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US
Army Gives Self Right to Enter Serbia
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First
here's a summary from UPI. Following that we've
posted the full text of the press conference in
question.
UPI Summary:
- U.S. KFOR [that is, NATO] troops
get access to Serb-Kosovo buffer zone By
LULZIM COTA
TIRANA, Albania, May 1 (UPI) -- American
KFOR troops can enter the buffer zone
between Kosovo and Serbia if it would
prevent any conflicts that could break
out, said Gen. Henry Shelton, chairman of
the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Monday
in a news conference in east Kosovo.
William Cohen, the U.S. Secretary of
Defense and General Shelton visited
American troops in the two U.S. camps in
Kosovo, warning that Yugoslav President
Slobodan Milosevic would like to benefit
from every possible conflict in the
region.
***
Full text of press conference:
Dep't of Defense News Briefing
Monday, May 1, 2000
(Joint Press Conference
with William S. Cohen, Secretary of Defense and
Gen. Henry H. Shelton, Chairman, Joint Chief of
Staff in Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo)
Sec. of Defense Cohen:
We will now take questions. You have heard the
Chairman himself indicate that this mission was
certainly a very difficult one; that it was
successfully completed as far as driving
Milosevic's forces out of Kosovo and helping to
return a million refugees as well as helping to
bring peace and stability. We understand that
there are still some flashpoints that we have to
contend with. We are strengthening our capability
of interrupting the flow of weapons that may be
transported illegally. We are looking forward to
UNMIK [United Nations Interim Mission in Kovoso]
producing more police so that our troops don't
have to engage in as many police enforcement
activities. But over all we believe that the
mission is being successfully carried out.
Q: How concerned are you about the
Presevo Valley?
Sec. of Defense: That
is something that we are following very closely
and we are taking other measures. We have another
surveillance company that will join our forces to
help make sure that we can look very closely at
what is taking place in Presevo Valley.
Q: Are there any chances of the
military technical agreement being changed by
North Atlantic Council, with regard to Presevo
Valley?
Sec. of Defense:
I have not heard of any proposals that have been
presented that would result in that kind of a
change.
Q: What is Mr. Milosevic doing to stir
up trouble in Mitrovica; Is he behind of what is
going on in Mitrovica?
Sec. of Defense:
I think Milosevic certainly will take advantage
of any potential conflicts in the region. We have
extremism on both sides. That is something that
we are trying very hard to discourage as far as
the ethnic Albanians, and at the same time not
give Milosevic any kind of excuse to respond to
that. So, that is the reason why we are working
hard as we can to make sure that doesn't take
place.
Q: Are weapons and people being
smuggled in from the rest of Serbia into Kosovo?
Sec. of Defense:
There was an interruption of weapons and a
significant cache of weaponry that was discovered
about two weeks ago on April 14th. Prior to that
time, of course, we have seen some insurgencies
trying to take root. In both cases, KFOR was able
to intercept the weapons and put down
insurgencies without any significant casualties
at all.
Q: Would you send troops into ground
security zone if violence erupted in the Presevo
Valley?
Sec. of Defense: I'm
not going to say what we will do in the future.
We believe we have sufficient forces in our
sector. The Chairman can perhaps comment in terms
of what more might be needed in the way of a
request coming from SACEUR. But I think we have
sufficient forces here in our sector.
Q: But you wouldn't rule it out?
Sec. of Defense: We
don't discuss whatever options we have. We will
take whatever measures are necessary to maintain
peace and stability in our sector.
Head of Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Gen. Shelton: The authority
exists, if necessary, to use the authority -- the
SACEUR has that authority already if he needs to
do that to enforce the agreement under the MTA.
Q: Are there any indications about the
case for reinforcement in the American sector in
recent times?
Shelton:
That is a decision that is made by the Commander
of KFOR. Of course, there are currently
additional forces in the American sector
operating today, helping to secure some of the
sites as well as being available for other
missions that might be directed by our Commander
here in the NMD East.
Q: (inaudible)
Sec. of Defense: We
are hoping that we will provide the basis for the
people of Kosovo to establish institutions that
will make them self-governing. That there will be
local elections held this fall. We want to see
institutions built that will allow the people in
Kosovo to function. That is our hope and that is
why KFOR is here. We are hoping that as things
stabilize more and more, that the UN and its
mission can take over the major responsibilities
in Kosovo. We cannot put a time table on that.
Q: This is General Clarke's last visit
to Kosovo today. Any word on how he has performed
his job?
Sec. of Defense: He
has done an extraordinary job. General Clarke is
one of our most brilliant officers. He undertook
a mission that is perhaps one the most
complicated and complex and carried it out
successfully. As I mentioned in my remarks, this
air campaign was the most successful in the
history of warfare. We had over 38,000 sorties
that were flown. We had only two planes that were
shot down and no pilots lost. That is a record
that is unparalleled in the history of warfare.
So, General Clarke and his entire staff and
subordinates and all who participated deserve
great credit.
Q: Why is he leaving office, then?
Sec. of Defense: He
is leaving because we have General Ralston who
will become the new SACEUR. We are now replacing
many of our CINCs throughout the world.
Q: It is not a reflection on his
performance?
Sec. of Defense: No
reflection at all. He has done an outstanding job
as the Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Southern
Command, and he did an outstanding job here as
EUCOM Commander and also as SACEUR.
***
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