felt at its borders for many years to come."

In France, officials called for an urgent meeting of Group of Seven foreign ministers to bring Russia closer to the heart of the search for peace. But French president Jacques Chirac urged caution.

"One cannot trust the government in Belgrade," he said.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has emerged as the most hawkish of the NATO leaders, said Tuesday that Serbia could only rejoin the international community when it was rid of "corrupt dictatorship" -- an obvious reference to Milosevic.

"Milosevic and his hideous racial genocide will be defeated. NATO will prevail," Blair said in a speech to the Romanian parliament in Bucharest.


RELATED STORIES:
NATO pounds Yugoslav targets after flurry of diplomacy
May 4, 1999
NATO strikes knock out Serb electrical power
May 3, 1999
NATO airstrikes press on despite prisoner release
May 2, 1999
Two jets crash in Kosovo campaign
May 2, 1999
More refugees pour into Albania, Macedonia
April 30, 1999

RELATED SITES:
Extensive list of Kosovo-related sites:
  • Kosovo

Yugoslavia:
  • Federal Republic of Yugoslavia official site
      • Kesovo and Metohija facts
  • Serbia Ministry of Information
  • Serbia Now! News

Kosovo:
  • Kosova Crisis Center
  • Kosovo - from Albanian.com

Military:
  • F-117s arrive at Aviano to support possible NATO operations
  • NATO official site
  • BosniaLINK - U.S. Dept. of Defense
  • U.S. Navy images from Operation Allied Force
  • U.K. Ministry of Defence - Kosovo news
  • U.K. Royal Air Force - Kosovo news
  • Jane's Defence - Kosovo Crisis


Relief:
  • U.S. Agency for International Development (Kosovo aid)
  • Doctors of the World
  • InterAction
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
  • International Committee of the Red Cross
  • Kosovo Humanitarian Disaster Forces Hundreds of Thousands from their Homes
  • Catholic Relief Services
  • Kosovo Relief
  • ReliefWeb: Home page
  • The Jewish Agency for Israel
  • Mercy International


Media:
  • Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
  • Independent Yugoslav radio stations B92
  • Institute for War and Peace Reporting
  • United States Information Agency - Kosovo Crisis


Other:
  • Expanded list of related sites on Kosovo
  • 1997 view of Kosovo from space - Eurimage
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