"'We cannot accept illegal decisions of illegitimate federal institutions,
so they have no bearing on Montenegro. No federal elections exist for us, we
will not take part in them and that is the principled stand of the DPS."
Miodrag Vukovic, chairman, Democratic Party of Socialists executive board
Quoted by V.I.P. Daily News Report, August 3 -- Podgorica
"Milosevic is deliberately kidnapping Westerners to try and prevent NATO
interfering and brand it the aggressor, so he can present himself to voters
as defender of Serbia...It's both unlawful and violent."
Dragisa Burzan, Montenegro's Deputy Prime Minister
Quoted by Agence France Presse, August 5 -- Podgorica
"The navy is becoming more illegitimate and illegal every day. What it turns
out to be is the occupation force in Montenegro...We can still expect
provocation."
Nebojsa Vucinic, professor of international law
Quoted by Pobjeda daily, August 7 -- Podgorica
"Montenegro has strength and motives and above all else it has its citizens
if it needs to protect its freedom and its dignity as a state."
Milo Djukanovic, Montenegro's President
Quoted by Agence France Presse, August 5-Podgorica
"If somebody wants to harm our country, you have to shoot him. It doesn't
matter if it's your friend or your father or your brother. My best friend -
or he used to be -- he joined the army and I joined the police -- told me
'brother, it's better for me to shoot you because then you can't shoot me.'
"
Velibor, 23-year-old officer, Montenegrin special police force
Quoted by The Independent, July 30 -- Podgorica
"The West appears divided in its response and uncertain what to do next. Say
the word 'Montenegro' to any Western general and you will receive immediate
return-fire in the form of multiple salvos of reasons why we shouldn't touch
the place with a barge pole...But, as always in the Balkans, the cost of
action has to be measured against the price of inaction. The consequences
for Western policy in the Balkans, of Milosevic gaining control of
Montenegro, would be catastrophic...This means sending clear messages to
Milosevic about the dangers of miscalculation (which we have done, after a
fashion) and backing these with credible signals of our resolve (which we
haven't done at all). On the military side, it means drawing up proper
contingency plans for the various eventualities, including the most overtly
dangerous one of an attempted military coup; considering in what
circumstances we could impose a no-fly zone; immediate judicious employment
of Western warship units in the Adriatic, etc."
Paddy Ashdown, former leader, U.K. Liberal Democratic party
Article published in The Independent, August 8 -- London
"We support Djukanovic...We believe he has broad support in NATO. It
[Milosevic moving against Djukanovic] would be another mistake for
Milosevic. "
Samuel R. Berger, U.S. National Security Adviser
New York Times, August 5 -- Washington
"We are extremely concerned about Montenegro...That concern only increased
in light of recent changes in the Yugoslav constitution which significantly
threatens a very fragile balance...Given the deployment of NATO in the
region, it would be directly affecting NATO's vital interest."
Richard Holbrooke, US Ambassador to the United Nations
Quoted by Agence France Presse, July 29 - New York
IN THIS MONTENEGRO WATCH:
-- VJ fires on civilians; MUP, VJ agree to keep quiet
-- VJ navy - police face-off over Croatian boat
-- VJ: MUP mounts "another attack on army"
-- VJ again blocks crossing to RS
-- VJ threatens Montenegro judge, frightens civilians
-- Belgrade: SAS trains MUP, Croatia procures arms
-- VJ airforce job: Prevent FRY's disintegration
-- SAS trains special Montenegro police
-- Navy goes head-to-head with MUP over jurisdiction
-- International personnel moved to Serbian military prison
-- OSCE bans staff from Montenegro travel
-- Vukovic: "Behave as if elections don't exist"
-- Montenegro gives voting list to SNP
-- SNP-DPS talks on election cooperation?
-- America pushes Djukanovic, who declines
-- Still "no contingency plans" at NATO
-- Milosevic can "act with little or no warning"
POLITICAL PARTIES & LEADERS:
Montenegro's Ruling Coalition
DPS- Democratic Party of Socialists (Milo Djukanovic, Montenegro's
President)
NS - Democratic People's Party of Montenegro (Dragan Soc, president)
SDP - Social Democratic Party of Montenegro (Zarko Rakcevic, president)
Other Political Parties
DUA -Democratic Union of Albanians (Fuad Nimani, president)
DSS -Democratic Alliance of Albanians (Mehmet Bardhi, president)
LSCG -Liberal Alliance of Montenegro (Miodrag Zivkovic, president)
Montenegro's Opposition
SNP-Socialist People's Party of Montenegro (Momir Bulatovic, FRY PM)
SNS-Serb People's Party (Zelidrag Nikcevic, president)
NKPJ-New Communist Party of Yugoslavia (Branko Kitanovic, president)
Serbia's Ruling Coalition
JUL - Yugoslav United Left (Mira Markovic, president)
SPS -Serbian Socialist Party (Slobodan Milosevic, FRY President)
SRS - Serbian Radical Party (Vojislav Seselj, Serbia's Deputy PM)
MUP - Montenegro's Ministry of Interior
VJ - Yugoslav National Army
I. SECURITY
VJ FIRES ON CIVILIANS; MUP, VJ AGREE TO KEEP QUIET
***"Members of the Yugoslav Army (VJ) fired at a civilian truck on the
Ostros - Vladimir road in the Bar municipality, the day before yesterday.
The driver only just stayed alive, given the rain of bullets which headed in
his direction. Following this heavy incident a mixed commission of
representatives from the MUP (Ministry of Internal Affairs) and the VJ which
has been keeping the incident secret was established. The youngster who was
driving the truck was heading from Ostros to Vladimir. At Stagvas he was
stopped by members of the VJ who had set up a checkpoint here seven days
earlier. After a short argument, the youngster pressed accelerator, and the
soldiers fired at the truck. The driver only just managed to escape death.
The shot broke the front window and punctured the tires, but the driver
didn't dare stop and risk that the angry soldiers catch up with him. He
continued driving with punctured tiers for a additional 5 kms. The truck
stopped in Brajsa where the police were informed about the whole incident.
Officers and soldiers, however, got to Brajsa first and recognized the truck
and demanded the driver is handed over to them, but the police refused to do
this. The tension continued until the MUP and VJ leadership got in touch and
agreed to form a mixed commission to investigate the case. The investigative
judge from Podgorica, Musika Dujovic completed the preliminary report, and
the representatives of the army and the police agreed to keep this case away
from the public eye, and to demonstrate their willingness to cooperate."
