Informazione
CAMPIONATI EUROPEI DI CALCIO:
IL DANESE SCHMEICHEL CHIEDE IL PASSAPORTO JUGOSLAVO
Subject: [STOPNATO] Danish Soccer Star Wants Yugoslav Passport
Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2000 08:59:10 -0500 (CDT)
From: (Rick Rozoff)
To: stopnato@...
STOP NATO: ¡NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM
BREAKING NEWS :
SCHMEICHEL WANTS YUGOSLAV PASSPORT FROM MILOSEVIC.
Rotterdam 16.6.2000
Danish football superstar Peter Boleslaw Schmeichel shocked the world at
today's press-conference after the match with Holland. Disturbed and
disappointed after another humiliating defeat of his team at EURO 2000,
he made a short statement for the press: "I am too ambitious and too
good goalkeeper to play in such a bad team as Denmark. I'm feed up
,therefore, tonight I officially applied at the embassy of The Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia, for Yugoslavian passport. Yugoslav football
team is excellent, and it is the only team I would like to play for. I
personally asked president Slobodan Milosevic it grant me Yugoslavian
National Passport, because I highly respect him and his achievements in
the last year War against Nato-agressors."
Schmeichel still didn't get any answer from Yugoslav officials, but
Yugoslav coach Boskov said that Schmeichel is not good enough to play in
the Yugoslav team.
---
E' PARTITO IL FINANZIAMENTO PER L'OLEODOTTO SUL CORRIDOIO OTTO
http://www.albaniannews.com
Albanian Daily News
June 16, 2000
Balkan AMBO Pipeline to Start Raising Funds in July
SKOPJE - The Albanian, Macedonian and Bulgarian Oil
Corporation LLC (AMBO) of Pound Ridge, New York, said
on Thursday it would start raising funds in early July
for a $1.13bn pipeline to ship crude oil from the
Black and Caspian seas to the West.
“The feasibility study gives oil companies operating
in the Caspian region a commercially compelling
proposition to invest in the project. Almost all major
companies in the world can use the pipeline,” AMBO
Executive Vice-President Gligor Taskovic told Reuters
in the Macedonian capital Skopje.
The company’s president, Ted Fergusson, had said
earlier in Sofia AMBO aimed to start work in 2001.
“Project’s sanctions and funding should be established
by the end of this year,” said Fergusson, announcing
conclusions of the project’s updated feasibility
study. An earlier estimate had put the project at
about $850m.
The underground pipeline, 913 kilometres long, is
designed to carry 750,000 barrels a day, or 35m metric
tons per year, which will represent 40 percent of the
crude oil from newly-developed oilfields to enter the
Black Sea in the next five years or 30 percent of the
new oil over the next 10 years, Fergusson said.
It will pass from Burgas, on the Black Sea coast, to
Vlora, to ship Russian, Azerbaijani, Kazakh and
Turkmenian oil from around the Black Sea to the
markets of Western Europe and North America. It will
also bypass Turkey’s heavily travelled Bosphorus
Straits.
Big tankers with 300,000 tonnes of crude can anchor at
the port of Vlora, which makes the transit journey to
the United States economic, while the biggest tankers
passing the Bosphorus could carry 150,000 tonnes, AMBO
officials said. A holding structure with three
separate companies in Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania
will build the pipeline. Each country can be an equity
holder in the investment.
AMBO has letters of acceptance from the governments of
Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria for the underground
link.
Taskovic said companies including Texaco, Chevron,
Exxon Mobil, BP Amoco, Agip, Total, Elf, Fina, were
interested in the pipeline that will become
operational in 2005.
The project has also interested the US government and
European Commission, but the construction funding will
depend on whether foreign companies will find it
feasible to invest in such countries, where the
political risk is high.
The trans-Balkan pipeline is also part of the
Transport Corridor 8 plan. Corridor 8 will include a
highway, railway, oil pipeline and fibre-optic
telecommunications line as well as AMBO’s oil
pipeline.
“We will begin formal discussions with these companies
in two weeks,” Taskovic said, adding that it would
take time to raise the money needed for the project.
“This will take one or two years. We need to raise
$450m in equity funding. The rest of the money will be
loans from banks. We have talked to the EBRD, MIGA,
IFC, OPIC and EXIM. They are excited. Once we raise
the money, we will need three years for the
construction,” Taskovic said.
He was referring to the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank’s
insurance agency MIGA, its International Finance
Corporation, the US Overseas Prime Investment Corp,
and an export-import bank.
