As the bombing of Yugoslavia continues, a low-intensity war is being fought on the diplomatic front at the United Nations. The U.S. and its allies at the United Nations last week successfully blocked a Russian resolution critical of NATO for causing widespread environmental devastation in Yugoslavia. The resolution would have expressed “grave concern” over NATO’s bombings of petrochemical plants and oil refineries in Yugoslavia, and called for the United Nations to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the environmental consequences of the bombing. Russia brought its complaint to the Commission on Sustainable Development, a UN body formed in the wake of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio to address issues of environmental protection.

Pacifica Radio reporter Jeremy Scahill has been following developments at the UN and filed this report.

Tape:

• Report from the United Nations

Guest:

• Thalif Deen, United Nations Bureau Chief for Inter-Press Service, a Third World news agency.