- Title: PORTUGAL: NATO SAYS IT IS READY TO INTERVENE IN KOSOVO
- Date: 24th September 1998
- Summary: VILAMOURA, PORTUGAL (SEPTEMBER 24, 1998) (RTV) 1. SLV EXTERIOR NATO CONFERENCE BUILDING/SCU FLAGS (2 SHOTS) 0.08 2. MV DELEGATES WALKING INTO BUILDING 0.14 3. SCU NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL JAVIER SOLANA SAYING "JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL APPROVED ACTIVATION WARNING FOR BOTH LIMITED AIR OPTION AND PHASED AIR CAMPAIGN IN KOSOVO. IT WILL TAKE NATO TO AN INCREASED LEVELOF MILITARY PREPAREDNESS. IN PARTICULAR IT WILL ALLOW NATO COMMANDERS TO IDENTIFY ASSETS REQUIRED FOR THESE NATO AIR OPERATIONS. LET ME STRESS THE USE OF FORCE WOULD REQUIRE FURTHER DECISION OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC COUNCIL. . TODAY'S DECISION IS AN IMPORTANT POLITICAL SIGNAL OF NATO'S READINESS TO TO USE FORCE IF IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO DO SO.LET ME EXPRESS STRONG SUPPORT FOR OUR ALLIES FOR THE RESOLUTION ADOPTED IN NEW YORK LAST NIGHT BY THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL. THIS RESOLUTION MAKES IT CLEAR WHAT PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC MUST DO. HE MUST STOP THE REPRESSIVE ACTIONS AGAINST THE POPULATION OF MAINLY ALBANIANS. HE MUST SEEK A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS BASED ON NEGOTIATION AND HE MUST TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO ALLEVIATE THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATION. TODAY'S DECISION TAKEN BY NATO UNDERLINES THE UNITY OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE KOSOVO CRISIS." (ENGLISH) 1.57 4. SLV DELEGATES CHATTING (2 SHOTS) 2.08 5. SCU SOLANA TALKING TO MILITARY CHIEF / SLV DELEGATES (4 SHOTS) 2.23 6. LAS TILT DOWN EXTERIOR OF BUILDING 2.27 7. SCU DEFENCE MINISTERS GATHERING FOR MEETING 2.29 8. SCU SOLANA AND UNITED STATES DEFENCE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN 2.31 9. SLV PHOTOCALL OF DEFENCE MINISTERS ATTENDING NATO MEETING 2.35 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 9th October 1998 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: VILAMOURA, PORTUGAL
- City:
- Country: Portugal
- Reuters ID: LVA69RKQOAAHAR4CVMDCXB34JGFK
- Story Text: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) has said it has taken a first formal step towards readying its war machine for possible intervention in Kosovo.
The announcement from NATO on Thursday (September 24) came the day after the United Nations demanded an immediate ceasefire by Serb forces in Kosovo.
Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has been warned he must put an end to the conflict in the mainly ethnic Albanian province.
NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana said the move is the first step towards approving air strikes in Kosovo.
NATO commanders can now go ahead and identify the resources required for possible military intervention by air.
Solana stressed that the use of force would need further decisions by the North Atlantic Council but that Thursday's announcement was an important political signal of NATO's readiness to act if necessary.
As well as calling an immediate ceasefire, President Milosevic has been told he must seek a political solution to the crisis and take immediate steps to alleviate the humanitarian situation.
The North Atlantic Council, made up of countries' permanent representatives to the 16-nation alliance, met ahead of a gathering of NATO defence ministers later on Thursday to discuss individual members' contributions to any eventual action.
A quarter of a million people have been left homeless after a Serb offensive in Kosovo.
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