UK: LONDON: NATO CHIEF SOLANA KOSOVO SPEECH
(9 Mar 1999) English/Nat NATO Secretary General Javier Solana on Tuesday brushed aside suggestions that the alliance's warnings of airstrikes in Kosovo are sounding hollow, saying that threats of military force are necessary for a political solution in the Yugoslav province. Addressing a conference in London marking the alliance's 50th anniversary, Solana also said that European nations will have to shoulder a greater share of their own security in the next millennium. Solana spoke midway through the three-day conference, which is debating the long-term future role of NATO. The debate comes as the alliance faces the imminent prospect of either mounting airstrikes or sending peacekeeping troops to Kosovo. Solana repeated his threat of action against Serbia if a compromise is not met. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I don't have to repeat what has been said many many times. (It) has not changed . We would like very much to see both parties signing. We appreciate very much if the Kosovo side signs in the coming hours and the coming days. And if that is the case the responsibility will be on one side which is the Serbian side and Mr Milosevic - I can tell you - knows very well what will happen to him if he doesn't sign." SUPER CAPTION: Javier Solana, NATO Secretary- General Earlier in the day, Solana had been equally wary at news that the K-L-A had signed up to a peace deal. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We welcome the decision of the K-L-A commanders to sign up but everything depends on the implementation. We don't just want people to sign up with words, we also want to see it implemented through deeds on the ground. So, everything now depends on if they keep their word." SUPER CAPTION: Javier Solana, NATO Secretary-General If either the K-L-A or the Serbs fail to agree on a deal - or more importantly to see it through - then tough words will be followed by tougher action by NATO military forces. As NATO enters its 51st year it also faces the imminent prospect of either mounting air strikes or sending peacekeeping troops to the Serb province of Kosovo. SOUNDBITE: (English) "What NATO is doing - and has done from the very beginning - is to cooperate with the means we have - the threat of the use of force - with the political diplomatic activity which is to find a political and diplomatic solution to the Kosovo conflict. We don't think the problem has a military solution, we think it has a political solution. But in order to achieve that the diplomatic action is more useful if backed by the threat of the use of force. And that is what we've done and will continue to do. If the moment arrives when the political process breaks down it will be the moment to use the other process - the military one." SUPER CAPTION: Javier Solana, NATO Secretary-General The alliance, which was formed in 1949 as a bulwark against communist expansion into western Europe, is to welcome three new members from Eastern Europe - the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary. How NATO handles its involvement in this conflict will very much determine its future role in European and world affairs. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
