."Milosevic is down but he's not out... He may well legitimate himself for a second or a third time... He (Milosevic) has other targets Montenegro, Vojvodina and of course the Republika Srpska is still there."
NATO Supreme Commander General Wesley Clark
Quoted by Associated Press, June 21 - Budapest
"Look at the pattern. When the soldiers went from Croatia after the war in 1991, they didn't go back to barracks. They went to the next war, in Bosnia. How many people will take off their uniforms in Kosovo, and then end up in the next war, in Montenegro?"
Unnamed human rights official
Quoted by The Independent (London), June 23 - Belgrade
"We're asking the [Serbian] opposition to be an opposition and to aspire to be a government and to
take steps within the constitutional framework to do that... But the help we can provide is limited."
Unnamed Clinton Administration official
Quoted by the New York Times, June 22 - Belgrade
"Milosevic is more afraid of Kosovo Serbs on the roads across Serbia than he is of the whole Serbian opposition."
Democratic Party Vice President Slobodan Vuksanovic
Quoted by the New York Times, June 23 - Belgrade
"We didn't know there were refugees in Belgrade... How come all of a sudden there are refugees all over Serbia?"
Unidentified female pensioner in Belgrade
Quoted by Reuters, June 22 - Belgrade
"When I tried to talk about what I had seen and experienced, people would get impatient and change the subject... It's as if people here simply don't want to know the truth about what happened in Kosovo. Even the intellectuals are under the influence of official propaganda."
Natasa Kandic, Director of Belgrade's Human Rights Law Center
Quoted by the Washington Post, June 24 - Belgrade
"Milosevic is not going anywhere."
Senior Yugoslavia official
Quoted by the New York Times, June 22 - Belgrade
I. TODAY'S TOP DEVELOPMENTS
Army reservists block traffic, demand salary payments
Reuters reported today: "Angry Yugoslav Army reservists brought traffic to a halt in several parts of central Serbia Thursday for the second day in growing protests to demand payment of war salaries. Blockages snarled traffic across the republic, along the main BelgradeNis highway, motorists said, with traffic jams at many key junctions. In Kraljevo, 100 miles south of Belgrade, one witness said an armored brigade of 2,000 reservists used trucks and an armored personnel carrier with a heavy machine gun to block the Ibar bridge. Other roadblocks in Yugoslavia had been set up Wednesday night by reservists from the
Yugoslav Army 125th motorized brigade, which was awarded a National Hero group decoration for its efforts in Kosovo. Separately, a few hundred Yugoslav Army artillery and antiaircraft reservists blocked the BelgradeKragujevac road at the village of Cerovac, BETA [Belgrade news agency] said. It said in that area soldiers were only letting police and ambulances through as well as vehicles carrying refugees and small children. All of the protesting soldiers were demanding allowances and wages for the time they spent in Kosovo during the 11 weeks of NATO bombing. 'They want to give us regular wages only, which is next to nothing. We pay our dues on time and we owe the state nothing, so we don't want either the state or the Army to owe us,' BETA was told by one of the reservists in the Kraljevo area. 'They offered me a monthly amount of $119 for May and June, which is miserable,' he said. An eyewitness said Lieutenant-General Nebojsa Pavkovic, commander of the Third Army who recently pulled his troops out of sou
thern Kosovo, visited the protesters and tried to break up their demonstration. But by mid-afternoon Thursday the protest was still going on. An eyewitness said roadblocks also stopped Kosovo Serb refugees from heading south as they answered a government request to return to the
southern Kosovo province they fled in fear over the past 10 days. BETA said police had confiscated tapes with footage of the protest from Kraljevo Radio Television."
US State Department spokesman James Rubin said today that "under authority provided by the Congress, Secretary Albright is pleased to announce today a war criminals rewards program for the former Yugoslavia. The United States is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of persons indicted for serious violations of international humanitarian law by the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia or for information leading to their transfer to or conviction by the tribunal. Any person providing such information may be eligible for a reward of up to $5 million. Anyone who has information, particularly information on the location of an inductee in any country, should contact the nearest U.S. embassy immediately."
