>From: "F J BERNAL" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: STOP NATO!- °No Pasar·n! <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >US wargames in Adriatic, UK navy in Mediterranean > >ABOARD USS AUSTIN, Croatia: U.S. and Croatian troops launched a >joint assault on an Adriatic island on Tuesday in wargames that coincided >with Western warnings to embattled Yugoslav President Slobodan >Milosevic. > >A Reuters photographer on the helicopter ship USS Austin said the exercise >near the picturesque island of Zirje, just off the Adriatic city of Sibenik, >began with a joint amphibious landing of U.S. marines in speedboats and >Croatian troops in helicopters. > >The landing force captured the island, supported by Croatian MiG-21 >fighters, helicopters, a missile boat and two U.S. A-10 planes, known as >"tank busters". The assault completed the public part of the manoeuvre, >which ends on September 29. > >Croatian and U.S. officials said the exercise was originally set for June but >was postponed at Croatia's request to avoid the main tourist season, and >was not meant as a show of force for Croatia's Balkan neighbour. > >"The exercise was indeed planned long ago and is not directly related to >elections in Yugoslavia, but one cannot in all honesty say this has absolutely >nothing to do with Yugoslavia," a Croatian official said. > >"Perhaps what we are doing here might have a 0.01 percent bearing on the >situation in Belgrade," the official said. > >Colonel Bry Gider, whose marines took part in NATO's bombing of >Yugoslavia last year, told Reuters his soldiers were professionals ready to >go to Yugoslavia again "if told so". > >Croatian general Damir Krsticevic said Croatian troops could also be used >in any action staged by NATO, "if we get approval from the president, >parliament and all relevant institutions". > >The West is concerned that Milosevic, charged with war crimes by a United >Nations tribunal, might rig the results of Sunday's elections or use force to >try to remain in power. > >BRITAIN WARNS MILOSEVIC > >On Tuesday, Britain's Foreign Secretary Robin Cook warned Milosevic >against using force to try to stay in power, saying Western powers had a >"very substantial capacity in the region". > >Britain has 15 warships in the Mediterranean operating in two distinct >flotillas, manned by 5,000 sailors, Royal Marines and aircrew, according to >the British defence ministry. > >They include the aircraft carrier Invincible, which carries Harrier jump-jet >fighters, the destroyer HMS Liverpool, helicopter assault ship HMS Ocean, >the amphibious assault ship HMS Fearless and 10 more ships including >minesweepers, a tanker, a store ship and Northumberland, a type-23 >frigate. > >Romania and Bulgaria, which border Yugoslavia to the northeast and east, >are planning a joint exercise at the Romanian Danube port of Turnu >Magurele on September 28. The drill will include the construction of a >pontoon bridge across the Danube and the evacuation of the local >population. > >The Adriatic manoeuvres in Croatian waters include 400 U.S. soldiers and >200 Marines. Croatia is a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace >programme and is seeking full membership of the alliance. > >NATO mounted a massive air offensive last year to halt the operations of >Milosevic's troops against ethnic Albanians in Serbia's southern Kosovo >province.Reuters. _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________________________ Kominform list for general information. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anti-Imperialism list for anti-imperialist news. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________