(Vijesti daily-Podgorica, August 7)
VJ NAVY - POLICE FACE OFF OVER CROATIAN BOAT
***"VJ Navy boats incited yet another incident which could have transformed
into a more serious conflict. Close to the Zelenika port, and outside the
boundaries of their authority, according to the Herceg Novi police, the
military patrol boats searched the Croatian boat 'Dea' which was empty...The
aims of the Navy to confiscate the boat and take it to Tivat allegedly to
carry out inspection and detain an illegal passenger from Morocco, was
prevented by members of the police units who had, in the mean time, got on
board onto Dea. The three Navy boats left having failed to complete their
task. At the Herceg Novi police it was claimed that the Navy had attempted
to confiscate the boat illegally and to forcefully lead the boat away. The
soldiers appeared around noon at the time when police and customs officials
approached the boat, which was anchored close to the port. Colonel Milosav
Basic demanded the boat be searched which was permitted after the police
commander of the Zelenika port consulted his superiors. This police
commander then informed the police that the army intends to take the boat to
the remount center, and detain the illegal passenger to the Navy
commandment. The police headquarters then ordered that the police occupy
the boat and twenty members of the MUP interventionist units got onto the
boat. Two military patrol boats with full crew were tied to the Croatian
boat Dea and the third was anchored at the Port. When the police got onto
Dea, a large military boat also appeared. The tension lasted until 4pm when
the military boats departed from Dea 300 meters away. The Navy officers, who
had searched the boat twice in the meantime and had found nothing remained
on Dea until 5pm and attempted to order that Dea is handed over to them and
is taken to the Remount Center. When they realized that the police were not
going to give in, they left Dea and soon after the patrol boats withdrew.
Numerous citizens viewed the drama on the Dea boat. There was also a film
crew from RTS (Serbian State television) which was filming the incident
from the Yugoslav army military boat. Dea was expected to be the first
Croatian boat to come to Bijela for remount since the dismantling of former
Yugoslavia. The Harbor Master from Kotor did not report the arrival of this
boat to the Yugoslav Army and its captain Nikola Drakulovic claims that he
is not responsible to do so...Niko Jelenic, the Captain of the Croatian boat
Dea said that there was no reason for the army to intervene. 'In the end,
we received a report from the military authorities that the boat was checked
and that no irregularities were identified', said Jelenic. The captain said
that a man had got onto the ship secretly, with no documentation in, Kendra,
a port in Morocco. Upon arrival in Italy the captain reported the illegal
passenger and obtained a declaration as is in line with EU regulations. The
captain claims he reported the Moroccan illegal passenger upon entering the
Montenegrin Port, as is in line with marital law." (Vijesti daily-quoted by
MNNews, Aug. 7)
***"Blocking and inspection of the Croatian ship in the port is only the
continuation of exerting the pressure over Montenegro by the VJ navy,
private, armed force of Slobodan Milosevic ', said Nebojsa Vucinic,
professor of the international law, for Pobjeda when commenting on the
blocking and inspection of the Croatian ship, which had a valid documents.
'this act serves in several purposes. First of all the pressure just before
the federal elections, then continuation of conflict, economical war against
Montenegro. They are also trying to intimidate the Croatian tourists and to
stop the Croatian ships from coming into our ports. The very act of stoppage
is absolutely against the law, since the Croatian ship, according to the
journalists, had regular valid documents and the police-custom inspection
was successfully finished. According to the regulations a landing ship of
the Navy can do the inspection only on the ships entering our territorial
waters but not in the civil port. The landing ship was used with other
purposes' Professor Vucinic pointed out...It would be tragicomic to cite the
Constitution, like the eternal assistants from the Faculty of economy. We
can still expect the similar provocation.' " (Pobjeda daily -quoted by
MNNews, Aug. 7)
VJ: MUP MOUNTS "ANOTHER ATTACK ON ARMY"
***"Even though the arrival of the Croatian freight boat Dea was not
announced to the border units of the VJ Navy, the Montenegrin police and its
pro-regime media used the investigation of this boat for another attack on
our country's army. What is the role of the illegal passenger? The members
of the VJ Navy stopped and investigated the freight boat Dea that drove into
the Boka bay from Croatia on Saturday morning. During the routine check,
apart from the 11 members of crew, an illegal passenger, a Moroccan was
found on board. The boat was not carrying any goods, and according to its
captain, Niko Jerinic it was on its way for a remount to the Shipbuilding
Company in Bijela. However, this, until recently, useful search, got in the
way, as has been the case a number of times (when stopping Italian
smuggler's speed boats) of the work of the Montenegrin police who got onto
Dea in an attempt to prevent our border units from carrying out their
duties. They immediately created alarm in the state television and the
allegedly independent media, so that they could once again attack the
Yugoslav Army, that is its Navy, and they claimed that the boat's arrival
was routinely announced. 'This is an out-right lie! The boat was maybe
announced to them, but not to the border units of the VJ Navy', it was
stated by the commandment, who added that the duty of their military boats
is to stop and investigate boats whose arrival has not been announced."
(pro-Milosevic Dan daily-Podgorica, Aug. 7)
2nd ARMY COUNTERS "THREATS TO SECURITY" VIA ARRESTS
***"Montenegrin Interior Minister Vukasin Maras... said the army 'makes
grave professional and political mistakes' when it described the police as a
'criminalised structure linked with Italian Mafia groups, various terrorist
organizations and foreign intelligence services' while ignoring his
ministry's proven readiness to develop the necessary cooperation...'The
constant insults, slander and accusations are in the exclusive service of
certain political structures and their selfish interests,' he said. 'The
whole thing could rightly be described as frivolous and ridiculous, but for
its seriousness and potentially tragic implications for peace and security,'
Maras said, calling for constructive dialogue. Maras said citizens now
regarded the army largely as a 'factor of destabilization and possible
conflict.' Separately, the Yugoslav army's Second Army -- based in
Montenegro -- said it had prevented an attempt to smuggle goods from the
country to Bosnia's Serb republic, and arrested several people who it said
had tried to cross the border illegally. It said the action took place on
Thursday night, and that it proved the existence of organized smuggling to
Bosnia's Serb half and to neighboring Albania. It also said there were
'threats to security by foreign sabotage and terrorist groups.' " (Reuters,
Aug. 4)
VJ AGAIN BLOCKS CROSSING TO RS
***"Podgorica dailies report today that the Yugoslav Army is stopping motor
vehicles from crossing the border between Montenegro and the [Bosnian] Serb
Republic, so the villagers from border villages on both sides are forced to
walk for miles to visit one another and celebrate the St. Ilija holiday. The
papers also report that the military police have for two days now been
patrolling the border crossing in Crkvice in the Niksic municipality. The
papers recall that 40 days ago the Yugoslav Army set up barricades at the
border crossings, forcing the locals to cross the border on foot. In a
report from the border crossing in Crkvice, 'Pobjeda' cites the locals as
saying that the border was 'under control during the latest war but no one
was blocking traffic.' " (independent BETA news agency-Belgrade, Aug. 3)
VJ THREATENS MONTENEGRO JUDGE, FRIGHTENS CIVILIANS
***"The chairman of the Herceg Novi district court, Vukasin Simrak, was
forcefully prevented from carrying out his legal duties while trying to
conduct an investigation at the Kumbor barracks, near Herceg Novi, even
though he had previously sent a written notification of his visit to the
Yugoslav Navy commander, Rear Adm. Milan Zec. A written statement by the
chairman of the Herceg Novi court said that soldiers aiming automatic rifles
at them met him and his colleagues at the barracks in Kumbor. The court
team, led by chairman Simrak, was prevented from carrying out its
investigation regarding the charges brought before the court by the Italian
citizen Antonio (Margiliano), whose speedboat has been confiscated by the
Yugoslav Navy. The team was told at the entry to barracks that Admiral Zec
had personally forbidden the investigation." (independent Montena-fax news
agency-Podgorica, Aug. 3)
***"For the past two days, members of the Yugoslav Army's 7th military
police battalion have been driving around the center of Bijelo Polje