II. FEARS OVER MILOSEVIC'S NEXT MOVE
Serbian paramilitary units reported in Montenegro, Vojvodina
The Independent (London) reported yesterday that "Yugoslav army troops forced out of Kosovo by NATO bombing are reported to be pouring into Montenegro at an alarming rate, raising fears that Serbia's tiny neighbour is about to become the next victim of President Slobodan Milosevic's aggression. The number of troops in Montenegro has risen to 40,000 more than 5 per cent of the population. Many fear clashes between police loyal to the reformist Montenegrin government and Yugoslav troops loyal to Mr Milosevic. Human rights workers also
warn that Serb paramilitaries fresh from Kosovo and from carrying out some of the worst atrocities in Europe since the Second World War have been fanning out through the republic allegedly including forces belonging to the most notorious paramilitary, Arkan." The Chicago Tribune reported that UNHCR spokeswoman Paula Ghedini June 23 "said... the Yugoslav Army... had blocked the return of refugees from Montenegro for a time but is now permitting them to leave."
The Independent (London) reported yesterday that in Montenegro "up to 15,000
military court cases are pending against men of fighting age who refused to be
drafted into the army for the campaign in Kosovo."
Hungarian news agency MTI reported June 18 that "Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi [on June 18] told the Brussels meeting of NATO member countries' foreign and defense ministers that although the situation is improving in Kosovo, tension is tangibly increasing in Montenegro, Vojvodina and the Sandzak region. Martonyi said the minorities' fear of the settlement of Serbs who are fleeing Kosovo, and the appearance of para-military organizations, contributes in part to the rising tension. He added that a clear message must be sent to Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic that what he did in Kosovo cannot be repeated anywhere else."
The Washington Times reported June 23 that "a State Department official said yesterday [Milosevic] 'could destabilize Macedonia, Montenegro and attack Hungarians in Vojvodina,' the northernmost province in Serbia. He could also meddle in Republika Srpska... State Department officials said NATO's bombing had reduced the ability of the Yugoslav military to meddle in the region. They also said trade sanctions and a ban on assistance from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund would make it very hard for Mr. Milosevic to pay his troops and supporters in the region. 'There is no question he could try to make trouble,' said a White House official. 'But given that he just was humiliated, he's more focused on just staying alive than causing trouble for others." The Times (London) reported today that "NATO'S 79day bombing campaign against Yugoslavia... succeeded in damaging only 13 of the Serbs' 300 battle tanks in Kosovo... When the Serbs finally withdrew from [Kosovo], at least 250 tanks were counted out
, as well as 450 armoured personnel carriers and 600 artillery and mortar pieces." The Washington Post reported June 11 that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Henry Shelton "said NATO had struck 120 Yugoslav tanks, 220 armored personnel carriers and 450 artillery and mortars in Kosovo. He said 60 percent of the facilities of the 3rd Army the main occupying force in the embattled province had been destroyed, as had 35 percent of the 1st Army's facilities and 20 percent of the 2nd Army's."
Montenegro independence referendum plans moving forward
The Times (London) reported today that "a petition demanding a referendum [on independence] was signed June 23 by 75 professors from the University of Montenegro as well as government officials and intellectuals. According to political sources in Podgorica, the referendum could come as early as September. 'It would ask people if they want to live in Federal Yugoslavia led by Mr Milosevic as we know it, or a sovereign and independent Montenegro,' said Radomir Sekulovic, an adviser to the Montenegro Government. 'With that question, we believe we will get the 60 per cent needed for a successful referendum.' "
Slovenian news agency STA (Lubljana) reported June 22 that following a meeting with Slovenia's President Milan Kucan, Montenegro's President Milo Djukanovic "announced Podgorica would start talks with Belgrade about future relations now that the Kosovo crisis is over. According to Djukanovic, Montenegro is committed to democratic development, economic reform, multiethnic society, openness and accession to European integrations. 'While Montenegro has not asked for its independence to be recognized, it still wants to achieve a number of goals, and we'll try to put our national interests forward within the state we live in,' Djukanovic said. Montenegro will be pleased if Belgrade understands its desires. Should Serbia continue to refuse these principles, 'Montenegro will not sacrifice its future, but ask the people in a referendum about a redefinition of the status of Montenegro,' Djukanovic said... With Belgrade showing no sign of reconciliation, Podgorica has come up with a proposal of new relations in the
aftermath of the Kosovo war, according to Djukanovic. The proposal includes: 'Democratic relations with a necessary degree of independence for Montenegro, which would enable Montenegro implementation of a policy of democratic and economic reforms and give it a sufficient degree of immunity in relations to the Belgrade regime. In that way, Montenegro would not lose any time before change occurs also in Belgrade.' "
Clinton, Cook, show support for Djukanovic
The Washington Post noted that while in Slovenia on June 22, "Clinton met with Milo Djukanovic, the president of Montenegro, Serbia's disaffected partner in the Yugoslav federation... Clinton's meeting with him was aimed at demonstrating U.S. support for 'democratic efforts in Montenegro and our willingness to work with them,' White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said."
