Kosovo Negotiators Face Difficult Challenge

By Barry Wood Pristina 12 August 2007

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Kosovo's PM Agim Ceku, 2nd left, meets with diplomats from US Frank Wisner 1st left, EU Wolfgang Ischinger, 1st right, and Russia's Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko in Pristina, 11 Aug 2007

When asked whether an international negotiating team for Kosovo faces an impossible mission in getting Serbs and Kosovo Albanians to agree on a plan for the territory's future, one of the three diplomats involved replied, "No, not mission impossible, mission difficult." VOA's Barry Wood has more from the Kosovo capital, Pristina.

Russian, German and American negotiators, who call themselves "the troika", are trying to succeed where others have failed.

One of the world's most experienced conflict-resolution specialists, Martti Ahtisaari of Finland, spent the better part of a year trying in vain to bridge the wide gap between Belgrade and Pristina.

Serbia opposes anything beyond widespread autonomy for its breakaway province. Kosovo's 90 percent ethnic Albanian majority say they will settle for nothing less than independence. Kosovo has been run by the United Nations for eight years, since NATO bombing forced the Serbian authorities, who were fighting ethnic Albanian separatists, out of the province.

When Mr. Ahtisaari determined there was no chance the two sides could come together, the major powers asked him to develop his own plan for the future status of Kosovo. That blueprint for conditional independence with security guarantees for minorities was rejected last month by Russia, which threatened to use its Security Council veto to block implementation.

The United States has indicated that it would recognize a Kosovo declaration of independence, but stresses the importance of obtaining U.N. Security Council endorsement.

Moscow insisted that there should be an additional push to find consensus among Serbs and Albanians. In response the six-nation contact group on Kosovo set up the three-member negotiating team to undertake a further round of negotiations to be completed by December 10.

But the Russian negotiator, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, says that is a tall order.

"I have no illusions," he said. "You see, and I realize, how difficult this mission is. But this commitment we got during this opening session in Pristina is extremely important."

Kosovo's leaders say they still insist on independence, but pledged Saturday to work with the three negotiators in seeking common ground with Serbia on the territory's future.

U.S. diplomat Frank Wisner said the troika will not present the parties with new proposals on Kosovo's future, but will mediate between the former foes. The diplomats have also pledged to look at every angle in their efforts to find a solution.

Analysts say the success of Russian diplomacy in getting the new negotiations launched is the result of discord within the 27-nation European Union, which is expected to play a significant political and security role in Kosovo's future.

Some EU nations have backed away from supporting the Ahtisaari plan, suggesting they will not recognize a Kosovo declaration of independence in the event the negotiations fail.

Ilir Dugolli, who heads Kosovo's non-government Institute for Policy Research, says after eight years of U.N. rule, the delay in determining status is having a negative impact among ethnic Albanians.

"You see a bit of disappointment, a bit of frustration, you see a bit of uncertainty. And you see a bit of anxiety about how this process will be concluded and whether consensus within the European Union, primarily, will be established," said Dugolli.

Dugolli says he is distressed to hear some EU diplomats speak about territorial partition as a fall back solution. That would divide the predominately Serb and Albanian areas of Kosovo, but he says it is a dangerous idea.

"Because then immediately Albanians would ask for something else in return, the Presevo Valley [in Serbia proper]," he added. "Or it could have movements even in Macedonia or you do not know what would happen in Republika Serpska [in Bosnia] or other areas. So it is extremely risky and dangerous."

The troika negotiations have just begun. Both sides are pledging cooperation. And while few experts anticipate success, they stress that much can happen during the next few months.

Nigerians Call for End to Surge in Gang Violence

By Kari Barber Dakar 12 August 2007

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Cars and motorcycles destroyed by gangs at the police station in Port Harcourt, Nigeria (File Photo - April 14, 2007)

In Nigeria's violence-plagued and oil-rich Niger Delta, unrest continues after one of the deadliest days in nearly a week of gang warfare. Police have confirmed nearly a dozen deaths since Monday and witnesses say that toll is likely to rise. Kari Barber reports from VOA's West Africa bureau in Dakar that some calling for stronger intervention by the government's security forces.

Gunfire continued to be heard across the city of Port Harcourt, following intense battles between rival gangs that left several people dead on Saturday.

Journalist Ibiba Don Pedro says the streets are empty and many people have fled the city.

"People are staying at home. A lot of people are moving out of their communities," he said. "But mostly people are lying low. I guess in the next few days we are going to see a lot of people moving out of Port Harcourt for safety in other places."

It is unclear what sparked the gunbattles that began Monday. In the past year militant groups have stepped up kidnappings of foreigners and staged an increasing number of attacks on oil facilities, reducing the country's output of oil.

Don Pedro says rival gangs are competing for power. She says this outbreak of gang violence is not a part of the Niger Delta people's struggle for greater control of the region's oil wealth, but a negative effect of young men becoming accustomed to violence.

Don Pedro says she is still tense after armed men fired on her office during a recent awards ceremony for the journalist. One security guard was injured.

