.Q: Ambassador Holbrooke, you have been exposed to critics for dealing only
with Milosevic, neglecting democratic institutions, opposition and
independent media. Will you change that attitude, and do you see
Mr. Milosevic as a troublemaker or someone who is the guarantor of
stability in the Balkans?
HOLBROOKE: I don't believe any purpose is served by characterizations of a
personal nature in the middle of extraordinarily sensitive and difficult
negotiations. We've made our views clear repeatedly. I have made my own
views clear, and I don't see any reason to get into that. We are here to
address the specific problems of the region and we look forward to
discussing them with President Milosevic. I'll let others address that
question other times and other ways.
Q: Ambassador Holbrooke. Maybe that question should be put this way. Do you
see any change in the official attitude of, let's say, the State Department
towards President Milosevic in the last ten days or so, having in mind some
very rough and tough statements about his personality?
HOLBROOKE: I think the U.S. position has been consistent for a long time on
this issue. For several years. Our interests are in compliance,
verification, stability, the full implementation of the Dayton Agreement,
and getting this extraordinarily turbulent part of the world more stable.
That's an important goal of all the NATO countries, all the European Union
countries, Russia, and I don't see any change in that. People say different
things at different times, but the policy is very clear and consistent and
it hasn't changed in any fundamental way I stress the word fundamental,
because you move round a little bit from time to time but there's been no
fundamental change in the policy since Dayton and before.
US Envoy Richard Holbrooke, at press roundtable, shortly before
meeting with Yugoslavia's President Slobodan Milosevic
Belgrade - December 15, 1998
A) News Summary (Part I -- Compiled from news and wire reports): Political
and economic developments in Serbia; Serbia vs. Montenegro; Vojvodina and
Sandzak; media; universities; regional issues; international scene;
Belgrade vs. Tribunal
REPORTS FROM REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA (Part II -- in following e-mail)
B) Politics in Belgrade
1. POLITICAL SCENE IN SERBIA
2. TESTIMONY OF OPPOSITION LEADER NEBOJSA COVIC BEFORE THE CONGRESSIONAL
COMMISSION ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE
C) Serbia and Montenegro
3.SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO - BELGRADE AS THE THREAT
D) US Policy on Serbia viewed
4. AMERICA HAS TURNED ITS BACK ON MILOSEVIC
5. SHEER COERCION
E)International Criminal Tribunal
6. PRESS CONFERENCE BY HAROLD KOH, US ASSISTANT OF STATE FOR DEMOCRACY,
HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOR POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS IN SERBIA
In an interview conducted last week with Newsweek correspondent Lally
Weymouth, published Sunday by the Washington Post and official Belgrade
news agency Tanjug, Yugoslavia's President Slobodan Milosevic called the
creation of an outer wall of sanctions "unfair," said he was "proud of my
role" on behalf of the "interests of my people and my county," and denied
that Serbia was harboring war criminals.
When asked about his recent firings of former Yugoslav National Army chief
of staff Momcilo Perisic and intelligence chief Jovica Stanisic, Milosevic
replied: "This was just a regular change. In any democratic country, that
is normal."
Milosevic also threatened to treat as an "act of aggression" any attempt
to enter Yugoslavia by NATO's Macedonia-based rapid reaction force, formed
to rescue members of the OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission from
life-threatening situations in Kosovo.
Republika Srpska official news agency SRNA (Pale) cited a statement by
Serbia's Democratic Party (DS) saying Yugoslavia's President "Milosevic's
interview for the Washington Post shows that he has no...intention of
allowing any kind of democratic reforms in the economy and society, and
that he sees [Serbia's deputy Prime Minister and Serbian Radical Party
chairman Vojislav] Seselj and [Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) chairman] Vuk
Draskovic as supporting pillars of his loser's policies."
The statement cited by SRNA also noted: "Milosevic is deluding himself
with economic success, growth in production experts, and living standards,
the DS said, and added that he had no answer to the question of why 24,000
companies - which employ 500,000 people - are facing bankruptcy, why
800,000 workers have been laid off, why there are 600,000 unemployed and
why every third Serbian citizen is facing starvation."
