(03:44:10) News in English: Belgrade Evening Report – News For Foreigners:
- Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic meet to discuss Serbian participation at the Rambouillet peace negotiations, potential agreement between the Serbs and Albanians, and foreign military presence in Kosovo. Both Russia and Serbia oppose foreign troops' presence in Yugoslavia.
- (03:44:00) Milosevic meets U.S. Envoy Richard Holbrooke. Milosevic: Yugoslavia stands for peaceful solution and equality of all ethnic groups in Kosovo and autonomy of Kosovo within Yugoslavia; Contact Group's solution acceptable; events in Kosovo represent a struggle against terrorism, not war; criticizes Westendorp's decisions regarding Republika Srpska and calls for their annulment.
- (03:47:28) Milosevic meets German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and EU Foreign Policy Commissioner Hans Van Der Brook (sp): cooperation between Yugoslavia, Germany, and the EU discussed. Milosevic: Yugoslavia determined to solve Kosovo-Metohija problem by reaching a political solution that is consistent with the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and Yugoslavia; equality of all ethnic groups in Serbian province crucial for agreement; instead of their hegemonistic threats and pressure against Yugoslavia, European countries should support its struggle against terrorism, the universal evil (cited).
- (03:48:00) Milosevic meets with Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou: autonomy of Kosovo-Metohija possible only within Serbia and Yugoslavia; the use of force against Yugoslavia violates international conventions; Serbia and Yugoslavia will guarantee implementation of any political agreement; Yugoslav-Greek cooperation reaffirmed.
- (03:49:34) Serbian President Milan Milutinovic arrives in Paris for Kosovo peace talks.
- Serbian State Delegation arrives in Paris. Head of the Delegation, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Ratko Markovic, holds a press conference at the Yugoslav embassy: Serbs ready to resolve Kosovo crisis by peaceful means; no deals to compromise sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and Yugoslavia; Serbia won't give up Kosovo-Metohija; if NATO troops come, they will be treated as aggressors (cited).
- (03:50:29) Rallies in support of Yugoslav authorities and Milosevic's policy held in Negotin and Vrbas (Serbia) and Golubac near Podgorica, Montenegro.
- (03:51:00) Yugoslav United Left (JUL), headed by Mira Markovic, meets in Belgrade's Sava Centar. Markovic: Serbs are one of the most advanced Slav nations and among the oldest European nations; won't be treated like [American] Indians and become the Kurds or new Jews without offering resistance (cited).
- A group of ethnic Albanians from Kosovo-Metohija sends a letter of support to Milosevic: not all Albanians in the province agree with the separatists; ethnic Albanians' future is in peaceful coexistence with other ethnic groups; encourage Milosevic to withstand outside pressure; this country will prevail despite outside threats.
- (03:52:44) Yugoslavs living and working abroad hold rallies throughout the world (footage from Bregenz, Austria, Copenhagen, and Stockholm shown), condemning international threats, separatism, and terrorism in Kosovo-Metohija.
- Yugoslav Assembly delegation headed by Tomislav Nikolic takes part in Byelorussian-Russian assembly session: adopt statement of support for Yugoslavia. Russian Duma President Genady Seleznov (sp.): condemns threats against Yugoslavia; foreign troops entering Yugoslavia without UN Security Council's authorization is an act of aggression (cited).
- (03:54:22) Albanian terrorists commit new premeditated crimes in Kosovo-Metohija in order to prevent peaceful solution to the crisis; OSCE officials fear new terrorist attacks.
- Two explosions kill two and injure 21 in Podujevo; an explosion kills three and injures over 40 in Kosovska Mitrovica; special Serbian police units dispatched from Belgrade to determine circumstances of the terrorist attacks.
- Yugoslav Minister of Foreign Affairs Zivadin Jovanovic sends a letter to supervisory committee of the council for implementing peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina protesting dismissal of Poplasen and change of Brcko's status. The two decisions violate the Dayton Agreement and destabilize Bosnia (cited).
- Serbian government passes measures against creating artificial shortages of cooking oil and sugar to profit illegally.
- Sports: Yugoslavia to defend European Soccer Championship title in game against Israel.
(03:57:10) Serbian Television Evening News:
- Milutinovic answers reporters' questions in Paris: day productive; Serbian delegation came to find fair agreement over Kosovo autonomy; NATO strikes are not discussed-Yugoslavia not afraid of NATO as the agreement does not consider its involvement; despite rumors, no such agreement reached yet.
- (04:00:24) Serbian President Milan Milutinovic visits Yugoslav delegation in Paris. Yugoslav delegation meets with Contact Group mediators: reiterated its goal to reach political agreement; confirmed its intention to support peaceful solution, autonomy (whose autonomy?) within Serbia and Yugoslavia and equality of all ethnic groups in Kosovo-Metohija; ready to rework the currently proposed solution which differs from the Contact Group's Ten Points. Hubert Vedrin and Robin Cook arrive at the meeting and inform reporters that Albanians intend to sign agreement (all cited). Serbian delegation emphasizes the agreement is not finalized.
- (04:02:37) Albanian delegation leaders arrive in Paris unexpectedly: Albanian leaders Ibrahim Rugova and Hasim Taci decide to accept peace agreement but do not sign it yet; ask for more EU and particularly U.S. involvement (cited).
- (04:03:03) Cook and Hubert Vedrin hold press conference: no agreement signed [report is inaudible in some parts].
Report on Foreign Media Coverage:
- French dailies Le Figaro and La Croix: Paris meeting begins with uncertainty, not much progress between Rambouillet and Paris talks; armed Albanian separatists intensify attacks in Kosovo; Kosovo Albanians break promise to sign the agreement before Paris talks.
- La Croix: rift between Ibrahim Rugova and Hasim Taci and disagreements between KLA's political and military leadership present handicap for Kosovo Albanians.
- Le Figaro: three international intellectuals plead with international community to give up their plans to bomb Serbia. Kosovo-Metohija has abundance of medieval monuments of Serbian culture; remind readers of 1982 burning of Pec patriarchate and destruction of other churches and monasteries; plead with UNESCO General Secretary to use his authority and persuade western leaders to avoid armed conflict in Kosovo.
- Pro-Yugoslav, pro-Milosevic demonstrations in Skopje, Macedonia: Serbs and Macedonians show support for peace, cooperation in the Balkans and for Kosmet as integral part of Serbia, and Serb-Macedonian friendship; denounce terrorism, military threats, and NATO presence in Macedonia (cited). Speakers condemn terrorism and separatism in Kosmet and from abroad; Macedonia should reevaluate its relationship with NATO.
- (04:10:13) Anti-American and anti-British demonstrations in Moscow: Kosovo integral part of Serbia, Russia against NATO aggression (cited).
- (04:12:18) Serbs in Stuttgart protest against NATO's policy.
- (04:14:36) Serbian public reaction to Kosovo crisis.