"We cannot imagine bringing up our children in an atmosphere like this," added Pedro. "I think the federal government has to come in to act, and I expect the international community to put serious pressure on the federal government to take action and to declare a state of emergency in River State immediately."

Kennedy West of the Association for Non-Violence in the Niger Delta says the government needs to step up the force they are using to quell the fighting. Nigeria's Police Chief, Mike Okiro, has held meetings with local leaders to find a way to control the situation.

"This is not the kind of area where you use minimum force now. Because there is lawlessness in its peak. There is violence in its peak," said Okiro. "The violence is a result of people making money out of it."

While kidnappings of foreign oil workers and attacks on oil facilities have become common in the restive region, the violence has now spread to include kidnappings of non-oil workers, armed robbery and gang violence.

Kidnappings are increasingly being used by some armed groups as a way to make money.

Soon after taking office in May, President Umaru Yar'Adua released militant movement leader Asari Dokubo, a major demand of militant groups. But groups say they are still fighting for more control of the region's resources.

VOASE0812_Development Report

12 August 2007

UN Reports on Extreme Weather and Climate Events
The World Meteorological Organization says January and April were the warmest months on record worldwide.

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This is the VOA Special English Development Report.

This summer, heavy rains and flooding have caused more than five hundred deaths in South Asia. More than ten million people have been forced from their homes. Huge amounts of cropland, animals and property have been destroyed. Officials and aid groups say a public health crisis threatens about thirty million people throughout India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

The World Meteorological Organization says the rain in South Asia is just one of many extreme weather events this year. The United Nations agency announced last week that January and April were the warmest months on record worldwide. The discovery appears to support environmental changes confirmed by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in February. The group said that it was more than ninety percent sure that carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases from human activities have been the main cause of global warming.

The World Meteorological Organization also noted extreme weather in other areas. It said heavy rains in China in June affected more than thirteen million people. In February, Mozambique had the worst flooding in six years. It said record-breaking heat was reported in southeastern Europe and central Russia earlier this year. A full report on weather in two thousand seven will be released at the end of the year.

The UN weather agency says it is working with its partners to establish an early warning system for climate extremes. It is also creating a long-term observation system to study the effects of climate change.

One such effect could be a lack of food and the risk of hunger in developing countries. The head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization warned last week that climate change might hurt food production in warm southern areas of the world. Jacques Diouf spoke in India. He said that crops will likely decrease in seasonally dry countries as average world temperatures rise. However, he said small temperature increases could increase crops in most industrialized nations.

Mister Diouf called for an intense scientific effort to develop crops that will grow in future weather conditions. He said one example is genetically changed crops that will grow in extreme temperatures, dry conditions or poor soil.

And that's the VOA Special English Development Report, written by Jill Moss. I’m Shep O'Neal.

VOASE0812_This Is America

12 August 2007

Hot Dogs and Apple Pie: Just Some of America's Favorite Foods
From sweets to meats, Americans love their favorite foods.

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VOICE ONE:

Welcome to THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English. I’m Steve Ember.

VOICE TWO:

And I’m Faith Lapidus. Today we tell about some of the foods that Americans like best – America’s favorites.

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VOICE ONE:

Hot dog

You may have heard that Americans like hot dogs and hamburgers best of all foods. Well, farmers and owners of public eating places might happily agree. So might the nation’s Meat Institute and the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council. But people whose favorites are pizza and apple pie would give the meat-lovers a spirited argument!

Naming the favorite foods of Americans depends a lot on whom you ask. But one thing is sure. The ancestors of most Americans came from other countries. The United States owes many favorite dishes, or the ideas for these foods, to the rest of the world.

For example, that traditional American favorite, the hot dog or wiener, had its modern beginning in Germany. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council estimates that Americans eat about seven thousand million of these sausages during a summer.

VOICE TWO:

A hot dog is usually made from pork, the meat of a pig. Or it is made from beef, the meat of a cow. Another version is made from turkey. A vegetarian version of a hot dog has no meat at all. It often contains tofu, made from soy plants.

The hot dog is shaped like a tube. Many people say it looks like a Dachshund dog. It is served between two shaped pieces of bread called a bun. Americans often say they especially like hot dogs cooked over a hot fire in the open air. People at sports events buy plenty of hot dogs.

VOICE ONE:

For many people, it is not just the meat that tastes so good. These people enjoy colorful and tasty additions. For example, they include a yellow or yellow-brown thickened liquid called mustard. They may also put red catsup and pieces of a white or red, strong-smelling vegetable called onion on their hot dogs.

Hot dog eaters often add pickle, a salty green vegetable. Some people place barbecue sauce on top of all this. Or they use a spice called horseradish. It gives the hot dog a pleasant bite.

A hot dog is also known as a frankfurter or frank. That is because the city of Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany is often said to be the birthplace of this sausage. But the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council says there are other ideas about where the hot dog began.

VOICE TWO:

One version of hot dog history says a butcher, or meat cutter, from the German city of Coburg was responsible. It says he invented the hot dog in the late sixteen hundreds. Vienna, Austria, also claims that it created the food.