BETA reported that "the Serbian education union [Tuesday] called all
primary school and high school teachers to stop working starting Feb. 2,
1999, until all their demands are met. The union demands regular payment of
salaries, payment of salary arrears, and the promised raise."
Reuters reported that "the Yugoslav central bank played down devaluation
fears on Friday and instead offered a set of measures to stabilize the
dinar on the black market, where it has slipped sharply in value since
Monday. 'There will be no devaluation and the exchange rate of the dinar
will remain fixed,' the National Bank of Yugoslavia Governor Dusan
Vlatkovic told a news conference. The dinar recouped some of its losses on
Friday and was changing hands at 8.2-8.7 to the German mark on Yugoslavia's
thriving black market, compared to 8.5-9.0 on Thursday [the official rate
is set at 6.0 dinars to the German mark]." Reuters noted that Vlatkovic
announced several measures intended to take hundreds of millions of dinars
out of circulation, including "draining excess liquidity" from the official
foreign exchange market and increasing reserve requirements for banks.
Independent news service BETA (Belgrade) reported December 10 that
"leading Yugoslav economists estimated that the huge public expenditure
which, according to the government's plan, would be around 70 percent of
the gross social product, is threatening to cause hyper-inflation. At the
annual consultations of economists to discuss the planned economic policy,
held on Dec. 9, the director of the Institute for Economic Studies,
Tomislav Popovic, said that the federal government's economic policy plan
for next year was 'the worst concept in the past 30 years.' "
BETA reported today that the "economic system board of the Yugoslav
Chamber of Commerce demanded, on Dec. 15, that the federal government
adopts a program of measures in case basic elements of the 1999 economic
policy fail to materialize, such as Yugoslavia's membership in
international financial institutions, the lifting of the ban on investments
in our country, and the approval of the EU trade preferences. The board
chairman, Dragan Srejovic, pointed out that it was obvious the
International Monetary Fund would discuss Yugoslavia's status only in June,
when the European Union will also decide whether to grant trade preferences
to Yugoslavia in the second half of 1999."
The Financial Times reported today that "Western embassies differ in their
assessments [of Yugoslavia's economic situation]. Some see a deepening
crisis just around the corner, estimating the government has exhausted its
reserves and can only print money to pay the state sector and keep a lid on
social unrest. Last week the dinar plummeted on the black market as state
banks pumped out freshly minted notes to try to suck up the 'under the
mattress' hard currency savings of the beleaguered population. Others
disagree. 'Milosevic has got 1999 banked,' commented one diplomat. 'The
country has got food, and oil from Libya. And with an openly declared enemy
in the US, he can call on the population for another year of sacrifice.'
The Financial Times noted today that Yugoslavia's former central bank
governor Dragoslav Avramovic "has become the inspiration for the most
coherent threat to Mr. Milosevic yet... [he] has emerged to become the
brains behind...[the] newly formed opposition coalition the Alliance for
Change... Last week Mr. Avramovic spoke at an outdoor rally for the first
time in more than two years. Organized by independent trade unions it drew
about 6,000 people in the southern town of Kraljevo - a reasonable turnout
given the snowy weather. More rallies are planned across Serbia."
The Financial Times report also noted: "Mr. Avramovic believes the time
has come to unite disparate opposition groups, supported mainly by the
urban middle class, with an equally fragmented and weak trade union
movement... 'The history of the Alliance members is checkered and
difficult, Mr. Avramovic, a former World Bank economist, admits. 'But this
time no one can afford to pull out. The question is whether we will be able
to mount an effective campaign'... Avramovic, known as 'super grandpa' with
a high ranking in opinion polls, says the burning question is how long the
regime can stave off complete economic collapse, and at what point people
will start to protest."
The report also noted that "a purge of the security forces [in Serbia] is
now penetrating to the lower ranks. Rumblings of discontent are being
neutralized."
