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Pastimes : Kosovo -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Abner Hosmer who wrote (4292)	4/17/1999 9:52:00 PM
From: George Papadopoulos	Respond to of 17770

And now some humor from a newsgroup: SKOPJE , April 17 A large concentration of sheep were spotted in the Macedonia --Kosovo border by an F-16 NATO pilot yesterday. Operating with a wing-man, the F-16 pilot made several passes over the flocks at low altitude and took several aerial photos. Upon analyzing the massive data, sheep expert Lygdos Chapanescou, chief of the Vlach Anti-Genocide Inter-National Association (also known as VAGINA) concluded that a large operation of sheep smuggling was instigated by local Vlachs to supply Milosevic's troops in Kosovo. " The poor creatures should not be exposed to the horrors of war" noted Chapaneskou. When he was informed that Vlachs were also sighted in the area and that some of them were suspected as "raping" the sheep and then then killing them, he strongly denied the association. "Vlachs" he said "will never kill sheep in cold blood". There is a historical strong bond between Vlachs and sheep. But since the allegations were strongly supported by aerial photos, showing seminude Vlachs holding large knifes and chasing sheep, Chapaneskou's arguments were not credible with most reporters. In a final effort to save face, VAGINA's vice president Jungo Hortja volunteered to fly to Macedonia and investigate the matter thoroughly. "We suspect that Milosevic's thugs and Macedonians are exchanging Albanian women for sheep". "If this is true", she added, "we have a serious problem in our hands". Lygdo's VAGINA is well known for precision intelligence operations and the effective use of the Internet for intelligence gathering. "If there is a person who can shed some light in this mess and see that the sheep return unharmed to their homes in Macedonia, that is Mrs Hortja" Clinton commended when he learned of the intentions of the illustrious Albanian refugee.

To: Abner Hosmer who wrote (4292)	4/17/1999 10:04:00 PM
From: George Papadopoulos	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 17770

Read about the latest solution that the Greek Prime Minister has put forth...I believe this is the BEST and most practical solution tabled so far [please hold accusations for being prejudiced...I am<g.] As far as accusations of Greece not being supportive of Nato I have made clear what is the public opinion and how difficult is for the current govt to walk a very fine line. Read the very last sentence of this news release...Isn't the Greek Prime Minister sleek or what? ----------------- Simitis unveils initiative for peaceful settlement, 'day-after' in Balkans Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday unveiled the framework of a Greek initiative aimed at a peaceful settlement of the crisis in war-torn Kosovo. Speaking after a five-hour inner cabinet meeting, Mr. Simitis said a political solution must be found as quickly as possible, involving a cessation of hostilities, the withdrawal of Serbian army forces from Kosovo, the safe return of refugees to their h omes and the deployment in the Yugoslav province of an international peacekeeping force. The mission of the peacekeeping force, he added, should be legalised on the basis of a wide-ranging UN Security Council act. Mr. Simitis said Greece supports proposals and initiatives for a peaceful solution formulated by EU member-states (Germany and other). Additionally, it has proposed a set of principles which along with the Rambouillet talks could possibly serve as the f ramework for talks aimed at resolving the Kosovo crisis, with respect for existing borders, human and minority rights, acceptance of the principle of the peaceful settlement of disputes and cooperation to secure democracy and development. The premier said the Greek proposal would be put to NATO and the European Union so as to take the shape of an initiative which would unfold on three levels. The three levels at which Greece will promote its policy for a settlement to the crisis include: - At international organisations of which Greece is a member of, such as NATO and the European Union, with the promotion of initiatives, support for proposals and the seeking of opportunities for a political handling of the crisis. - At the Balkan level, with intensification of efforts to shape a common approach and common initiatives. This effort includes holding a summit for Balkan countries in Athens. - At the wider international level, aiming at the greatest possible participation in the political process for finding a solution of the UN and the OSCE, as well as Russia. At the present time, Mr. Simitis said, Greece has shaped a wider network of exchanging views, shaping proposals, exercising influence and undertaking initiatives in the direction of a speedy and effective solution to the crisis and the avoidance of its escalation with particularly painful human consequences. Greece believes it is necessary, immediately after the end of military operations, that the materialisation of an overall "Balkan Stabilisation and Development Plan" should go ahead immediately, he said. This plan, which the Greek government has already processed, has five axes: - The economic development of the Balkan region with a package of measures and initiatives which will compose a kind of "Marshall Plan" for the region. - Democratisation of the region with measures aimed at building and consolidating democratic institutions, the strengthening of the citizens' society and protection for individual and minority rights. - Establishment of a conflict-resolving mechanism as part of the "Stability Accord" which will guarantee the inviolability of borders. - Promotion, intensification and initiation of interregional cooperation with the participation of all the countries in the region as a step towards the region's full incorporation in the European architecture and the European institutional system. - Recognition of the "eligibility" of all countries to join the European Union, provided they fulfill the necessary political and economic preconditions. Mr. Simitis said the Greek government's plan will be submitted to the European Union and, combined with a "stability accord" proposed for the region by Germany, will constitute the EU's new approach to the Balkans. "Greece has already developed intense activity in handling humanitarian problems related to refugees. It will decisively widen its humanitarian action and presence with a series of measures such as: "The development of infrastructure works for refugees by the armed forces. "The provision of humanitarian aid in regions, Kosovo and Montenegro, which present special access problems. "The Greek government is planning a wide conference in Athens focusing on humanitarian aid. The conference will be attended by all the countries involved, as well as agencies, to facilitate the more effective handling of problems of a humanitarian chara cter. The confe-rence will also examine the economic aspects and consequences of the crisis. "The Greek government, with the initiatives, actions and measures it is promoting for the region, is promoting Greece as a decisive factor in a political solution to the crisis and the creation of conditions for 'viable stability' in the Balkans," he ad ded. Mr. Simitis warned that the Kosovo crisis posed a threat for the entire region. He said political action must be taken aimed at some solution, since the situation was alarming. Replying to reporters' questions, Mr. Simitis acknowledged that no firm decisions were taken at the informal EU summit in Brussels earlier this week, but he said there had been "a change of climate". He expressed pessimism about whether next week's NATO summit in Washington would bring any positive results. The Greek PM reiterated that Greek forces would not be involved in NATO actions in Yugoslavia, but that "it will send forces where it judges they should be sent."