[northern Montenegro] and neighboring villages in two armored vehicles...Two
armed military policemen, wearing special equipment and carrying
machine-guns, travel in each armored vehicle. By driving at high speed and
shouting abuse they have been frightening the residents of Bijelo Polje. In
front of the Montenegro cafe in the town center, some citizens responded to
a three-fingered salute (by the military policemen) with a one-fingered
salute of their own, which then caused a verbal confrontation. The 7th
Military Police Battalion, which representatives of the official Montenegrin
authorities consider a 'paramilitary formation', is based at the entry of
this municipality in northern Montenegro." (BH Press news agency-Sarajevo,
Aug. 3)
VJ CHARGES MONTENEGRIN LEADERS TIED TO "SMUGGLING, TERRORIST GROUPS"
***"The Second Army has announced that it 'prevented the smuggling of goods
worth more than 15 million dinars' across the border between Yugoslavia and
Republika Srpska (RS), in the night between Aug. 3 and Aug. 4. 'The
investigation carried out so far has shown that besides the immediate
perpetrators, officials of certain Montenegrin institutions are also
involved in crime and smuggling,' said the statement issued by the Second
Army, and pointed out that such cases 'along with the jeopardizing security
by terrorist groups, and with intelligence, psychological and propaganda
activities, undermine the security and safety of Yugoslav citizens.'" '
(BETA news agency, Aug. 7)
VJ: AIRFORCE JOB: PREVENT FRY'S DISINTEGRATION
***"Yugoslav Air Force Commander Gen. Spasoje Smiljanic said on Aug. 2 that
it was the Yugoslav Army's job to 'prevent disintegrative processes aimed at
breaking up the joint state of Serbs and Montenegrins.' At a Yugoslav Air
Force Day celebration at Golubovci airfield near Podgorica, Gen. Smiljanic
told 'all those who are breaking up our country and desire new conquests'
that the Yugoslav army will perform its duty 'in accordance with the
constitution, the law and the authorization it has in the defense of the
fatherland.' " (BETA news agency, Aug. 3)
BELGRADE: SAS TRAINS MUP, CROATIA PROCURES ARMS
***"Yugoslav Information Minister Goran Matic accused the Montenegrin police
and Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic of acquiring anti-aircraft and
anti-helicopter weapons with Croatia's help, news agencies reported on
Monday. Matic told a press conference that some members of the SAS British
Special Forces and American intelligence services had trained the
Montenegrin police. 'Last year, both before and during the aggression, a
group from the composition of the Montenegrin MUP went to receive military
training in American police and American intelligence structures', he said.
Goran Matic said that US diplomats John Swigert and James Dobbins lobbied
for Montenegro to organize its security structures based on US-British
intelligence principles. 'It is true that the British are in charge of part
of the training of the Montenegrin special units...is these days intensively
supplying various makes and kinds of weapons from anti-aircraft to
anti-aircraft, and is aided in the undertaking by Croatia, as the
transaction is carried out via Dubrovnik. It is obvious that some of our
neighboring countries must stop the pursuit of the policy of double
standards and to abide by international standards when armament is in
question', he said. Matic went on to say that it was 'absolutely true' that
Croatia is procuring weapons for Montenegro. 'In this case, Croatia is not
so benign and it is apparent that ground is opening in Croatia for acts of
terrorism against FRY and that the issue is related to relations between FRY
and Croatia which ought to be re-evaluated', Matic said." (V.I.P. Daily News
Report-Belgrade, Aug. 1)
SERBIA'S TV: CROATIA SENDS ASSASSINATION, TERRORISM TRAINERS
***"On July 31 Serbian state television aired a report from the state Tanjug
news agency claiming that 24 Croatian police officers, 'hardened during the
civil wars in Croatia and Bosnia and specially trained for cold blooded
assassinations and terrorist activities arrived in Podgorica during the
middle of the month at the invitation of the Montenegrin authorities.'
Tanjug added that their mission was to 'intensely train the growing number
of increasingly well-armed Montenegrin police, who already number about
15,000 people, including some with criminal records. The Croatian
instructors were promised between three and eight thousand German marks per
week to do this job. Spending such money represent no problem to their
employers and hosts because they are supported and financed by the American
administration,' Tanjug concluded." (BETA news agency, Aug. 1)
SAS TRAINS SPECIAL MONTENEGRO POLICE
***"An officer from Montenegro's Special Police, the Spezijalni, has
described the role of the SAS in training the force. Tensions between
Montenegro and Serbia... are likely to be stretched even nearer to breaking
point by the revelations...Sparked by Mr Djukanovic's increasing threats to
break away, the Seventh Battalion keeps an ever-watchful eye on its
Montenegrin counterparts. But British involvement in the republic, in the
shape of the SAS, may have escaped the gaze of the black-bereted recruits to
the Yugoslav force... In the grounds of the Hotel Zlatica, now converted
into a barracks on the outskirts of Montenegro's capital, Podgorica,
Velibor, 23, an experienced officer in the Spezijalni, spoke of his time
with the British unit: 'It was great. We learnt a lot. Some of the
techniques they use are different to ours.' The threat from fellow
countrymen in the Seventh Battalion is treated very seriously...Velibor
stands well over 6ft tall, as do most of the officers in the elite unit of
the Special Police - seemingly in contrast to their SAS tutors. 'They told
us 'You have very big guys here... we are all small guys and we like to run,
and you all like to lift weights.' We were very strange to them.' The
Special Police have a fierce reputation in Montenegro - its gung-ho approach
seemingly unsettling the SAS. 'They thought we were crazy. When two of us
banged into a house and started shooting into walls, bullets were flying
around and they said 'Oh, it's a real gun, real bullets? You're crazy guys,
you don't have protection'. But we have a heart, we don't have protection
but we have a heart. A big heart.' The role of the SAS in Montenegro is
highly sensitive, with the Special Police seen as a challenge from inside
Yugoslavia to Mr Milosevic. His supporters have regularly claimed that
'foreign forces' are arming and training the Spezijalni. Montenegro's
government officially denies any involvement by foreign nations in the
training or arming of the police. The SAS training includes hostage rescue.
A key scenario played out by the anti-terrorist unit of the Spezijalni is
how to react to an attempted coup by forces loyal to Mr Milosevic. The
Seventh Battalion, all Montenegrin, whose largest contingent is based near
the northern town of Bijelo Polje, has been recruiting in numbers for the
past six months. Ivan, a softly spoken man in his late thirties, fought for
the Yugoslav army during the wars that ripped Yugoslavia apart in the 1990s.
He was under the orders of Mr Milosevic then and would continue to follow
his orders now. 'If Djukanovic calls for a referendum or moves in any other
violent way towards independence, the Seventh Battalion will follow the
orders of the president. If there is a situation where weapons will decide
the outcome, we are ready. We are training for that.' Mr Djukanovic
describes the Seventh Battalion as a 'paramilitary force'. 'Mr Milosevic has
always formed groups with the aim of provoking internal conflicts,' he
says." (The Independent-London, July 30)
NAVY GOES HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH MUP OVER JURISDICTION
*** "The Yugoslav Navy Command announced today that the Montenegrin Interior
Ministry lacks any jurisdiction to control the passage of the state border
on the sea. In connection with a statement by the Montenegrin Interior
Ministry, maintaining that the Montenegrin police had intercepted an Italian
speedboat on 26th July this year which it then handed over to the navy 'to
avoid an armed incident', the navy command points out that the crossing of
the sea border falls under the jurisdiction of the navy. The action by the
navy gunboat, which intercepted the Montenegrin Interior Ministry patrol
boat and an Italian speedboat on 26th July, run 'fully in compliance with
the border service regulations, in the section pertaining to the
interception of vessels and crew in the course of an illegal crossing of the
state sea border'. It is pointed out that all vessels and goods that the
Navy confiscated temporarily from the transgressors against the border
regime (the Italian speedboat crew) are guarded in accordance with the
regulations, while relevant documents have been forwarded to the Federal
Customs Administration. The navy will act in compliance with the decision of
the incumbent FRY customs authority, the navy command statement points out.