Following the meeting Reuters quoted Djukanovic: "I must say that President Clinton showed full understanding for such ambitions by Montenegro... He really supported Montenegro's ambitions to carry on with such policies."
Deutsche Presse Agentur reported today that "British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook on Thursday warned President Slobodan Milosevic against any attempt to destabilise Serbia's sister republic of Montenegro... The democratic government of President Milo Djukanovic is now facing growing internal pressure to break away from the Yugoslav Federation, which Serbia dominates... Cook, on a two-day
visit to the Balkans, said the West had to be 'vigilant and alert' to any attempt by Milosevic to whip up unrest in Montenegro. ' Milosevic is a serial nationalist. The only way he understands to exploit popular support for himself is by finding one after another example of where he can whip up Serb nationalism against a supposed enemy,' he said in radio interview from Macedonia. 'In every single statement NATO and the EU has made, we have warned Milosevic we are watching carefully what happens in Montenegro and we are determined to make sure the democracy in Montenegro survives.' "
The Times (London) reported today that "the Montenegrin daily Pobjeda said Mr. Djukanovic, in his talks with Mr Clinton, expressed the country's readiness to provide logistical support for the Kosovo peacekeeping force. In turn, he said, he expected American cooperation 'to support Montenegro's ambition to build relations with Serbia on new democratic foundations, which will secure enough independence for our republic.' Belgrade viewed the meeting with suspicion. Momir Bulatovic, the Yugoslav Prime Minister and a former President of Montenegro, described the meeting as 'publicly demonstrated proof of the servile attitude of official Montenegro towards the boss from Washington.' "
III. BELGRADE GOVERNMENT TURNING BACK REFUGEES
Regime jails Kosovo Serb protest leaders
The Daily Telegraph (London) reported yesterday that "two Kosovo Serb refugees who led protest rallies [on Monday] in Belgrade against their treatment by the Serbian authorities after fleeing the province were jailed for 30 days [Tuesday] in a further clampdown on dissent... They said they were warned that they would have no jobs, accommodation and medical care if they remained in Serbia. Svetozar Fisic and Slobodan Karalajic were arrested on Monday when police broke up a second day of protests by refugees in Belgrade, immediately
put on trial and jailed, according to the opposition Democratic Party of Serbia. Mr Fisic, a Democratic Party official from the Kosovo town of Prizren, had called on all the 50,000 Serb refugees who fled from Kosovo to Serbia and Montenegro to protest in front of Milosevic's federal parliament in Belgrade 'to protest at what has happened to us.' Both men had been charged with not registering their new address in Belgrade and for organising a public gathering, which is banned under the current martial law in Serbia, their lawyer said." The New York Times reported today that "the Democratic Party vice president, Slobodan Vuksanovic, called today for their immediate release. 'Milosevic's regime, which is responsible for hundreds of thousands of Serb refugees from Croatia, Bosnia and now from Kosovo, is now arresting its latest and biggest victims,' [Democratic Party Vice-President Slobodan] Vuksanovic said."
The New York Times noted June 21 that "only on Saturday, when [Serbia's] Deputy Prime Minister Milovan Bojic called on Serbs to return to Kosovo within 48 hours, did state television admit that many Serbs had even left. And it used a mocking term for them -- ' pobegulje, ' a feminine plural meaning 'those who have fled' -- that seemed to accuse the refugees of betraying their homeland. As one senior Serbian journalist said, asking anonymity, 'First they call a defeat a victory, and then they call the victims cowards.' " The Daily Telegraph reported yesterday that "the refugees' reception in Serbia has been cool, and even hostile. The New York Times noted June 20 that "for the first time, a senior official in Belgrade today urged Kosovo Serbian refugees who have fled the province to return in convoys. 'Let's return to Kosovo organized and in columns,' Milovan Bojic, the Serbian deputy prime minister... said in a radio address. 'The Serbian state will insure for you complete logistics for the return, the foo
d, medical aid and fuel,' he said."
