Rawlings calls for an end to bombing of Yugoslavia

Accra (Greater Accra) 7 April ?99

President Jerry John Rawlings on Wednesday appealed to NATO to cease its bombing of Yugoslavia and respond positively to President Slobodan Milosevic's unilateral ceasefire offer.

He said much damage had already been inflicted on Yugoslavia and accepting the ceasefire offer would enable all parties to return to the negotiating table.

The President said this when a United States trade delegation called on him at the Castle, Osu. The delegation led by Ms Barbara Lee, a member of the Congress, is in the country to explore business opportunities. NATO planes, led by the United States, have been bombing targets in Yugoslavia to end a Serb offensive in Kosovo. NATO says the bombings would stop when Yugoslavia withdraws its troops from Kosovo, agrees to allow NATO peacekeepers into the province, accepts an interim peace deal that gives Kosovo autonomy and allows refugees to return. President Rawlings said the bombings in Yugoslavia clearly demonstrate an excessive use of military power and ''there is an uncomfortable silence''. President Rawlings said in taking military action against nations, the US and its allies must take into account the ''complex situations in some of these countries''.

He recalled earlier atrocities committed by Yugoslavia against other minorities and said the bombings might be an attempt to prevent further atrocities. ''But two wrongs do not make a right. Enough damage has been done so President Milosevic's offer of a ceasefire must be considered''.

President Rawlings said his last visit to the US was highly productive and has started showing results. ''In terms of Ghana/US relations, a lot has been achieved but so much remains to be done''. Mr Victor Gbeho, Foreign Affairs Minister, said Ghana has always shown concern for happenings in Yugoslavia and is concerned the bombings might escalate the conflict. ''We are on the side of humanity''. ''The ceasefire offer is an opportunity to bring it to a close. Total destruction of Yugoslavia is not in the interest of anybody,'' he said. Ms Lee said her delegation, numbering 34, had held several round of talks with their Ghanaian counterparts.