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April 26, 1999
Web posted at: 11:50 a.m. EDT (1550 GMT)

In this story: 'Reasonably good condition' RELATED STORIES, SITES

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (CNN) -- Three U.S. soldiers captured by Yugoslav forces nearly a month ago, and not seen in public since, were briefly visited Monday by the head of the Red Cross. The Pentagon says it was told the three are in "reasonably good health."

Cornelio Sommaruga, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, headed a delegation that spent about 15 minutes with the three prisoners of war. Yugoslav officials also were present.

Sommaruga "was able to hand over mail from their families and receive some mail in return," NATO spokesman Jamie Shea told reporters in Brussels.

There was no information on where the soldiers were being held or where Monday's meeting took place.

'Reasonably good condition'

At a news conference in Belgrade, Sommaruga gave no information about the physical condition of the three soldiers. "I had no knowledge of what they feel. I had no doctor with me to analyze their health," he said.

But the Pentagon told CNN it was notified by the ICRC that the men were in "reasonably good condition."

Sommaruga said a full visit in accordance with the Geneva Conventions was not possible but that he hoped a doctor would visit the soldiers on Tuesday.

"I expect that as a result of negotiations (on Monday), the ICRC delegates and a doctor will visit them and have private talks as foreseen by the Geneva Conventions," Sommaruga told a news conference in Belgrade.

Shortly after their March 31 capture near the Macedonia border, the three soldiers were shown on Serb TV with cuts and bruised faces.

The ICRC had previously been denied access to the soldiers: Staff Sgt. Andrew Ramirez, 24, of Los Angeles; Spc. Steven Gonzalez, 21, of Huntsville, Texas; and Staff Sgt. Christopher Stone, 25, of Smiths Creek, Michigan.

The United States has accused Yugoslavia of denying the soldiers their rights under the Geneva Conventions, which recognize the right of the ICRC to visit prisoners of war.

"I had the occasion to see them and shake their hands and I had a short talk with all three," said Sommaruga, who also met with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. "It was not possible to have a full-fledged ICRC visit in accord with the provisions of the Geneva Conventions."

There was no immediate explanation from the Yugoslav government about the reason for the long delay in access to the men.

Sommaruga said Milosevic assured him: "There is not one single prisoner in our country that you cannot visit."

Asked about the chances of Yugoslavia releasing the three soldiers, Sommaruga said: "The international humanitarian law says prisoners of war would be liberated only at the end of active hostilities. Regrettably, we are not at this point at the moment."

Correspondent Carl Rochelle contributed to this report.

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