The Scotsman (Edinburgh), reporting on the return of 79 Serbian refugees to Pec, noted June 21 that "some [refugees] claimed they had been told they were not welcome in Serbia. They said paramilitary police had turned them back from all roads leading to Belgrade. One man said the Serb refugees were warned that their vehicles and possessions would be confiscated if they refused to return to Kosovo. Instead, they went to the border town of Barene in Montenegro where they slept in their cars for two days... Yesterday, though, at a mountain pass more than 2,500 feet above Pec, nervous Serbs gathered together to prepare for the steep descent down to the city along treacherous mountain roads. They were
watched from behind the dark windows of a Belgrade-registered Mercedes. Inside was Chosic Zivota, the minister of energy and industry in the Serbian government. He was there on the orders of his leader to cajole his people to go back and, if necessary, drive the first car in the convoy. He did his best to persuade onlookers that the Serbs were going home of their own free will. Their faces suggested otherwise. Mr Zivota told The Scotsman: 'It is the desire of all the people here to return to their homes'... Despite his words, Mr Zivota ended up driving to Pec. There were 32 cars in total carrying 79 people. None of the civilian cars had number plates. Some women and children were among the
group but mostly they were men, probably to gauge the reactions in the city before reporting back to their families."
The Guardian (London) noted June 22 that "the government newspaper, Politika, said that by yesterday half of the estimated 50,000 refugees would be on their way back. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees said the returnees numbered less than 2,000." The Washington Times noted June 21 that "in a surreal flip-flop, Milosevic is trying to turn the reviled 'NATO aggressors' into the Serbs' best friends, their guardians and protectors. The commander of the peacekeepers, British Lt. Gen. Michael Jackson, has become a fixture on state TV, promising to make the province safe for the Serbian minority as well as for returning ethnic Albanians."
Authorities still pressing to keep Kosovo Serbs from Belgrade. The Washington Post reported June 23 that "police have done their utmost to prevent Kosovo Serbs from reaching Belgrade -- capital of both Yugoslavia and Serbia -- by erecting barricades on the main road from Kosovo and encouraging displaced persons to report to reception centers in provincial towns."
The New York Times reported June 21 that "although the Yugoslav Red Cross has opened eight centres, other refugees have been told to camp in car parks and fields until their return to Kosovo can be arranged.... some refugees claimed that they were being forced to return to Kosovo, but were reluctant to give further details. 'We are being used as human pawns,' said one refugee from Prizren." The Washington Times noted June 21 that "Kraljevo's refugee commissioner, Olga Nikovic, described how officials from Belgrade showed up Friday and ordered the city to cancel the construction of a tent camp that could have served as a way station. A foreign aid group was already on the spot, ready to start, but the plan was nixed. 'They don't want to put up tents because they want to deny the dimensions of the refugee problem, Nikovic said."
IV. SERBIAN POLITICAL SITUATION SIMMERING
Opposition parties announce protest for "Battle of Kosovo" anniversary. Reuters reported today that the Alliance for Change, an umbrella opposition group in Serbia, said on Thursday it would start its public gatherings and petition signing for the resignation of President Slobodan Milosevic next week. 'On Tuesday, we'll gather in Cacak for the first rally after the war to demand democratic changes for this country,' Vladan Batic, the leader of the Christian Democrats and a coordinator for the Alliance, told Reuters... The rally in Cacak called 'Vivodan - The day After' was originally planned for Saturday, but has been postponed for a day after the June 28 anniversary of the 14th century
Battle for Kosovo... The holiday marking the battle is called Vivodan."
Associated Press reported June 21 that "Serbia's main opposition parties on Monday announced pro-democracy rallies this week to demand early elections and in an effort to push President Slobodan Milosevic out of power. 'On Saturday we'll gather in (the central Serbian towns of) Cacak and Kraljevo to demand early elections on all levels and freedom of media,' said Vladan Batic,
coordinator for the Alliance for Change, the group of leading opposition parties united against the autocratic president. 'We will demand Milosevic's resignation and new elections in not more than three months,' Milan Protic, a prominent alliance activist, told the Associated Press." Reuters yesterday quoted Democratic Party vice president Slobodan Vuksanovic: "It's not easy for us to organize either small or big demonstrations in these circumstances and the momentum was always a big puzzle for the opposition here. We never know how
many people will turn out, but we have to try."