The council says butchers from several countries probably brought common European sausages to America. A street salesman sold hot dogs to people in New York City in the eighteen sixties. And, in eighteen seventy one, a hot dog stand opened at the Coney Island amusement park in New York City.

VOICE ONE:

Americans also eat lots of hamburgers. This ground meat comes from beef. It can be cooked in many ways. Like hot dogs, hamburgers are a favorite picnic food.

The classic American hamburger

Many public eating places in the United States say hamburgers are their most popular foods. People often eat them in places that serve quickly prepared, moderately priced food.

Like hot dog experts, hamburger historians disagree about how their subject got started. The Egyptians and Romans apparently ate ancient versions of hamburgers. In more modern days, people in Hamburg, Germany, made something like a hamburger from pork and beef.

VOICE TWO:

The small town of Seymour, Wisconsin, is among several American towns that claim to have created the first modern hamburger in the United States.

In Seymour, a man named Charlie Nagreen tried to sell meatballs at a local fair in eighteen eighty-five. But as people walked around, it was hard for them to handle the round pieces of meat. So Nagreen flattened the ball of meat. Then he placed this meat patty between two pieces of bread.

In two thousand one, people in Seymour cooked a hamburger that weighed more than three thousand kilograms. This creation reportedly fed thirteen thousand people.

VOICE ONE:

Like hot dogs, Americans like their hamburgers with additions. Things like mustard, catsup, horseradish, mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, tomatoes, lettuce, onion and perhaps a pickle.

A hamburger with cheese melted on it is called a cheeseburger. Cooks make a “Sloppy Joe” by combining hamburger meat with tomato sauce. Many people eat the Sloppy Joe mixture on a bun. Without a bun, they may get more of the loose meat on them than inside them.

For many people, eating both hot dogs and hamburgers does not seem right without potatoes. They eat French fries and potato chips with these meats. French fries are strips, or pieces, of potato cooked in oil. Potato chips are extremely thin, cooled pieces of potato. They usually are also cooked in oil.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Americans also buy or make large amounts of pizza. A basic pizza contains tomato sauce or cheese, or both, on a bread-like material.

Food writer Linda Stradley tells about the history of pizza on her computer Web site, “What’s Cooking America.” Miz Stradley says it could have been the Phoenicians, Greeks or Romans who invented pizza. Or, it could have been anyone who mixed flour with water and cooked it on a hot stone.

VOICE ONE:

Italians probably brought pizza to the United States in the second half of the nineteenth century. In nineteen-oh-five, Gennaro Lombardi reportedly opened the first pizza store in New York City. In the nineteen thirties, he added tables to his pizza place. Lombardi also began serving spaghetti.

Spaghetti is a traditional Italian favorite that also has become an American favorite. It is made from flour and water and sometimes eggs. This dough is pulled into lengths and boiled.

VOICE TWO:

All kinds of foods can be added to both pizza and spaghetti to add to their taste. For example, people like these foods with different meats on top. Or they like toppings of small fish called anchovies, or vegetables called mushrooms. Some people like all the additions at once.

Another favorite food, macaroni, is similar to spaghetti. Many Americans remember that their mothers made macaroni cooked with cheese on cold winter days. People sometimes call this dish “comfort food,” because it makes them feel better.

VOICE ONE:

Others praise hot soups prepared in their childhood homes. Some people say chicken soup -- chicken pieces in liquid -- can cure anything. Still others say New England clam chowder helps them think. This soup contains the shellfish clams floating in a milky liquid. Another version of clam chowder has tomato sauce. It looks red.

To end a meal, or between meals, Americans often eat chocolate in some form. They eat millions and millions of kilograms of chocolate a year. Chocolate is produced from cocoa beans. It is used in sweet foods like candy, pies, puddings and cakes. Many people say chocolate makes them feel happier.

VOICE TWO:

People have praised chocolate for its taste for many years. Some studies have shown that it can help chase away mild feelings of sadness. But chocolate often has a large amount of fat.

However, some experts now say a moderate amount of chocolate can be healthful. For example, the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center in Ohio notes that chocolate contains substances called antioxidants. Antioxidants are thought to help the body fight damage caused by natural processes and harmful substances in the environment.

The Heart Center suggests choosing dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate. And it warns that people should restrict themselves to a moderate amount.

VOICE ONE:

Like people in many parts of the world, Americans love pie. These sweet dishes have fruit, nuts or some other filling in a crust. Some people say pies are the best comfort food ever. That can be debated.

Apple pie

Pie can be the most inviting food ever. A red strawberry pie or a green or yellow Key lime pie can defeat the strongest resolution of people trying to lose weight. But apple pie may be a top American favorite. Over time, this dish has come to be strongly linked to the United States.

When someone or something seems especially American, people say it is “as American as apple pie.”

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Our program was written by Jerilyn Watson. Caty Weaver was our producer. I’m Steve Ember.

VOICE TWO:

And I’m Faith Lapidus. Our reports are on the Web at voaspecialenglish.com. Please join us again next week for THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English.