The Toronto Star reported Sunday from Belgrade: "As their country
continues its downward spiral of political and economic decline, Serbian
liberals who want to oust Milosevic are stopped in their tracks by the
thought that Seselj is his likely successor."
SERBIA vs. MONTENEGRO
When asked if the subject of Montenegro came up during US Envoy Richard
Holbrooke's visit to Belgrade this week, US Secretary of State James Rubin
said today: "Without getting into the specifics of that kind of discussion,
let me say we've said many times that we do not want to see the kind of
repression that occurred in Kosovo occur in Montenegro. That we do not
support secession of Montenegro; on the contrary, we support democracy and
Montnenegro working successfully with Serbia in a parliamentary system. And
so we do have concerns about Montenegro. We've been very supportive of
President Djukanovic, and we take the opportunity when appropriate to raise
those issues with the Serbs. But I wouldn't be able to specify what was
said on that subject between Ambassador Holbrooke and President Milosevic."
BETA reported yesterday that "U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
sent 'a very sharply worded message' to FRY President Slobodan Milosevic,
claim well informed diplomatic sources in Brussels. The message asks
Milosevic to withhold any movements by Yugoslav army troops in the
direction of or inside of Montenegro, which could in any manner bring into
question the legitimate, elected authorities in Podgorica, say those
sources, adding that the administration in Washington says it 'has certain
indications' of such. Senior diplomats in Brussels say that the NATO
Council discussed the subject on Dec. 14, and that the Russian side has
been informed of it at the meeting of the sitting council of NATO and
Russia, which was held at the level of ambassadors."
Independent daily Vijesti (Podgorica) said December 9 that Montenegro's
Justice Minister Dragan Soc "announced yesterday that senior Montenegrin
politicians would hold a preliminary meeting to devise a strategy to defend
Montenegro from the 'expected attempt to topple' the current republican
activities. It is obvious that things are starting to move quickly in
Serbia and Montenegro... Slobodan Milosevic will not give up his position
easily, so we expect yet another attempt to bring down the authorities.
There is no point in speculating how this will develop, but changes in the
army and police leadership in Serbia can be viewed in this light, Soc told
a news conference."
BETA also noted December 10: "Montenegrin Premier Filip Vujanovic said:
Despite the 'many irritating things about the Yugoslav federation,'
Montenegro will make not a single hasty move in which the results cannot be
predicted. 'I do not advocate breaking up something that is in the best
interest of the Yugoslav and Montenegrin people, which is their community,
because of a bad regime or a bad leadership of Yugoslavia, individually or
as a married couple,' Montenegrin Premier Vujanovic emphasized in an
interview to the Montenegrin television. Vujanovic also expressed the hope
that the Yugoslav Army's new chief-of-staff, Dragoljub Ojdanic, would
pursue the same professional path in running the army, which means that the
army will remain away from political conflicts."
Radio B-92 noted that "Montenegro's Minister for Labour and Social Issues,
Predrag Drecun told media [Tuesday] that the Montenegrin Government will
tomorrow debate a parallel currency. Drecun said that, although the weekend
fall in the black market rate of the dinar had recovered, another monetary
strike could be expected by the end of the year. He added that the National
Party, of which he is deputy leader, would initiate a debate on the
protection of Montenegro's interests."
