Russian minister advocates programme for Serb refugees` return to Kosovo homes
[Presenter] Talks between [Russian Emergencies Minister] Sergey Shoygu and Serb Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica
ended in Belgrade a few minutes ago. We have linked up with our correspondent Mikhail Solodovnikov in Belgrade. Hello,
Mikhail. What are the results of the meeting?
[Correspondent] A group of Russian specialists will begin providing technical assistance to Kosovo refugees as early
as tomorrow, i.e. sites for two temporary camps will be chosen. Russia will provide literally everything: from tents to
water-purification equipment and bedding. [A report by ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1703 gmt 22 Mar 04 said
each camp would accommodate 1,000 people.] Its more tangible help is an Emergencies Ministry's hospital, which can
care for up to 600 patients a day. Here is an excerpt from an address made by Sergey Shoygu in Prime Minister
Kostunica's residence.
[Shoygu] Our task is to do all we can to alleviate the suffering of those people. As for our vision of how events
will develop in future, it seems to us there should be a perfectly clear, concrete and technical programme for the
return of all those people who were forced to flee Kosovo. It should be separate from a general programme of political
settlement because it is a technical problem. People who lived in their own houses must return to their houses.
[Correspondent] I want to add that Sergey Shoygu will have a very busy day tomorrow. He will see with his own eyes
how refugees are living in a refugee camp not far from Belgrade.
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