The Washington Post reported yesterday that in the opposition-controlled town of Kragujevac, "at city hall, officials are preparing for an eventual showdown with Milosevic. Right now, however, they do not feel strong enough to urge their supporters to take to the streets in protest demonstrations that could easily be suppressed by the government. 'We need to get organized,' said Deputy Mayor Vlatko Rajkovic, a member of the Democratic Party. 'Nothing is likely to happen in the next few weeks. Discontent will be cumulative. It will burst out into the open for some relatively minor reason, just as we saw in 1996.' "
Opposition forces still jostling for position
Radio Pancevo reported yesterday that "the presidency of the Serbian opposition party Democratic Alternative has decided that the party should leave the opposition Alliance for Change, chairman of the Democratic Alternative [party president] Nebojsa Covic said today. He said that in specific conditions over the past three months serious political differences had emerged between this party and other members of the Alliance for Change. Taking into consideration these differences and respecting members' opinions, the presidency decided that the Democratic Alternative should withdraw from the
Alliance for Change, Covic said." The New York Times reported June 22 that "while he was not more specific, Mr. Covic, like another alliance member, Vuk Obradovic, a former army general, sharply criticized Mr. Djindjic for fleeing to Montenegro during the war instead of remaining in Belgrade. Mr. Djindjic said he feared for his life; he has not returned to Serbia. And Mr. Covic has also criticized Mr. Obradovic for pomposity, for 'thinking he was born to be a hero.' "
BETA News agency(Belgrade) reported June 23 that "Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) leader Vuk Draskovic assessed today that a transitional government consisting of democratically-oriented people who would create the preconditions for early OSCE-supervised democratic elections at all levels should be formed 'immediately.' Draskovic said at a news conference that the government should consist of 'people of integrity who can be found in the [ruling] Socialist Party of Serbia, the [coalition partner] Yugoslav Left and the little [opposition coalition] Alliance for Change, only not in the Serbian Radical Party.' Asked whether the SPO would join the Alliance for Change, he replied with a question: 'When have you seen a big river such as the Danube running
into a small stream?' "
State of emergency, wartime decrees to be partially lifted Reuters reported today that "the federal government of Yugoslavia told parliament on Thursday it had lifted 31 decrees passed during the state of war imposed on March 24, the official news agency Tanjug reported. The announcement by the government was made to a joint session of parliament which is deliberating ahead of a vote to lift the state of war, which came into effect the day that NATO began its bombing campaign against Yugoslavia. Parliament was due to vote on lifting the state of war later on Thursday. The session
continued past the normal 7 p.m. (1700 GMT) close and deputies said they expected the session to go on until a vote was taken later in the evening. The state of war
imposed strict controls on personal freedoms of Yugoslav citizens. Tanjug said the decree on price controls would remain in effect until a new economic policy is declared to try to resolve the problems caused by 11 weeks of damaging air strikes. The decrees which were lifted include one that restricted travel for all men of age to be conscripted into the Yugoslav Army. Others included financing for defence expenditures, foreign trade and passports and the special supply of goods during the state of war." Reuters noted today that "the banning of public demonstrations was not abolished since it falls under Serbian authorities' power.
The New York Times reported yesterday that "the Yugoslav Parliament is expected to meet on Thursday to lift the state of wartime emergency, but it will also retain certain restrictions, passing them into law, to deal with expected demonstrations by opposition parties, Yugoslav officials said today. Under emergency decrees issued on March 24, the first day of the NATO bombings, Government censorship was imposed on all media, men of military age were forbidden to leave the country, demonstrations were banned without prior permission and the police were given sweeping powers of search and arrest to deal with potential spies and war profiteers. Citing the need to 'reconstruct the country,' the officials said certain restrictions would be retained. The officials would not specify them, but there has already been a Government demand that all radio and television stations continue to broadcast authorized news programs. The new laws, the official Tanjug news agency said today, would 'create conditions' for reconst
ructing the country. Already, state television is running upbeat advertisements urging people to unite to rebuild Yugoslavia's bridges and factories."
Early elections threat fading
The New York Times reported June 23 that "the Yugoslav President, Slobodan Milosevic, is considered highly unlikely to call early elections, senior [Serbian] Government officials said today. The term of the Federal Parliament does not expire until 2001 and the Serbian Parliament until 2002, while Mr. Milosevic's own single term runs through the spring of 2002... Milosevic has turned his back on the idea of a transitional Serbian government to be led by Mr. Draskovic, [US Administration] officials say, and appears to be planning to tough out the protests, which may accelerate as a hard winter approaches."
Reuters reported June 23 that "opposition sources close to the government said the Radical Party could join the Yugoslav government when parliament reconvenes, but this could not be confirmed by a party spokesman.."
B-92 employees fired, Pancevo radio/television threatened
Associated Press reported June 23 that "the new, state-imposed management of the once-independent B-92 radio has fired 17 of the station's original journalists, a free media association said Tuesday... The Association of Independent Electronic Media, known by its local acronym ANEM, said the official explanation for the apparently politically-motivated sacking was that the employees had not turned up for work. Veran Matic, B-92's original director and now ANEM chief, said the former employees and ANEM were submitting an appeal to the authorities requesting the return of B-92 to its original
owners."