BETA reported that Montenegro's Vice Premier Predrag Goranovic said
December 11 that Montenegro "would be forced to take over monetary
jurisdiction from the federal government and protect its own interests, if
the 'monetary chaos in Yugoslavia continues.' In the same show, Montenegrin
Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining, Vojin Djukanovic, labelled as
'nonsense' explanations by Serbian officials that the 'independent media
and psychological factor' caused the current monetary coup. 'The exchange
rate is rising because the economy is not generating enough income and
cannot cover large public spending,' said Djukanovic, adding that
'Montenegro is ready to activate mechanisms to protect its citizens even
without introducing its national currency.' "
BETA reported December 10: "In its draft budget for next year, the
Montenegrin government has earmarked 1.5 million dinars to be used for the
formation of the Montenegrin Information Agency. Montenegrin Information
Secretary Bozidar Jaredic said earlier that the project to form the
Montenegrin state information agency had been completed, but the beginning
of its work depended on securing finances. Jaredic also said the need for a
Montenegrin agency arose the moment [Yugoslavia's official] Tanjug news
agency 'started stumbling,' turning...into a 'provincial agency, serving
the interests of only one party.' "
VOJVODINA AND SANDZAK
BETA reported that "the president of the League of Vojvodina
Social-Democrats, Nenad Canak, said on Dec. 15 that in the future his party
will advocate the creation of a Republic of Vojvodina. 'Autonomy for
Vojvodina is an outdated solution which has no point because in this
country there are no longer any institutions left. So, from now on, we will
pursue our strategic goal - a Republic of Vojvodina,' said Canak at a press
conference. He added that this concept implies an 'expanded federalization
of Serbia and not an independent Vojvodina... Only a Republic of Vojvodina
can serve as a limiting factor to anti-civilizational processes coming from
Belgrade...a republic cannot be revoked, while autonomy - as we have seen -
can."
Independent Radio B-92 (Belgrade) reported Monday that "the Alliance of
Vojvodina Hungarians has announced that it will present a package agreement
today that outlines a political framework for self-rule in Vojvodina. News
agency BETA reports that the Alliance issued a statement on Saturday saying
that it will meet with other political parties from Serbia's northern
province this week in order to work out a common view on self-rule. The
party also said that its proposal would resemble US Ambassador Christopher
Hill's draft plan for Kosovo. The statement finished by saying that the
current authorities could not apply double standards to Serbia's various
ethnic minorities and that it was unacceptable that the problems in Kosovo
were the only ones being discussed."
BETA reported December 10 that "the chairman of the Bosniac People's
Council of Sandzak, Sulejman Ugljanin, on Dec. 9 in talks with the U.S.
embassy representative responsible for Sandzak, called for establishing a
permanent OSCE mission in Sandzak. He also requested the concrete help of
the U.S., it was said in a statement issued after the meeting."
MEDIA
BETA reported December 10 that "the trial against the Podgorica-based
Dnevni Telegraf company, and the [independent Belgrade-based] daily Dnevni
Telegraf's editor-in-chief Dragan Novakovic, for violating the Serbian
Information Law, on charges pressed by the Dedinje Clinical Center
director, the Serbian Deputy Premier, and the Yugoslav Left's high-ranking
official, Milovan Bojic, ended in Belgrade in the evening on Dec. 10. The
court wound up the case by ruling that the company pay a fine totaling
450,000 dinars [$45,000]. Bojic pressed charges against the daily, over the
article in the Dec.5 issue, which said that 'murdered cardiologist
Aleksandar Popovic was among the doctors, who have been warning the
authorities for a long time that the Dedinje Clinic's director had been
abusing his position for the import of drugs and equipment.' "
Independent daily Glas Javnosti (Belgrade) cited a Dnevni Telegraf lawyer:
"This is a final appeal to the expert public to raise their voices, since
this matter concerns the functioning and the existence of a legal system."
BETA reported today that "the owner and editor-in-chief of the daily
Dnevni Telegraf, Slavko Curuvija, who was called by the Belgrade police for
questioning, said on Dec. 15 that the police were interested in an article
dealing with the murder of the heart surgeon Aleksandar Popovic, which was
published in the daily under the title "The Victim Criticizes Bojic."
[Curuvija] said that the inspectors were primarily interested in learning
who had chosen the title of the article and decided to run it on the front
page. Curuvija said that he was informed that the Council of Europe was
preparing a number of new political measures against the regime in Belgrade
because of its repression against public information media."
Independent daily Danas (Belgrade) reported December 10 that "over 11,000
people of Serbia have signed petitions for an urgent abolition of the
information law to be submitted to the People's Assembly of Serbia...
