COUNCIL OF EUROPE SETS DEMANDS TO BELGRADE AND PRISTINA

( Editorial: --> 3510 ) STRASBOURG, June 24 (Hina) - The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly on Wednesday expressed deep concern about the deteriorating situation in the south Yugoslav province of Kosovo. Authorities in Belgrade and Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic personally are the most responsible for the latest escalation in clashes, the Assembly said. It called on Belgrade to urgently halt operations which have resulted in civilian victims in Kosovo, reduce the number of soldiers in the province and agree to international monitors. The Assembly called on Belgrade and Kosovo capital Pristina to commence negotiations without delay. Kosovo Albanians were requested to use their political influence to the effect of disarming the Kosovo Liberation Army. The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly did not exclude the possibility of military action in case the demands of the international community are not complied with and violence is not halted. According to Zdravka Busic, member of the Croatian delegation at the Council of Europe, the Kosovo conflict was no surprise after the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Milosevic and his "war machine" are responsible, she said. There are many diplomatic initiatives for Kosovo but no consensus can be reached, Busic said, pointing out the international community should have reacted earlier, in order to avoid bloodshed. (hina) ha jn 242211 MET jun 98