AMBO was confident that another planned pipeline
sending crude from Russia to Greece via Bulgaria would
not threaten its own project as the Caspian region was
expected to yield as much as 110 million tonnes of oil
a year from 2005, he said.
“So much oil will be flowing from the Caspian region
that there will be sufficient crude for all,” Taskovic
said. (Compiled from Reuters dispatch, archives)
---
RAPPORTI BILATERALI RFJ-CINA
----- Original Message -----
From: wolfgang mueller <karovier@...>
To: Wolfgang Mueller <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2000 2:19 PM
Subject: MLL: Li Peng Delivers Speech in Belgrade
Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the
National People's Congress, said in Belgrade Monday
that peace cannot be forged out of bombings.
Referring to air strikes against Yugoslavia by a
US-led
NATO force last year, Li said the assault was a
violation of the intent of the United Nations Charter
and universally recognized norms governing
international relations. The air strikes seriously
threatened stability in Europe.
To read more, please look at:
http://web3.peopledaily.com.cn/english/200006/13/eng20000613_42856.html
-
http://www.peopledaily.net/english/200006/10/eng20000610_42658.html
People's Daily
Saturday, June 10, 2000, updated at 09:37(GMT+8)
China
China: It's Time for In-depth Reflection on Kosovo
China said Friday that it is time for in-depth
reflection on Kosovo, a Yugoslav province, where the
current situation is very critical as Serbs are
suffering from deportation and persecution.
The statement came as Shen Guofang, the deputy Chinese
permanent representative to the United Nations, took
the floor at an open U.N. Security Council meeting, at
which Bernard Kouchner, head of the U.N. Interim
Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), briefed the
15-nation body on the latest developments in the
Serbian province.
"We are of the view that it is time for in-depth
reflection," he said. "The Security Council has the
political responsibility and moral obligation to face
this reality, and it should seriously seek the
resolution to the serious problems faced by Kosovo,
otherwise the credibility of the United Nations will
continue to be impaired."
"First, the international presence should respect the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY)," he said."UNMIK should
respect the laws of FRY and seek cooperation with
FRY."
However, "some of the current administrative measures
adopted in Kosovo impair the sovereignty of FRY and it
has created a false impression that Kosovo is going to
independence."
Shen said that "any attempt to lead Kosovo to
independence is dangerous and illegal, it will deprive
the Balkan region of peace and the ultimate victim
will be the people of the Balkan region." "UNMIK can
not afford to make a slightest mistake on this very
important policy of issue," he said.
Secondly, "we are very concerned with the security of
Serbs and other minorities in Kosovo," he said.
"We firmly oppose any forms of ethnic cleansing," he
said. " The flagrant violations of basic human rights
in Kosovo, no matter when it take place and which
ethnic group it target, can not be accepted by the
international community."
"All human rights violations are crimes," he said.
"The crimes, be they big or small, can not be
tolerated."
"In the same way, it is irresponsible to use past
events as excuses to explain the way to the critical
situation," he said. " We are concerned at the ways
UNMIK and the international peacekeepers turn about
the situation."
Apart from that, he said, "What arises our particular
concern is that a large number of non-Kosovo Albanians
have entered Kosovo, and this will change the
demographic composition of Kosovo," which has a
multi-ethnic society since ancient times.
"There should a Kosovo where different ethnic groups
can have peaceful coexistence, and this should be the
target of UNMIK," he said.
"We are opposed to any attempt to create national
division and sabotage national unity," he said.
"Fundamentally, the solution to the Kosovo issue can
only be achieved within the framework of FRY through
substantial autonomy and good ethnic policy."
-
YUGOSLAVIA - CHINA
CHINESE PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT LI PENG IN BELGRADE
BELGRADE, June 11 (Tanjug) - President of the Permanent Committee of the
Pan-Chinese People's Congress Li Peng arrived on Sunday on a three-day
official and friendly visit to Yugoslavia, accompanied by his wife and
aides. "I am very pleased for the opportunity to visit Yugoslavia, given
the traditional friendship between our two countries," said Li Peng upon
arrival at Belgrade airport, adding that he was confident that his trip
will help further develop the friendship between China and Yugoslavia.