Radio Pancevo reported June 23 that "the municipal committee of the Pancevo [northeast of Belgrade] branch of the Socialist Party of Serbia [SPS - ruling party of Slobodan Milosevic] held a press conference today, the first since the start of the NATO aggression. The committee's chairman described the state leadership's policies as wise, but said certain actions by the executive committee of the Pancevo municipal assembly, the town's public services and the local radio-TV, were bad and full of failures in their work. Dragan Vukasinovic reports: 'Our TV station was described as unprofessional. This statement was backed up by the claim that we only began to rebroadcast Serbian Radio-TV news
a month afterwards [following the beginning of NATO air strikes], and on a channel with poor reception, at that. Reporting on certain events was also bad... Addressing his party, that is, the committee today, Dragoljub Tosic also accused our TV of poor cooperation with the SPS.' "
New poll indicates Milosevic and allies losing support
BETA news agency (Belgrade) reported June 21 that "according to a survey of 800 people carried out [by the Institute of Political Studies] between 9th and 14th June, the Socialist Party of Serbia [SPS] received 21.9 per cent of the respondents' votes, which is 9 per cent less than in May, [Institute director Srboban] Brankovic said in the Media Centre at a forum discussion entitled 'Politics in postwar Serbia.' The Serbian Radical Party [SRS] has also lost popularity. The party is supported by 10.5 per cent of the respondents. In past surveys, the party used to get up to 15 per cent of the vote. In contrast to the SPS and the SRS, the rating of the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) has improved significantly among the citizens of Serbia as it received 14.7 per
cent of the vote. The Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) received 5.3 per cent of the support, the Democratic Party (DS) 3.2 per cent, Social Democracy 2.5 per cent, and the Civic Alliance of Serbia [GSS] 2 per cent."
BETA also noted that "according to the survey, the popularity of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic is also declining. Asked which person they trusted most in the FRY [Federal Republic of Yugoslavia], 15.6 per cent put Slobodan Milosevic first. According to Brankovic, this is significantly less than in previous surveys, when he used to receive up to 30 per cent of the vote. SPO leader Vuk Draskovic is in second place with 10 per cent of the vote, followed by SRS leader Vojislav Seselj with 8 per cent. Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic received 5 per cent of the vote. Milosevic also heads the list of the least popular politicians (21 per cent of the respondents did not trust him; Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic is in second place with 11 per cent). DS leader Zoran Djindjic scored 8 per cent and Draskovic and Seselj 7 per cent each. In response to the question whether Milosevic was responsible for the situation in the FRY, about 70 per cent answered that he was either very or mainly responsible,
while 21 per cent said that he was not or not at all responsible. 'These 21 per cent are the staunch supporters of the ruling party and I would say a suicidally inclined section of the electorate,' Brankovic said. He also said that the public in Serbia is 'confused' by the recent developments, adding that 80 per cent of the respondents endorsed the
Kosovo accord, but that a large percentage (70 per cent) were opposed to the deployment of the armed NATO troops in Kosovo."
V. INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ON FUTURE OF SERBIA, MILOSEVIC
Following G-8 summit, West mulls aid to Serbia
Associated Press reported June 23 that "the European Union announced Wednesday it will fund pro-democracy projects in Serbia to undermine the rule of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic as well as repair Kosovo's war damage... The 15-nation EU will subsidize free-press and pro-democracy projects in Serbia, where Milosevic has muzzled the media and made it a propaganda tool of his government, and in Montenegro, van den Broek said. Rebuilding infrastructure in Yugoslavia is not an option, he said. 'We will not be able to conclude agreements with Milosevic, or his government,' van den Broek said.
While Russia, which helped broker the peace accord, had wanted the West to pay for all war damage to Serbia as well as Kosovo, the United States and NATO allies refuse to provide any funds to rebuild Yugoslavia while Milosevic is in power. 'We cannot do anything that would reinforce Milosevic's regime,' van den Broek said. However, charities can provide humanitarian aid to Serbia and Montenegro, and the reconstruction fund may help Serbian cities that have democratically elected mayors who oppose Milosevic, he said. 'I do not see why not, on an ad hoc basis, one could not carry out specific projects,' he said."
The Guardian (London) noted June 24 that "the suggestion by van den Broek immediately raised eyebrows among British and other diplomats."