It is further pointed out that the statements by the Italian speedboat crew
corroborate the navy's claim that the Montenegrin Interior Ministry
speedboats provide physical security to the smugglers' speedboats and are
there to make sure that the Yugoslav Navy vessels do not hinder them in this
pursuit. It is pointed out in the conclusion of the statement that the
Yugoslav Navy is again offering cooperation to the Montenegrin Interior
Ministry in patrolling of the state border on the sea, on the Bojana River,
on the Lake Skadar and on land, but, that the Ministry of Internal Affairs
rejects this cooperation." (Tanjug state press agency-Belgrade, July 29)
***"Regarding the statement by the command of the Yugoslav Navy, aiming to
give truthful and objective information to the public, the Montenegrin
Interior Ministry has said the following: Carrying out a routine control of
the state border on the sea, about nine miles from the coast, on 26th July
2000, the crew of the Montenegrin Interior Ministry [MUP] patrol boat
Dominant 2 noticed an unidentified vessel on its radar. It was concluded
that this was an Italian speedboat Giannantoni (phonetic), with four members
of the crew. All four crewmembers were identified as Italian citizens. In
accordance with their jurisdiction and following decrees of the law on
control and crossing of the state border on sea, the members of the MUP
seized the Italian speedboat and escorted it towards the port of Bar.
Intending to escort the speedboat speedily and efficiently to the port of
Bar, two of the policemen from Dominant 2 moved onto the Italian speedboat.
When entering the port of Bar, two miles away from the coast, a warship of
the Yugoslav Navy, Topovnjaca 405, met the MUP patrol boat, which was
escorting the Italian speedboat, and asked the patrol boat to hand over to
them the Italian vessel together with the crew. Although the crew of the MUP
patrol boat warned the captain of the warship - with several armed soldiers
on it holding rifles aimed at the patrol boat - that the Italian boat had
already been seized and that was being escorted to Bar for further
proceedings, the captain of Topovnjaca 405 insisted that the Italian
speedboat be handed over to them. Despite the warnings by members of the MUP
that such demands violated the law and were outside their legal
jurisdiction, the crew of the warship Topovnjaca 405 continued to insist on
their demands, threatening to use the rifles which were aimed at the members
of the MUP. Since it was more than evident that there was going to be an
armed incident, caused by the actions of the members of the Yugoslav Navy,
and at the same time wanting to avoid such an incident, we allowed the crew
of the warship to take over the Italian vessel, although this was not under
their jurisdiction. Following the search of the crew and the speedboat, the
command of the Yugoslav Navy handed over the crew of the Italian speedboat
to the MUP for further investigation, but they retained the speedboat and
the goods found on it and three mobile phones, belonging to the Italian
crew. The statement by the Yugoslav Navy, that members of the MUP carried
out illegal actions and prevented members of the Yugoslav Navy from carrying
out their duties, is not true. It is malicious, with the aim of presenting
the Yugoslav Navy as the sole protector of the law, and presenting the MUP
as the one, which prevents them in carrying their activities. It is obvious
that the command of the Yugoslav Navy wants to cause incidents on the sea
and accuse the MUP of being the perpetrator of these incidents, at the same
time seizing property belonging to the crew. If a similar incident takes
place in the future, the members of the MUP will take measures according to
the law and their jurisdiction towards any one citizen and individual and at
the same time will undertake legal proceedings towards those who violate the
regulated regime of navigation." (TV Crna Gora-Podgorica, July 28)
II. U.N. / OSCE PERSONNEL ARRESTS
FOUR INTERNATIONALS MOVED TO BELGRADE MILITARY PRISON
***"The two British policemen arrested for spying in Montenegro are to face
a Yugoslav hearing in Belgrade tomorrow. The Foreign Office announced this
afternoon that one of the officers, Adrian Prangnell, had telephoned the top
British diplomat in Belgrade, Bob Gordon, today. Mr Prangnell said he and
fellow policeman John Yore, 31, would face a hearing tomorrow and a legal
adviser has now been arranged to represent them. The telephone call comes
after Foreign Office Minister Keith Vaz called the Yugoslav representative
in London, Mr Rade Drobac, to the Foreign Office today. Mr Vaz said: 'This
is a useful step forward. 'We now look forward to the Yugoslav authorities
to fulfil their international obligations: to grant immediate consular
access to both men, and to set out the charges against them. 'In the
meantime, I hope that on humanitarian grounds alone the authorities in
Belgrade will let both Adrian and John contact their families. 'We shall be
monitoring events tomorrow closely.'" (Press Association Newsfile, Aug. 8)
***"The army on Tuesday transferred two Britons and two Canadians suspected
of terrorism to Belgrade and started legal proceedings which could lead to a
trial against them, their lawyer said. Defense lawyer Vojislav Zecevic told
a reporter authorities legally have six months to complete an investigation,
but added he hoped the decision whether to charge or release them will be
reached within the next three days. 'There is not much to investigate in
this case,' Zecevic said. 'The only thing to determine is whether the
demolition devices and a few fuses found in their car are really explosives
that can cause destruction. I think those were not serious explosives.'
Zecevic said that the military prosecutor in Podgorica, Col. Miroslav
Samardzic, demanded that the four be charged for possession of arms and
explosives, attempted terrorist acts, illegal entry into Yugoslavia and
'violent behavior toward military personnel.' 'They are already in a
Belgrade military court where the proceedings are being conducted,' said
Zecevic. He said that by opening the investigation, the military
investigation judge obviously ruled 'that there is basis for suspicion that
they have committed criminal acts.' Samardzic denied reports that the four
had been formally indicted. 'I demanded the start of an investigation, and
did not raise any charges,' he told The Associated Press. He said that only
the Belgrade military court after the investigation could formally charge
them, and put them on trial. If found guilty, the four could face up to 15
years in prison. Zecevic said Monday his clients appeared healthy when they
appeared in court in Podgorica, Montenegro, for the first time since they
were arrested near the border with Kosovo last week on suspicion of
possessing explosives for terrorist use. Zecevic said they suffered no
'personal problems.' He did not say what the accused told the hearing, but
all four have denied wrongdoing. The four men two British policemen and two
Canadians were arrested in northern Montenegro while driving back to Kosovo.
The two Britons, John Yore and Adrian Prangnell, were working as instructors
at a police academy in Kosovo. No diplomats have been able to contact them.