The
President of Chinese Parliament was welcomed by the Presidents of both
houses of Yugoslav Parliament - Milomir Minic and Srdja Bozovic. Li Peng
was greeted by Yugoslav Deputy Premier Nikola Sainovic, Yugoslav Foreign
Minister Zivadin Jovanovic, Serbian Parliament President Dragan Tomic,
Yugoslav Parliament Upper House Vice-President Gorica Gajevic, Yugoslav
Army General Staff Chief Gen. Nebojsa Pavkovic, Yugoslav Parliament
Foreign
Policy Committee chairman Ljubisa Ristic, Yugoslav Ambassador to China
Slobodan Unkovic, and the Ambassador of PR China in Belgrade Pan Zhanlin
with Chinese Embassy personnel. Li Peng, who will stay in Yugoslavia
till
June 13, will address Yugoslav Parliament deputies on Monday, and during
his visit will be received by top Yugoslav officials.
----- Original Message -----
From: Ning Mao <mao.ning@...>
To: MLL <marxist-leninist-list@...>
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 2:35 PM
Subject: MLL: [People's Daily] " Largest Sino-Yugoslav Joint Venture
Operational"
Largest Sino-Yugoslav Joint Venture Operational
The Hemofarm Pharmaceutical Co., the largest Sino-Yugoslav
joint venture in China, went into production Thursday in
this capital of east China's Shandong Province.
The 23-million U.S. dollars company with an annual
production capacity 30 million bottles will produce a dozen
varieties of transfusion medicine in plastic and glass
bottles at the initial stage.
The Yugoslav side covers 70 percent of the investment in
the joint venture equipped with state-of-the-art production
lines imported from Germany, Italy, Sweden and Finland.
It will turn out more varieties of medicine, such as
tablets, and Vitamin pills in the second-phase with an
investment of US$5.2 million.
More than 400 people attended the inauguration ceremony,
including Yugoslav ambassador to China Slobodan Unkovic and
Yugoslavian foreign trade minister Borislav Vukovic.
---
INTERVISTA ALLA TANJUG DEL MINISTRO DELLA DIFESA JUGOSLAVO
YUGOSLAV DEFENCE MINISTER OJDANIC GIVES INTERVIEW TO TANJUG
BELGRADE, June 7 (Tanjug) - Yugoslav Defence Minister Dragoljub Ojdanic
on Wednesday
visited the national news agency TANJUG and gave an interview to
Director
and Editor-in-Chief Dusan Djurdjevic. General Ojdanic stressed that
timely
and true information was more powerful than any weapon, because media
war
was no less important than armed conflict. "During last year's NATO
aggression on Yugoslavia, TANJUG played a very important part in
disseminating the truth and combatting the lies that the aggressors were
spreading about our people and state. "TANJUG has shown the
international
public the true causes and effects of developments in connection with
(the
Yugoslav republic of Serbia's province of) Kosovo-Metohija", Ojdanic
said.
"The military-political situation in the region has drastically
deteriorated since NATO's armed aggression on the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia in 1999. "The aggression is not stopping, but is continuing
by
other methods and weapons, with a view to attaining the interests of the
United States both in the Balkans and wider in the world. "Most states
see
a way out as lying in creating a multipolar world, with all its
weaknesses,
to replace the unipolar one," Ojdanic said, adding however that "nearly
all
Balkan countries have embraced the concept and strategy of the so-called
new world order." Stressing that Yugoslavia's security is still in great
jeopardy, he noted that NATO is waging three parallel wars on
Yugoslavia:
one, trying to detach Kosovo-Metohija from Serbia and to create a
Greater
Albania; next, trying to fragment the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,
whose
organisation and size are an obstacle in the way of implementing a plan
for
a total subjugation of the Balkans and getting closer to the East; and,
third, waging war on "recalcitrant" Serbia which resists globalism and
global U.S. domination. He went on to speak about the non-implementation
of
U.N. Resolution 1244 on Kosovo-Metohija and the Kumanovo
Military-Technical
accord. He said the international force (KFor) and the U.N. civilian
mission (UNMIK) in Kosovo-Metohija had neither disarmed the ethnic
Albanian
Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) nor protected the local Serbian and other
non-Albanian populations. "As I see it, a way out of the crisis lies in
the
West reviving cooperation with Yugoslavia, in an appropriate number of
Yugoslav armed and security force troops returning to Kosovo-Metohija,
which necessitates a new accord that would deviate somewhat from the
Kumanovo Military-Technical accord", Ojdanic said. Speaking about
Yugoslavia's military-political experience gleaned during the NATO
aggression, he said that "we already know in a great measure how we
shall
defend ourselves in the future. "We shall formulate final answers and