According to the existing rules of procedure, this civic initiative can be
placed on the Serbian parliament's agenda if signed by at least 15,000
individuals. At the same time, 65 requests to annul the Serbian information
law have come from abroad. One third of the world's countries have
protested against the law. 16 others are either international organizations
or the states beyond 'the new world order,' meaning friends of Belgrade.
Curiously enough, twelve protests have been addressed to Yugoslav President
Slobodan Milosevic though the case concerns a Serbian law."
Independent daily Blic (Belgrade) reported December 15 that "the Council
of the European Union adopted yesterday a list of 19 Serbian politicians
'responsible for preparation, enforcement, promotion or political misuse of
the Serbian information law, who will from now on be denied visas by
member-states of the European Union. The list includeds Serbia's Vice
Premier Vojislav Seselj and Serbia's Information Minister Aleksandr
Vucic... The decision to deny visas...will be overruled when repression of
the independent media in Yugoslavia stops."
Official news agency SRNA (Pale) cited a statement by Serbia's opposition
Democratic Party Sunday that two municipal newspapers in Serbia had suits
against them rejected: "A magistrates' court judge, Snezana Nikolic, has
suspended proceedings against the municipality of Pirot, the head of the
municipality, and the acting editor in chief of Sloboda newspaper... The DS
says that judges in Belgrade refuse to initiate proceedings against [Zemun
daily] Zemunske Novine, saying that the newspaper was established by the
municipality of Zemun and that a state body cannot be taken to court. The
DS is confident that an increasing number of judges will find reasons to
acquit journalists and contribute to the struggle against the information law."
Asked his interview with the Washington Post why he was "shutting down
newspapers" Milosevic said that "the press is completely free." When
questioned about recent fines levied against certain newspapers, Milosevic
responded: "That is the law of Serbia." Pressed further, he said "the press
is completely free, but if you publish lies...you must pay a penalty."
During a press conference with independent media yesterday, US Envoy
Holbrooke responded to a journalist asking whether Holbrooke could convince
Milosevic to allow independent media to work freely in Serbia: "We do
everything we can on this issue. Americans don't run your country. We can't
run your country. We have very strong views on the importance of
independent media throughout the region... We've spoken out on that many
times." US Envoy Christopher Hill, with Holbrooke, said in response to the
same question: "Frankly, it's another issue which will have to be solved if
we're going to make progress in our ultimate effort."
UNIVERSITIES
Radio B-92 reported today "students of three Belgrade University faculties
yesterday staged a protest march through Belgrade. The demonstration ended
at the Serbian Education Ministry, where the students handed a letter to
Education Minister Jovo Todorovic, explaining their reasons for boycotting
lectures."
Radio B-92 reported yesterday that "a student activist from the student
resistance organisation Otpor was released by police a short time ago after
having been arrested in the central city earlier today. Srdja Popovic is
now being examined in a Belgrade hospital, and is expected to speak to
media [tonight]. Popovic was searched by police in camouflage uniforms in
Republic Square before being taken to the Belgrade police station. No
reason was given for his arrest. Another Otpor activist, Uros Urosevic told
Radio B-92 this afternoon that he and two colleagues had gone to the
station to seek information about Popovic and had been beaten and sent
away. Popovic is also spokesman for the City board of the Democratic Party."
BETA today reported that Popovic, who was released yesterday from custody
at 5 p.m., "said that the policemen at the Stari Grad police station beat
him for about 20 minutes, and that neither during the arrest nor later was
he told why he was arrested. Popovic said that in the police station he was
asked to sign a statement which was prepared for him in advance, but that
he refused even to read it, demanding instead to be given the reasons for
the arrest and to be allowed to talk to his lawyer."
Radio B-92 reported Monday that "professors and students from Belgrade
University's Faculty of Philology have been asked to go back to classes.