In London, Keith Vaz, Britain's foreign office minister, criticized Yugoslav
authorities for keeping the men isolated and suggested they should never
have been detained. 'They were not there on some James Bond mission,' he
said of the Britons. 'They were there on holiday, and they have informed
their families of that.' Commenting for the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, spokesman Roland Bless said in Pristina, Kosovo that
Yugoslav authorities appeared to have ignored the fact that the two Britons
were 'part of the U.N. mission in Kosovo, and therefore ... under the
immunity of the U.N.' Shaun Going, one of the Canadians arrested along with
his nephew Liam Hall, was a contractor doing reconstruction work in the
province and friends have said he might have been carrying demolition
equipment used to destroy houses wrecked during the Kosovo war. The Yugoslav
army claimed the detainees were suspected of training pro-Western forces in
Montenegro for 'terrorist actions.' The four had military equipment and
explosives in their possession at the time of arrest, an army statement
claimed...Milosevic critics have charged that the arrests have been timed to
generate anti-Montenegrin sentiment ahead of Sept. 24 presidential and local
elections." (Associated Press, Aug. 8)
BELGRADE DENIES ACCESS TO PRISONERS
***"Craig Bale, the Canadian charge d'affairs at the Canadian embassy in
Belgrade, has been instructed to contact Yugoslav officials this morning to
try to verify the news reports. Bale was turned away by Yugoslav authorities
when he tried Friday to see the two prisoners." (Gazette, Aug. 7) " 'As we
have stressed to the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry, their government is obliged,
under the Vienna Convention, to grant Canadian officials immediate consular
access to the detainees,' Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy
said in Ottawa. One of Going's Kosovo employees, Safer Miftari, denied the
two Canadians were spying or training Montenegro's pro-Western forces. 'We
deny absolutely everything ... the spying charges and that he came to
Montenegro to prepare some units,' Miftari said Thursday. He said Going had
taken his nephew for a short vacation in Montenegro and failed to return
Monday night as expected." (Associated Press, Aug. 4)
OSCE BANS STAFF FROM MONTENEGRO TRAVEL
***"The European security organization banned its staff from traveling to
Montenegro Friday after two British police officers and two Canadians were
arrested by the Yugoslav army on suspicion of spying and training
secessionist forces... In a memo to its staff throughout the Balkans, the
OSCE said the arrests were part of a pattern of activity indicating that
'the security situation in Montenegro (is) taking a turn for the worse.
Clearly, it would be unwise to offer an opportunity for the (Yugoslav army)
to use a chance encounter with OSCE people traveling without visas as
another propaganda coup,' the OSCE memo said." (Associated Press, Aug. 4)
"MONTENEGRO IS THE REAL TARGET"
***"Mr Milosevic seeks to deflect rising discontent, exploit the widespread
conviction that the Serbs are history's victims and convince his countrymen
that a vengeful NATO is still waging war against them. He is therefore
cynically attempting to whip up public panic over infiltration and
espionage. The press is full of stories of Western plots... The aim is
transparent: in the run-up to the national and presidential elections in
September, Mr Milosevic wants to brand all political opposition as treachery
comparable to support for NATO during the Kosovo war. Montenegro is the real
target. Belgrade sees this spirited and independent little republic as a
Western fifth column, a haven for his political opponents and what remains
of the free media in Yugoslavia... Britain has no diplomatic representation
in Belgrade. There are few levers to use: sanctions are already in place,
and Belgrade cares little about United Nations or world opinion. But one
country could make a difference: Russia. Moscow has already indicated that
Western restraint over Chechnya could be rewarded with Russian help in the
Balkans. It can see the dangers of renewed conflict in the region. At some
political cost, Tony Blair has cultivated and maintained a good relationship
with President Putin. Now is the time, therefore, for him to call in the
favor and ask for Russian help." (The Times-London, Aug. 5)
U.K.: "CLEAR BREACH OF INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS"
***"It is unacceptable to parade British citizens - policemen seconded to
the OSCE as part of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) - before
the world's media accused of terrorism and espionage. No evidence was
produced to support these charges. These policemen are playing a key role in
maintaining peace in Kosovo, a role endorsed by the UN Security Council. We
and UNMIK are in touch with the families, who are naturally concerned. We
are also in touch with the UN, OSCE and the Canadian authorities. It is also
unacceptable that the Yugoslav authorities have still not informed the
British Interests Section in the Brazilian Embassy in Belgrade of these
arrests or provided any information. This is in clear breach of
international obligations. This afternoon the head of the Yugoslav Interests
Section of the Cyprus High Commission in London was summoned to the Foreign
Office to protest at this behaviour." (statement, Foreign & Commonwealth
Office-London, Aug. 3)
LONDON APPEALS TO MOSCOW TO INTERVENE
***"Russia was asked to intervene with Belgrade yesterday over the detention
of two British police officers at a Yugoslav Army camp in Montenegro, who
have been arrested on suspicion of spying and shown on state television. The
appeal to Russia, whose influence over President Milosevic helped to end the
Kosovo crisis last year, was one of many diplomatic moves to try to gain the
release of Detective Sergeant Adrian Prangnell and Police Constable John
Yore...'Obviously I'm very concerned and I want him home safely. He is just
doing a police job, which he thoroughly enjoys.' A spokesman for the Foreign
Office, said: 'although Robin Cook (the Foreign Secretary) is technically on
holiday, he has kept in close touch with developments in Yugoslavia. He
spoke to (Benita) Ferrero-Waldner, the chairman of the OSCE asking for help
by intervening with the Yugoslav authorities to free the two Britons. Mr
Cook has also sent messages to his Australian and Brazilian counterparts, as
both have people in Belgrade. 'It's important to emphasize that this is not
a bilateral issue between Britain and Yugoslavia; it is an international
issue because they are employed by the OSCE in Kosovo, which is administered
by the United Nations.' " (The Times-London, Aug. 5)
ANNAN PROTESTS TO BELGRADE
***"The Secretary-General is very much concerned over the detention since
Tuesday, 1 August, by the Yugoslav Army in Montenegro of two British members
of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) seconded
to the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK). He also
expresses his concern over the detention of the two Canadian citizens who
were arrested at the same time. The Secretary-General notes that the
seconded OSCE officials are members of the UNMIK mission and, as such, are
entitled to the privileges and immunities of United Nations staff members.
He demands immediate access to the staff members by representatives of the
Organization. The Secretary-General also calls upon the Yugoslav authorities
to honour their obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular
Relations and grant immediate access to those detained by representatives of
the United Kingdom and Canada. He calls for the earliest release by the
Yugoslav authorities of the detained personnel." (statement, Office of the
Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Aug. 7)
OSCE CHAIR CALLS FOR RELEASE
***"The Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, has
called for the immediate release of the two OSCE employees and their
Canadian companions. Austria currently holds the rotating chairmanship of
the OSCE. Ferrero-Waldner expressed concern for the welfare of the two
British members of the OSCE Kosovo mission and demanded that the Yugoslav
Government allow diplomats to visit them." (independent Radio
B2-92-Belgrade, Aug. 4)III. ELECTIONS
VUKOVIC: "BEHAVE AS IF ELECTIONS DON'T EXIST"
***" 'The state of Montenegro, its legitimate bodies are to behave as if the
elections do not exist.', said Miodrag Vukovic, DPS Executive board
president and President's advisor...There will be no logistic support.'
