USA: WASHINGTON: KOSOVO CRISIS LATEST
(3 Feb 1999) English/Nat Pentagon officials told Congress that the U-S might deploy a small ground force in Kosovo, but only if there is an agreement between the warring factions. The Pentagon said the U-S force should only be of two to four-thousand troops, while European NATO members should bear the burden of deploying the majority of the troops. Defence Secretary William Cohen told Congress the administration might commit a "relatively small" U-S ground force to Kosovo, but only if a firm peace agreement is reached between warring factions. Cohen said other NATO members should make up the majority of such a force. SOUNDBITE: (English) " We have made it very clear that under no circumstances would any action taken by NATO be subject to a U-N Security Council veto. And that has been our position and will continue to be our position. And I think it's very clear from the record." SUPER CAPTION: William Cohen, U-S Defence Secretary Senator John Warner, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, suggested increased participation in any Kosovo intervention from the other members of NATO. SOUNDBITE: (English) "On the command of that force, I think it would be wise if a British officer were in command. It gives a greater responsibility. You've got French in Macedonia, British hopefully in Kosovo and it shows a greater participation and responsibility by Europe, which is certainly a goal that we have to move toward both in Bosnia and Kosovo." SUPER CAPTION: Senator John Warner, Chairman Senate Armed Services Committee SOUNDBITE: (English) "The notion that somehow only the Serbs have engaged in atrocities is incorrect. What I indicated before is that there have been violations on the part of the UCK and the KLA, and the majority have come from that side during this period of time since last fall. Small scale, but nonetheless producing a reaction by the Serbs who characteristically engage in that kind of brutality we've seen. So it has been on both sides and that is what makes this so difficult and I've said there has to be a real agreement. This is different from Bosnia. SUPER CAPTION: William Cohen, U-S Defence Secretary Pressed by senators on the likely size of the U-S contingent, General Henry Shelton, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, suggested a maximum of two to four thousand U-S troops might be required if NATO decides on an overall force of 20-thousand. Shelton told the panel he had "no doubt" that the United States would be asked to contribute such a force. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Certainly it would be far less than what we went into Bosnia with. As I recall those numbers early on were about 37 percent of the total force in Bosnia. We are not looking to contribute anywhere near those types of percentages so if you get a smaller force that would come to be 20-thousand, our numbers could be very low, as possible as low as two to four-thousand. And I would see that as the maximum number we would be asked to contribute even if they decide to go in with 30-thousand." SUPER CAPTION: General Henry Shelton, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kosovo's ethnic Albanian rebels have agreed to participate in peace talks demanded by the United States and NATO allies as pressure increased on Serbia's hard-line government to join the talks. NATO has threatened airstrikes if Serbia and the rebels aren't talking by Saturday and closing a peace deal by February 19 under talks organised by the United States and five European powers. 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...