Belgrade media reports today that Zivorad Djordjevic, the president of the
faculty's managing board, said that some of the faculty's statutes had been
changed which removed some of the things that had caused misunderstandings
between students and the school's administrators. Djordjevic did not,
however, specify what had been changed in the faculty's policies or had
been altered. He went on to say that during the next six months, the
faculty's organization would be reassessed in order to find the most
rational solution. An earlier decision from the faculty's new dean, Radmilo
Marojevic, had dissolved some of the faculty's departments, including the
general literature department."
Radio B-92 confirmed December 10 that administrators at the Yugoslav
Academic Internet network blocked access to all locations of OpenNet, Radio
B-92's Internet service: "The move has left all academic Internet centers
in Serbia without the ability to obtain information from B-92 via the
Internet. OpenNet engineer Vladislav Bjelic told Beta agency today that the
ban had affected about 200 organizations, including independent media and
most non-governmental organizations. Also cut off were a large number of
university teachers and researchers as well as the students of all
universities and research institutes. Bjelic added that OpenNet was working
intensively at setting up mirror sites which would make the network
accessible, adding that there were two mirrors in Holland, two in the US
and one in Yugoslavia. Radio B-92 learned today that the rector of Belgrade
University, Jagos Puric, had not been informed of the operation before it
was implemented and that it was not yet clear who had ordered the block to
be placed."University."
Assistant Secretary Koh stated Monday that Milosevic's non-compliance with
the International Criminal Tribunal "again confirms the view that was
expressed strongly by our (The State) Department over the past few weeks
that it's clear that Milosevic is the problem. He's not just part of the
problem, but he is the problem. Until steps are taken to address these
issues, there will continue to be instability in the region."
Independent news service FoNet (Belgrade) reported Monday that Koh would
also be meeting Wednesday with Serbian Resistance Movement leader Vuk
Draskovic and Judiciary Minister Dragoljub Jankovic, and Thursday with
Montenegro's President Djukanovic and representatives of the independent
media and Helsinki Committee in Montenegro.
The New York Times reported Sunday: "The United States...is moving to
undermine President Milosevic's tight control over Yugoslavia... Mr.
Milosevic's political grip has weakened because of his mishandling of the
rebellion in...Kosovo, American officials say... But...he remains an
important actor in Western efforts to keep the peace in Bosnia and Kosovo,
they say... While they argue that the essence of American policy - support
for the democratization of the region - has not changed, they concede that
the American tone about Mr. Milosevic has hardened. 'There is a generalized
feeling now throughout the Administration that Milosevic is the problem in
the Balkans, and less vital for the solutions,' a senior American official
said... The Administration hopes to roll out an explicit program at the
beginning of the year, the officials said, which will include aid to
independent news organizations, academic institutions and civic organizations."
The New York Times report continued: "This week, for instance, the State
Department welcomed a number of Serbian democrats and news media figures
who have been attacked by Mr. Milosevic, including Slavko Curuvija,
publisher of the newspaper Dnevni Telegraf [as well as opposition coalition
'Alliance for Change' coordinator Nebojsa Covic and independent student
leader Boris Karajcic] which Mr. Milosevic shut down on October 13, but
which has been revived and publishes from Montenegro." The visit included
testimony to the Congressional Commission on Security and Cooperation in
Europe, and meetings with several administration officials, media and
non-governmental organizations.
The New York Times report also noted American officials "are openly
supporting the democratic Government in Montenegro [which] Mr. Milosevic
has hinted he might move against... 'There has been real progress toward
democracy and economic freedom in Montenegro, and we want to support them
any way we can,' a senior American official said. 'It's also a way to show
the Serbs in Belgrade, who are watching, that we are not anti-Serb per se,
which is what Milosevic always cries.' "
Agence France Presse reported that Serbia's Vice Premier Vojislav Seselj
said in a television interview Sunday that "the danger [to Yugoslavia]
comes from America... One [way of forcing change on Belgrade] is to
encourage the separatist tendencies that exist in Montenegro [and]
dismantle the common state... the other route is the overthrow of the
regime in Belgrade, and US officials have begun notably to take on Milosevic."