To: Abner Hosmer who wrote (4292)	4/17/1999 10:17:00 PM
From: Sam	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 17770

On the news tonight they showed men linning up to go to Albania to fight with the KLA .Voluteers,Are they going to allow the Yugoslavs here the same rights ,I am wondering how many will volunteer in Mosco ,Warsaw,and Georgia, to help the serbs ,After all total unemployment there ,same situation as we had at the start of ww2 Yugoslavia is an alie of these countries and THEY have every right to be upset if Yugoslavia is invaded ,this may only be the start , If Clinton puts our troups in there ,they will be facing those forces and the rest of the Muslim nations coming up behind them .lookout. I feel sorry for those poor refugees and wonder how a human being could hate enough to do that to another ,and I guess there are many good people suffering ,to protect a few rebels (KLA).iT COULD BE JUST THE START ,as it looks like Arafat is itching to stir the pot again It is ironic ,we are against them on one front and with them on another SAM

To: Abner Hosmer who wrote (4292)	4/18/1999 3:21:00 AM
From: Douglas V. Fant	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 17770

Abner, Noone has answered a question that I raised here a few days ago: The Albanians- did they fight alongside the Serbians against the Fascist German invaders in WWII; did they stay neutral, or were they Nazi collaborators? Anyone with a knowledge of Balkans' politics in WWII-could you answer this? Forget my question_ I see that "goldsnow" answered it a few notes ago... see below. And I agree with "goldsnow". Don't make too much out of religion here. There are greater geopolitical forces at work ... goldsnow's answer: ET Reply # of 4309 Italy invaded Albania in April of 1939 and made it part of Italian Empire (World War II began later this year)when Italy surrended in 1943 Germans occupied Albania. Most were collaborators, but..During the war there were three resistance movement they did fight against Germans and even more against each other (nationalists, royalists and communists led by future dictator Enver Hoxha who took over in 1944 after Germans were driven-out) By the way as far as religion-Hoxha outlawed religion and demolished all mosques, so it is not about religion, but about nationalism... Sincerely, Doug F.

To: Abner Hosmer who wrote (4292)	4/19/1999 3:07:00 PM
From: Broken_Clock	Respond to of 17770

Abner, <How do we think we'd react in their shoes.> Like the Japanese. We'd use rocks, if that's what it took. Read the stratfor.com site for a three part evaluation by ex-intelligence/military as to why a ground war in the Balkans is suicide for the attacker. PS> I am not downplaying your role in the Pacific war. I live on an island where the feelings towards Japanese are still not clear. I wonder if it would have been better for the Russians to go in against the Chinese? It might have kept them weaker for quite awhile.