Vukovic was explicit responding to the question if Montenegrin media will be
obliged to report on possible pre-electoral campaign of Serbian opposition
parties in Montenegro. When Montenegrin state media are at stake, there are
one more problems if they are also to behave as if the elections do not
exist. The dilemma mostly concerns Radio and Television, which among other
have transmissions, where political parties can express their views and
stands. If nothing else, the SNP will use the possibility to use Montenegrin
state media for their pre-electoral campaign. The head of the Montenegrin
Secretariat for information, Bozidar Jaredic, said that the stand of the
Montenegrin media towards the federal elections had not been discussed."
(Pobjeda daily, Aug. 4) "Montenegro's ruling coalition will do everything
possible to prevent conflicts on the federal election day, September 24,
although they will not take part in the elections, said the Montenegrin
President's senior advisor, Miodrag Vukovic, yesterday. Vukovic told Radio
France International that the federal elections were irrelevant to
Montenegro but that the 20 or 25 per cent of Montenegrins who clung to old
ideologies and were manipulated by Milosevic would vote." (Radio B2-92, Aug.
4)
SNP-DPS TALKS ON ELECTION COOPERATION?
*** "Momir Bulatovic, the Yugoslav Prime Minister and the Socialist People's
Party (SNP) leader, said on Thursday that talks between the SNP and the
Democratic Party of Socialists would probably be held in the last week of
August, Belgrade media reported on Thursday. Commenting on reports that
elections in Montenegro would be held only in the coastal republic's army
barracks, Bulatovic said that was nonsense and added there were not enough
barracks in Montenegro to hold elections in them. He said he believed a way
would be found in cooperation with the Montenegrin authorities to allow
those Montenegrin citizens who wish to vote to do so. He said voting was a
right rather than an obligation and added he hoped the Montenegrin
authorities would support what the international community has told it,
namely its financial instructors. Bulatovic said there were no problems
between official Belgrade and Podgorica, but only within Montenegro itself
as the coastal republic's authorities 'want to marginalize its majority for
the benefit of its minority by using means which have nothing to do with
democracy.' " (V.I.P. Daily News Report, Aug. 4) "On Aug. 4 the Socialist
People's Party of Montenegro proposed to the Montenegrin ruling coalition's
major party, the Democratic Party of Socialists, that they begin talks on
the preservation of peace and the promotion of democracy in the republic on
Aug. 17. Montenegrin legislature speaker and vice-chairman of the Democratic
Party of Socialists, Svetozar Marovic, announced that talks would be held
with the strongest opposition parties in Montenegro, the Socialist People's
Party and the Liberal Alliance. A member of the Socialist People's Party
steering committee, Vuksan Simonovic, sent a letter authorized by his
party's leadership, to the Democratic Party of Socialists, in which he
informed them that the talks have been accepted." (BETA news agency, Aug. 7)
MONTENEGRO GIVES VOTING LIST TO SNP
***"Dusan Simonovic, the secretary of Montenegro's development secretariat,
confirmed on Thursday that the Socialist People's party (SNP) led by Federal
Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic, has been given the central voting
list...Simonovic said that the Montenegrin authorities would be unable to
prevent a possible abuse of the list for federal election set for September
24. Having reiterated that the federal elections are 'non-existent' for the
Montenegrin authorities, Simonovic said his was obliged to hand over the
voting list to the SNP under the election laws. The laws were adopted by
Montenegro's parliament before the recent local elections in Podgorica and
Herceg Novi. The law gave wide powers to parties including the power to
erase from and add names to the list upon request. The laws have enabled
parties in the coastal Yugoslav republic to have full control of voting
lists. The SNP invoked Montenegrin rather than federal regulations to
exercise its right to obtain voting lists, even though it is Montenegro's
strongest opposition party loyal to the federal government led by Federal
Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic." (V.I.P. Daily News Report, Aug. 4)
PREDRAG BULATOVIC: "USE ONLY POLITICAL MEANS"
*** "Q: It is now certain that a meeting shall be held between the SNP and
DPS What are you expecting from the dialogue?
[Vice President, SNP Predrag] Bulatovic: The minimum is to secure peace and
to ensure that political and democratic means are the only tools used in
resolving state and political issues. The topics need to be the relations
within Montenegro, but also the relations between Serbia and Montenegro.
The DPS has to clearly define its position in relation to the joint state of
Serbia and Montenegro. Is it acceptable to the SNP that the DPS controls the
election process even though it is not participating in the election? I
welcome the publicly stated views of senior officials of the DPS that the
federal elections are a reality in Montenegro and that they shall not
forcefully or in any other way prevent them from taking place. Their lack
of participation in the election leaves many questions unanswered and this
additionally justifies the need for dialogue. I am not against all control.
I cannot be against those decisions, which I promoted, in Republican
legislation. The possible request from the DPS to control the elections is
not prescribed in law, but if this issue shall contribute to improving
understanding, or for the stabilization of political circumstances, these
can be discussed and it is possible that an agreement could be reached.
Q: Would SNP agree for OSCE to monitor the federal parliamentary and
presidential elections in Montenegro?
Bulatovic: The SNP had bad experiences with OSCE during the presidential and
also partially in 1998 during the parliamentary elections, but we did
cooperate. After the parliamentary elections in 1998, the SNP has been
building new relations with OSCE. The representatives of this organization
played a constructive role in the development of the new electoral
legislation in Montenegro, and their preliminary report on the local
elections in Podgorica and Herceg Novi is fair. The SNP has no reason not
to accept the monitoring of the OSCE mission for the federal elections in
Montenegro, if other conditions are met.
Q: Do you believe there are themes that cannot be the topic of discussion?
Bulatovic: I believe that neither side should impose preliminary conditions
and ultimatums. The people that are to meet are now in different political
parties, but for a long time they were part of the same politics and they
participated in adopting decisions that were key for Montenegro and FRY.
Together we participated in the events around the breaking up of SFRY; in
1992 we adopted the constitutions of Montenegro and FRY; and the last thing
we did together was the election of Slobodan Milosevic for the president of
the federation." (Vijesti daily-quoted by MNNews, Aug. 7)
BURZAN: CHOOSE ELECTIONS OR COALITION
***"Social Democratic Party (SDP) Dragisa Burzan warned: 'The SDP will not
participate in the federal elections nor will it make bids on it. Every
participation of official Montenegro in these so-called elections will be
treated as a reason to leave the coalition', said Burzan, adding that the
participation in the elections would be 'legally wrong' as well as 'that it
would bring Montenegro in a situation from which it would be difficult to
emerge without a conflict'. He assessed that the elections would be neither
democratic nor regular, 'because in Serbia the opposition would not be in
position to achieve the minimum of control over the electoral process'.
Burzan said that there are no legal or legitimate reasons for Montenegro to
participate in the legitimization of Milosevic's rule. 'By consistently
violating the Constitution over a prolonged period, and particularly after
the illegal and illegitimate proclamation of a unitary state, Milosevic has
unilaterally broken the alliance with Montenegro, by annexing it to Serbia,
but, luckily, only on paper. Montenegro's participation in the elections
would legalize this unilateral and violent act', said Burzan and added that
'the likelihood of a conflict between Milosevic and Montenegro was far
greater if Montenegro reduced its fundamental political values to the status
of a mere member of the opposition against Milosevic.' " (V.I.P. Daily News
Report, Aug. 3)
ONLY SNP TO PARTICIPATE?