The European Union, in the President's Conclusions from its December 11-12
Vienna summit, declared: "Convinced that democracy in the FRY is crucial
for peace and stability in the Balkans, the European Council condemns the
crackdown on independent media and reiterates the EU's insistence on
democratic reform and free media in the FRY. It also demands full
cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia.
The European Union will continue actively to encourage and support
President Djukanovic and the elected government in the ongoing course of
reform in Montenegro intended to promote a democratic and modern society."
Reuters reported that an International Monetary Fund spokeswoman said
Monday that the body, "in the latest of a series of delays, has postponed a
decision on readmitting sanctionshit Yugoslavia until June... 'The
executive board has extended the period in which the requirements for
succession can be fulfilled,' [the spokeswoman] said, using identical words
to those used six months ago when the IMF last delayed its decision whether
rump Yugoslavia Serbia and Montenegro can take up the IMF seat once held
by Belgrade."
BETA reported today "the coordinator of the Alliance for Change and leader
of the Democratic Alternative, Nebojsa Covic, said on Dec. 15 that 'the
U.S. is ready to support democratic forces in Serbia, and that an analysis
is in progress on the political responsibility of the Alliance for
Change.'At a press conference upon his return from the U.S., where he was
on a visit at the invitation of the U.S. Congress Committee for Security
and Cooperation in Europe as an alliance representative, Covic said that
'the U.S. has realized that Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic is not a
person capable of resolving the problems in the Balkans, but can, in fact,
create new ones. If we manage to convince the U.S. that the alliance can
unite democratic forces and democratize Serbia, the international
community's assistance will follow,' said Covic."
BELGRADE vs. TRIBUNAL
Reuters reported Sunday that "judges at the International Criminal
Tribunal for former Yugoslavia sided with the prosecution in a dispute over
where...three men [Mile Mrksic, Veselin Sljivancanin and Miroslav Radic,
scheduled to testify -- as witnesses -- in a Yugoslav military court on
December 17] should stand trial for the massacre of 260 unarmed men near
the Croatian town of Vukovar in November 1991... 'The trial chamber has
made a request to the Belgrade authorities to defer,' Tribunal spokesman
Jim Landale said. Yugoslavia has 60 days in which to comply, otherwise the
matter will be referred to the UN Security Council. But Yugoslavia has
repeatedly rejected the writ of the United Nations court over its domestic
law... 'The hearing of Mrksic, Sljivancanin and Radic will be held as
scheduled and we have no intention of changing it,' the military court's
president...said last night."
Reuters reported yesterday that "Tribunal representatives will attend
Thursday's hearing in Belgrade."
Reuters also noted Sunday that US Assistant Secretary of State for Human
Rights Harold Koh, travelling to Serbia and Montenegro this week, "said he
would meet with Milosevic Wednesday and it was 'no coincidence' that his
visit would fall on the eve of the military hearing. [Koh said he would
tell Milosevic] "if you do not live up to the commitments, there will be a
price to pay... There have been a whole series of obstructions and examples
of gross non-compliance with the Tribunal,' Koh said, accusing Yugoslavia
of shielding suspected war criminals including the former Bosnian Serb
military commander, General Ratko Mladic."
During a press conference in The Hague just before travelling to Belgrade,
Koh said that measures to enforce compliance with the ICTY "could take the
form of sanctions, increased sanctions. This is under discussion, and
certainly additional resolutions ought to be considered. I think certainly
direct conversations with Milosevic should be held, making clear the United
States' and the Security Council's dissatisfaction with these matters."
A December 4 letter from the President of the Tribunal, Gabrielle Kirk
MacDonald, to the December 15-16 Peace Implementation Council meeting in
Madrid called on the PIC to use the "opportunity of the Madrid summit to
compel the FRY to obey international law and to meet its commitments, both
to the Tribunal and to the Council... the FRY's continued obduracy
jeopardizes all efforts to bring peace to the peoples of the former
Yugoslavia."
The Times (London) noted Monday that "diplomats point to a 'Pinochet
syndrome' among a Yugoslav regime that is uncomfortable with war crimes
inquiries too close to home."