The Guardian reported June 21 that "the major western powers and Russia struggled yesterday to maintain a united front on ambitious and expensive postwar plans for aid and reconstruction in the Balkans, with Britain sharply at odds with its European partners over helping Yugoslavia while it remains under the rule of Slobodan Milosevic . Germany, Italy, and Russia all pledged to feed and heat the Serbian people at the three-day summit of the G8 group of the seven leading industrial powers plus Russia in Cologne... While declaring that there would be no democratisation in Serbia while Mr Milosevic remained in charge, Mr Schroder said: 'But you have to differentiate. You can't let the Serbian population starve because of its president or freeze in winter You can't punish a people for their president's deeds'... Italy said it was exploring ways of delivering aid to Belgrade... Officials at the summit were unable to clarify the differences between 'humanitarian' and 'economic reconstruction' aid and it appeared
likely that this gray area would be exploited by Belgrade in the months ahead... Russia strongly backed the German and Italian positions."
President Bill Clinton said June 21that "it is important that if the Serbs want to keep Mr. Milosevic, and don't want to be part of Southeastern Europe's future, that at least they not freeze to death this winter and that their hospitals not be forced to close. So they need some power. In terms of rebuilding the bridges so people can go to work, I don't buy that. That's part of their economic reconstruction, and I don't think we should help not a bit, not a penny. So that's but on the other hand, I think their hospitals ought to be able to function. I think babies will be born, people will get sick, and people shouldn't be cold in the winter if we can help that. That's basically where I draw the line."
France's President Jacques Chirac said June 20 on CNN "we are ready to give to the Serbs, of course, humanitarian aid, but we are not ready to give economic aid.... the electric plants, humanitarian maybe. Not all of them. Maybe, because of the heat, production of heat for the housing for winter." When asked if "rebuilding bridges across the river, is that humanitarian?" Chirac said: "I wouldn't say so. I wouldn't say so."
The Guardian report of June 21 also noted that "Tony Blair took an uncompromising line on aid while the Milosevic regime maintains its apparently unshakable grip on power: 'We cannot start giving money to a regime that has perpetrated that brutality and barbarism and the Serbian people must understand that... I just don't believe people would understand it if we paid money for reconstruction and regeneration into an undemocratic Serbia under Milosevic. It's important for the Serbian people to understand we do offer them partnership for the future if they embrace the values of democracy... We have
seen what's been happening in Kosovo. Thousands of people were butchered with unimaginable brutality and unforgivable barbarism'... Senior German officials
complained that Mr Blair was the only head of government at the summit who failed to understand that conditions could not be attached to the provision of humanitarian aid."
NATO Secretary General Javier Solana said June 21 that "the Serb people should be able to enjoy fully the benefits of integration into the Euro-Atlantic community. But for that to happen they must embrace democracy and tolerance. And this will not happen while Slobodan Milosevic is in power. He is a man who represents the past. He is the embodiment of what has made the Balkans so unstable for so long. He has no place in the Europe of tomorrow."
Reuters reported yesterday that "Yugoslavia needs $29 billion over the next five years to cover its most essential economic needs including stabilisation of its currency, independent Group 17 economists said on Wednesday. The funds would upgrade the road network and gas and oil pipelines, introduce a currency board to stabilise the dinar currency, reform pension and health systems and cover export losses over a three year period, the Group 17 economists said. The $29 billion comes on top of an estimated $1.172 billion in urgent humanitarian assistance to help refugees, reconstruct power supply and heating facilities and rebuild private homes and bridges following 11 weeks of constant NATO bombing... The Group 17 said the $1.172 billion in urgent humanitarian aid
would have to be provided by the West immediately."
Tribunal considers genocide indictments
The Financial Times reported June 19 that "the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal in The Hague may widen its indictment of Slobodan Milosevic, the Yugoslav president, to include charges of genocide, the tribunal's chief prosecutor hinted yesterday. Louise Arbour, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, said that with new evidence of atrocities coming to light daily as NATO troops moved through Kosovo, existing charges had to be reviewed... Ms. Arbour, speaking at NATO's Brussels headquarters, said the court had 'never excluded' the possibility of bringing charges against Mr Milosevic under the Genocide Convention. 'We must now examine whether it is appropriate to upgrade some of the existing charges and bring more serious charges against these and other accused,' she said. To bring genocide charges the court would have to show 'intent to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.' Genocide charges would also carry a life sentence, but the
ir symbolic impact would be far greater."
The Washington Post reported today from Belgrade "there have been signs that the government here is preparing to distance itself from the bloodletting [in Kosovo] by making a public example of 'rogue' soldiers and police officers who 'went crazy' and killed civilians. 'These people have been arrested and will be convicted by the courts,' said Goran Matic, a Yugoslav government minister close to Milosevic, in an interview here today. 'They do not belong to the Serbian nation but to the nation of criminals.' He added that every Yugoslav soldier in Kosovo carried a booklet on 'humanitarian law and the rules of war.'