***"The Montenegrin Prime Minister and Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS)
Deputy Filip Vujanovic stated that there is no reason for the governing
coalition to take part in the elections. 'These elections would only be a
way to preserve and make stronger FRY President Slobodan Milosevic's power',
stated Vujanovic...The Deputy of SDP and MP with the Montenegrin Parliament,
Ranko Krivokapic, stated that, parallel to the federal elections, Montenegro
should slate a referendum on its status...People's Party (NS) Deputy Predrag
Drecun stated that this party would boycott the elections for they are not
democratic. Liberal Alliance (LS) Spokeswoman Vesna Perovic found that 'it
is high time for the officials in Montenegro to realize that FRY has always
been the noose around the necks of the Serbian and Montenegrin people'.
Reminding that, in 1992, Albanians boycotted the referendum in Montenegro
which created 'some kind of a third Yugoslavia', president of the Albanian
national party Democratic Alliance (DS) Mehmed Bardhi stated that they will
not participate 'in the scheduled elections, neither with, nor without
Milosevic'. High-ranking official of another Albanian party, the Democratic
Union of Albanians (DUA), Ferhat Dinosa judged that the latest events in
Belgrade are 'a constitutional state coup', and that all the stronger
pressure of that regime is leading towards 'the erasing of the Montenegrin
statehood.' " (V.I.P. Daily News Report, July 31)
***"Montenegro has total of 50 places in the 178-seat Yugoslav parliament,
20 in the upper chamber, and 30 in the Lower House. If Montenegro's ruling
coalition do boycott the polls, the main Montenegrin opposition Socialist
People's Party of Milosevic's close ally Momir Bulatovic could take all the
seats reserved for the tiny republic and boost Milosevic's position in the
federal parliament." (Agence France Presse, Aug. 2)
AMERICA PUSHES DJUKANOVIC, WHO DECLINES
***"The dilemma is sharper than that for Milo Djukanovic, Montenegro's
western-oriented leader. If his government refuses to co-operate in
organising the presidential election, he will enrage the Serb-minded voters
in the north of his republic, who may go ahead and vote anyway, perhaps in
the barracks of the Yugoslav army. And the authorities in Belgrade, both
civil and military, may accuse Mr Djukanovic of disfranchising his own
people, and treat this as their long-awaited excuse for a fight. If, on the
other hand, Mr Djukanovic were to go along with the ballot, his own
political base would crumble overnight: he would alienate the
pro-independence wing of his shaky coalition, and in particular the 15% or
so of Montenegrin voters who are not of Orthodox Slavic heritage. At a
meeting in Rome on August 1st, Madeleine Albright, the United States'
secretary of state, suggested to Mr Djukanovic that he should hold his nose
and agree to take part. After all, this might be the last chance to remove
Mr Milosevic from power peacefully. But her advice was apparently ignored.
Filip Vujanovic, the Montenegrin prime minister, looking at the dangers of
taking part, insisted the following day that his republic wanted no part of
the September poll. That will dismay most of Serbia's liberal opposition,
which had been counting on Montenegrins to boost the anti-Milosevic vote."
(Economist, Aug. 5)
SNP: DPS MUST DO WHAT "THE BOSS" SAYS
***"The largest opposition party in Montenegro, the Socialist People's
Party, stated on Aug. 2 that it expected the Montenegrin ruling coalition to
run in federal elections. A party Montenegrin legislature member, Emilo
Labudovic, said that 'the boss, without beating about the bush, ordered that
they must participate in the elections,' alluding to a meeting between
Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic and U.S. State Secretary Madeleine
Albright, in Rome on Aug. 1. Labudovic is of the opinion that the
Montenegrin authorities were gripped by panic ahead of the federal
elections." (BETA news agency, Aug. 3)
ITALY'S FM: "ENCOURAGE MONTENEGRO NOT TO BOYCOTT"
***"There is concern on our part on Mr. Milosevic's moves, including the
changes in the constitution, the calling for elections, relations with
Montenegro and the question of Kosovo where of course things are quiet now
but full security has not yet been reestablished... On the second question
about President Djukanovic, the Italian government's view is to encourage
President Djukanovic and Montenegro not to boycott the elections."
(statement, Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini-Rome, Aug 1)
SNP: REFERENDUM NOT POSSIBLE FOR 6 MONTHS
***"The federal prime minister and president of the Socialist People's Party
(SNP) of Montenegro, Momir Bulatovic, has said a possible referendum on the
future state and legal status of Montenegro cannot be scheduled in less than
six months, reported Monday's [pro-Milosevic Podgorica daily] Dan. 'A
referendum is envisaged by the Montenegrin Constitution and we (SNP)
consider it to be a means that should be resorted to after the creation of
all the conditions necessary for the free expression of the citizens' will',
Bulatovic told this daily which advocates the stands of the SNP. 'All people
originating from Montenegro and with Montenegrin citizenship coupled with
Yugoslav citizenship who have settled in some other part of this country
(FRY), must be given a chance to express their will whether they are for
this country being divided or remaining unified', Bulatovic said." (V.I.P.
Daily News Report, Aug. 1)
IV. ECONOMY
DUAL CURRENCY BECOMING SINGLE CURRENCY
***"The exchange rate in Montenegro stands at 26 dinars for one deutschemark
as of Friday. The Montenegrin Monetary Council convened in Podgorica in
Thursday and announced that an active exchange rate policy is to be pursued,
meaning that new shifts in the exchange rate can be expected in the near
future. The council said that banks' liquid assets, formed in German marks
since a dual currency system has been introduced, have been rising
constantly, reaching a daily average of 80 million deutschemarks by the end
of June this year. It added that assets in dinars have dropped in the same
period, and that they now account for less than one percent of the total
liquid assets owned by the banks. The Montenegrin government said during its
Thursday session that the dual currency system has practically become a
single currency system as the German mark has virtually become the only
means of payment." (V.I.P. Daily News Report, Aug. 4)
BUSINESS TYCOON MURDERED
***"Milenko Vujovic, the owner of the Admiral Company in Herceg Novi was
killed yesterday around 1pm on the Zmijica beach in Zelenika. It was Spiro
Vuksanovic from Zelenika who had rented the beach at which the murder took
place from the Morsko Dobro Public Company. Vuksanovic fled after the
murder, and the police are still searching for him. In the incident,
Vujovic's son was wounded in the leg. As a possible motive of the killing
are the debts that Vuksanovic owed to Vujovic. The irregular payment of
debts is the reason why Vujovic had arranged the meeting with Vuksanovic and
had come to the Zmijica beach with his son and another man. Vujovic was
considered one of the richest people in Herceg Novi. The Admiral company
was engaged in various businesses, and recently especially in construction
works and transport." (Vijesti daily-quoted by MNNews, Aug. 7) "Milenko
Vujovic, owner of the 'Admiral' company and a close friend of Aca
Djukanovic, the brother of Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, was killed
in Zelenika near Herceg Novi on Sunday...The Socialist People's Party (SNP),
at the helm of which is Federal Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic, often
accused him during the presidential elections of being involved in shady
business, such as cigarette smuggling, and bringing him into connection with
President Djukanovic's brother." (V.I.P. Daily News Report, Aug. 7)
VI. INTERNATIONAL
STILL "NO CONTINGENCY PLANS" AT NATO
***"What the alliance would do if Milosevic takes military action in
Montenegro, the smaller of the two republics in the Yugoslav federation, is
