USA: CLINTON'S REACTION TO BOMBING OF CHINESE EMBASSY (2) скачать в хорошем качестве

USA: CLINTON'S REACTION TO BOMBING OF CHINESE EMBASSY (2)

(8 May 1999) English/Nat President Bill Clinton has called the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade a "tragic" incident and expressed his utmost condolences to the Chinese government. But he said reaction to the accident must be put in the context of the overall mission of NATO's campaign: to end the ethnic cleansing going on in Kosovo and to end the oppression and terrorisation of the ethnic Albanians at the hands of the Serbs. The president was speaking on Saturday at Tinker Air Force base in Oklahoma, where he toured the devastation left by killer tornadoes which levelled cities there last week. President Clinton on Saturday reacted to the mistaken NATO bombing of China's embassy in Belgrade. Following a tour of tornado damaged areas in Oklahoma, he stopped on the runway of Tinker Air Force Base to explain his position. He called for a sense of perspective in comparing the expulsion of thousands of Kosovars from their homes and the accidental deaths of civilians in the embassy accident. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Unfortunately, the Chinese Embassy was inadvertently damaged and people lost their lives and others have been injured. It was a tragic mistake and I want to offer my sincere regret and my condolences to both the leaders and the people of China. Having said that, let me also remind you that it is clear that we are doing everything we can to avoid civilian casualties. Because the television and other media are in Belgrade, you know every one that's occurred, but I would remind you that well over 10-thousand sorties having now been flown with massive ordinance having been dropped and that is evidence that we are working very hard to avoid this. It doesn't remove the sadness from the people in China and from the other innocent civilians, but we are doing our best." SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President Clinton vehemently defended NATO's overall mission when reporters said some countries were labelling the embassy strike "barbaric". He was quick to point out that the deaths in the embassy were an accident, unlike the systematic killing that is going on inside Kosovo at the hands of the Serbs. In response to a day full of protests in China over the bombing, Clinton also said people had a right to be angry and that he too was upset over the attack. But he said reaction to the accident must be put in the context of the overall mission of NATO's campaign. SOUNDBITE: (English) (Reporter: Russia called it 'barbaric,' could this derail diplomatic efforts?) SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President The U-S leader reaffirmed his belief in NATO's mission in the Balkans, despite the latest civilian fatalities and the ensuing public relations disaster. He said while he regretted accidents that cost civilian lives, the international community should keep focus on the bigger picture of the horrors taking place inside Kosovo. SOUNDBITE: (English) (Reporter: Is this a setback for peace?) SUPER CAPTION: Bill Clinton, U-S President Friday's attack drew outraged responses from both China and Russia, two countries with permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council. With the two countries already opposed to NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia, the latest mishap seems to have complicated the chance of an international consensus. But Clinton and other Western leaders reaffirmed their support on Saturday of Russian- led efforts to broker a peace deal to end the conflict. 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...