Switzerland freezes accounts of Milosevic and indicted Belgrade leadership
The Daily Telegraph reported today that "Switzerland froze Slobodan Milosevic's assets yesterday, along with those of four other indicted war criminals. The Swiss police agency said: 'As a precautionary measure, the Federal Police Agency ordered that assets of the Yugoslav head of state, Slobodan Milosevic, and the four other people charged be frozen.' The agency said it was acting at the request of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, which is based in The Hague. It asked Switzerland on May 28 for help in its prosecution of the Yugoslav leaders for alleged atrocities in Kosovo. When asked what the outcome of the order would be on Milosevic, a tribunal spokesman said: 'An impoverished old age'... The order means that the five suspects' property in Switzerland must be reported immediately to the Swiss authorities and cannot be transferred. It is not known how much money Milosevic, Milan Milutinovic, the Serbian president; Nikola Sainovic, the Yugoslav deputy prime minist
er; Dragoljub Ojdanic, the Yugoslav armed forces chief of staff, and Vlajko Stojiljkovic, the Serbian interior minister, have in the banking haven."
VI. KOSOVO ALBANIAN PRISONERS MOVED TO SERBIAN PRISONS
Amnesty International said yesterday that "despite the release of several thousand ethnic Albanian prisoners in Kosovo in recent weeks the whereabouts of many of the thousands of Albanians detained in Kosovo for political reasons over the past year, including prisoners of conscience, is still unknown." The Times (London) reported June 20 that as "many as 3,000 ethnic Albanian political prisoners, including lawyers, doctors and professors, have been secretly transported from Kosovo to parts of Yugoslavia by President Slobodan
Milosevic, the United Nations believes. The prisoners were taken across the border by Serbian troops before NATO arrived last weekend. It is feared they may be used as a bargaining chip by the beleaguered Yugoslav regime, which is due to complete its military pull-out today. 'This seems to be Milosevic's last card,' a senior UN source said. 'We are determined to find what he has done with these people, many of whom have been held in jail for many months for no good reason.' UN investigators who entered Kosovo last week discovered that all its main prisons - including those at Istok, Pec, Lipljan, Pristina and Vucitrn - had been emptied before NATO troops arrived. According to former inmates, judges and other local people interviewed by the UN, the prisoners were handcuffed and taken away in convoys of buses during the past fortnight. At least 2,000 ethnic Albanians were jailed on political charges before the airstrikes, but many thousands more were arrested in the past three months. They included not only le
ading Albanian activists but also anybody accused of KLA sympathies. Although 2,500 prisoners were released in recent weeks, nobody knows the fate of the thousands who are still in Serbian hands."
The Los Angeles Times reported June 23 that on "June 13, the day German troops reached Prizren [thirteen prisoners] were loaded onto a tarp-covered truck...
[ constituting ] the last group scheduled for transfer to another part of Serbia. But on that day, as Yugoslav troops were assembling to vacate Kosovo, the ethnic Albanians of the city gingerly emerged onto the streets to welcome NATO forces. Residents alerted NATO troops that the truck contained prisoners. The Germans intervened and ordered the Serbs to drive on without their human cargo... At least 290 prisoners from Prizren... were transferred to Prokuplje, Serbia, before the Germans arrived." In a separate report, the Los Angeles Times noted June 23 that "no one outside the Yugoslav and Serbian governments can be sure of the exact numbers because, in what the International Committee
of the Red Cross considers a serious mistake, NATO did not insist that foreign monitors receive access to Kosovo Albanian prisoners as a condition for the peace deal it reached with Milosevic this month."
The Amnesty International statement also noted that among the prisoners "is Dr Flora Brovina, a woman physician and President of the Albanian Women's League who disappeared from her home in Pristina on 22 April this year after men in civilian clothes took her away. It was later learned that she had been detained first in Lipljan prison before being admitted to Pristina hospital.
She is now said to be held in a prison in Pozarevac in eastern Serbia. Her health is believed to be poor and Amnesty International has called for her to be granted appropriate medical care and for information about any charges against her... Amnesty International is also concerned about the fate of nine ethnic Albanians, students in Belgrade, who were reportedly arrested in the first half of May 1999." The Sunday Times noted June 20: "Among those missing are Halil Matoshi, an editor of Zeri, a Kosovar weekly magazine, Ukshin Hoti, a political science professor, and Albin Kurti, a 23-year-old student union leader from Pristina."