another matter. The subject has been discussed at NATO headquarters but so
far the military side of the 19-member alliance has received no political
guidance regarding Montenegro nor instructions to start drawing up
contingency plans. The allies support the republic and its western-oriented
president, Milo Djukanovic. But as one NATO officer put it, speaking on
condition he not be identified, Montenegro is a hot potato nobody wants to
deal with right now, and lacking an immediate crisis, nobody needs to deal
with it right now...Robertson never backs up his warnings to Milosevic with
specific threats. The essence of deterrence, as they say at NATO, is
uncertainty. The reality is, however, Robertson has no big stick easily at
hand. Milosevic knows that too. Diplomats at NATO headquarters say there is
no enthusiasm for further military action in the Balkans, where the alliance
already has two open-ended operations in progress. Neither is there
agreement for Gen. Joseph Ralston, the supreme allied commander in Europe,
to begin making plans for intervention. That doesn't mean thinkers at NATO's
military headquarters in southern Belgium haven't been doing serious terrain
analysis or developing scenarios, but without a political green light,
that's as far as it goes. Lacking a consensus, there tends to be a certain
ostrich view among the allies. As one insider put it, the hope is that
sooner or later Yugoslavia will collapse anyway and the problem will go
away. Milosevic is well aware of the allies' dilemma. He also knows that the
United States, NATO's most powerful member, has elections Nov. 7 and the
last thing the administration and candidate Al Gore need is a new crisis in
the Balkans." (Associated Press, Aug. 8)
MILOSEVIC CAN "ACT WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING"
***"The United States is increasingly worried that Slobodan Milosevic, the
Yugoslav leader, will move militarily against Montenegro, the junior
republic in Yugoslavia, forcing Washington and NATO into the awkward
position of deciding how to react, Clinton administration officials said
yesterday. Mr. Milosevic's possible use of his Yugoslav Army troops and
Special Forces stationed in Montenegro to undermine President Milo
Djukanovic of Montenegro or even strike against him was discussed at a White
House meeting this week and at NATO headquarters 10 days ago, the officials
said. The fears about Mr. Milosevic's intentions toward Montenegro have
become more acute since he unilaterally changed the Constitution...If Mr.
Djukanovic refuses to participate -- and both he and the United States have
called the elections illegal -- then Mr. Milosevic will be more tempted to
move against him, administration officials said. Mr. Milosevic put the army
units on high alert last month while he was changing the Constitution. 'This
was a reminder of their ability to act with little or no warning,' a NATO
official said. As for timing, the Yugoslav leader has several options, all
potentially embarrassing to the Clinton administration in the fall
presidential campaign. Some military action against Mr. Djukanovic after the
elections on Sept. 24 would be most likely, administration officials said.
At the North Atlantic Council last week, Mr. Milosevic's designs on
Montenegro were discussed at some length, a NATO official said. None of the
19 alliance members had much enthusiasm for any sort of action against Mr.
Milosevic over Montenegro, the official added. NATO members saw few
parallels between Montenegro now and Kosovo last year. They could not cite a
legal basis for intervention, officials said...And with a presidential
election in the United States and the declining popularity of Prime Minister
Tony Blair of Britain, domestic political considerations were uppermost."
(New York Times, Aug. 5)
ROBERTSON ASKS PUTIN'S HELP
***"NATO secretary general George Robertson called on Russian President
Vladimir Putin to uses 'Moscow's influence' in order to avoid 'the open
conflict that threatens' to break out between the Serbian and Montenegrin
authorities, BETA learned in diplomatic circles in Brussels. Authorized
officials at NATO's Brussels headquarters told BETA they had 'not comment on
this information.' Diplomatic sources claim that NATO specially emphasized
that it would react to every Milosevic attempt to violently overthrow the
democratically elected authorities of President Milo Djukanovic in
Montenegro. According to the same source, Djukanovic told U.S. State
Secretary Madeleine Albright in Rome on Aug. 1, that he had evidence of
formations loyal to Milosevic preparing to undermine the legitimate
authorities in Montenegro by force. (BETA news service, Aug. 3)
U.S. PLAN WOULD EVICT FRY FROM UN
***"The United States today initiated the process to exclude the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia from the United Nations. They have obtained the
cooperation of Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia,
while Czech Republic, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria and Austria already
announced support. The State Department expected this list to grow
considerably as the next session of the UN General Assembly approaches. US
Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke explained the initiative saying that
the Clinton administration was seeking to isolate Yugoslav President
Milosevic as much as possible, since Milosevic and his accused associates
should be in the Hague and not in power in Yugoslavia and Serbia." (Radio
B2-92, Aug. 7) "The United States will launch a campaign at the United
Nations this fall to expel Yugoslav diplomats from the international
organization, UN ambassador Richard Holbrooke said Friday. The campaign will
aim 'to end the anomalous position of the Yugoslav diplomats in New York who
are half in half out of the UN and represent a regime which has not been
recognized by the UN,' Holbrooke said at a press conference in New York. 'We
want to throw them out.' According to Holbrooke, the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia, made up of Serbia and Montenegro, is the only country that has
not applied for readmission to the UN after the breakup of the Yugoslav
federation in 1992. 'It is a completely ridiculous situation,' he said,
calling the Yugoslav flag at the United Nations 'Tito's flag.' Josip Tito
ruled socialist Yugoslavia from 1945 to 1980. It's 'a flag that belongs to a
museum, a flag that represents nobody,' according to Holbrooke. 'We're tired
of the situation and we're going to make an issue of this,' he said, asking
for support from Europeans and 'understanding' from other countries. In a
debate over Montenegro in June, the Security Council voted for the expulsion
from the room of Yugoslav representative Vladislav Jovanovic following at
the request of Holbrooke, angering Russian Ambassador Sergei Lavrov."
(Agence France Presse, July 29)
ALBANIA-MONTENEGRO-CROATIA COOPERATION
***"At a meeting in Zagreb on Aug. 2, Croatian President Stipe Mesic and Alb
anian Prime Minister Ilir Meta extended support to an initiative for
trilateral cooperation between Albania, Montenegro, and Croatia. Mesic and
Meta discussed bilateral relations, expanding economic cooperation,
abolishing visas, and the situation in neighboring Yugoslavia." (BETA news
agency, Aug. 3)
BOSNIAN, MONTENEGRIN SDP DISCUSS JOINT PROJECTS
***"The leaders of the Social Democratic parties of Montenegro and Bosnia &
Hercegovina, Zarko Rakcevic and Zlatko Lagumdzija, who met in Podgorica
yesterday, concluded that the future belongs to parties with such
orientation, because the 'nationalists have demonstrated their capabilities
over the last decade. We discussed joint regional projects, creating the
conditions for the return of refugees, a united B&H and the crisis in the
relations between Montenegro and Serbia', said Rakcevic. The leader of the
Bosnian Social Democrats said that this was his first visit to Montenegro in
the last decade and that he has come to express his support for the 'choice
of the Montenegrin SDP for the future of Montenegro and the right of the
citizens to independence, which is the basic condition for cooperation in
the region.' " (Vijesti daily-quoted by MNNews, Aug. 7)