solutions as we define a new defence doctrine and work out a civil
defence
doctrine", he said. He added that the conceptual phase of the army's
reorganisation had been completed and now a schedule was to be worked
out
and the programme implemented. "A new civil defence doctrine will
specifically define the place, role and job of each defence factor. Such
a
consistent defence system will open scope for reducing the size of the
army", he explained. He went on to say that more than 215 civil defence
centres had operated during the 11-week NATO aggression, and about
32,000
civil defence activists in Serbia alone, whose efforts saved 702 lives
and
who were instrumental in getting 408 people to hospital. The civil
defence
service carried out 626 interventions of clearing away debris and 539
fire-fighting operations, dislocated 1,713 tonnes of dangerous materials
and 56,768 tonnes of oil derivatives. In cooperation with the Yugoslav
army, the civil defence service organised 16 river ferries and
transported
2,145,000 people, and prepared and organised 1,171 bomb shelters for
more
than 200,000 people. Asked about the phenomenon of global terrorism,
Ojdanic said that the greatest terrorist activity was in Europe, 90
percent
of which had lately been in Yugoslavia. "America is spared terrorist
activity and has had no more than a dozen terrorist outrages since 1991,
while Europe has had thousands", Ojdanic said, noting that terrorism had
been imported into Yugoslavia. "The ethnic Albanian terrorist
organisation
had been active before, but never as active as in 1998 and 1999, or
today,
when in plain view of KFor, ethnic Albanian terrorists carry out
terrorist
operations against non-Albanians and often even against other ethnic
Albanians who hold different political opinions." He noted that murders
and
assassinations perpetrated over the past months throughout Yugoslavia
were
text-book terrorist acts instigated and organised by the U.S.
intelligence
service. "We shall have trouble eradicating terrorism, because its roots
are in other countries. But just as any other state, we also shall
combat
terrorism with all weapons at our disposal, on which a special law will
be
passed", he stressed. He went on to speak about the sub-regional arms
control treaty signed at Florence, Italy, by Yugoslavia, Croatia,
(Bosnian
Serb) Republika Srpska and the Bosnian Muslim-Croat Federation. He said
Yugoslavia had honoured the treaty and had submitted its arms for
inspection and destroyed what it had been instructed to destroy.
"Regrettably, inspection teams that visited our country were collecting
data about military and other targets to be used in NATO's aggression",
he
said. He added that Yugoslavia had responded to its suspension from
various
international activities by freezing all activities in arms control.
"When
they recognise our state and army the way accords explicitly define
them,
then only shall we unfreeze our activities", he said. Commenting on the
attention excited at the Hague-based war crimes tribunal for former
Yugoslavia by his recent visit to Russia, the defence minister said it
was
a crime not to defend one's nation, not the other way around. "As a
soldier, I am bound by all conventions stemming from international
humanitarian and war laws. During the aggression, as chief of staff, I
fought that these conventions be consistently implemented and honoured
at
all levels of command", he said. He noted that the Yugoslav army command
and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had some months
before the aggression organised a seminar in this field at all levels of
command. At the outbreak of the NATO aggression, all army units had
received manuals with excerpts from the regulations, he explained. "In
light of this, I fear no charges and shall go freely wherever I am
invited", Ojdanic stressed, adding that he had already received
invitations
from other friendly countries.
---
ANCHE CIPRO OFF-LIMITS PER LA FINANZA JUGOSLAVA
ORA LA RFJ E' COMPLETAMENTE ISOLATA DAL PUNTO DI VISTA BANCARIO
Cyprus revokes Yugoslavian bank's licence-bankers
NICOSIA, June 7 (Reuters) - Cyprus's Central Bank has revoked the
licence of
Beogradska Banka, the largest Serbian commercial bank and one with close
ties
to the Yugoslavian government, senior bankers said on Wednesday.
``The licence was revoked and they (Beogradska) challenged the decision
to
revoke the licence...there will be a court hearing in 10 to 15 days,'' a
senior central bank source told Reuters.
The central bank source, who requested anonymity, declined to say why
the
licence had been revoked. Beogradska Banka officials were not
immediately
available for comment.
Greek Cypriot newspaper Alithia also reported Beogradska's licence had
been
revoked but gave no reason.
Beogradska has had a presence in Cyprus since 1988, operating as an
offshore
bank.
Earlier this year U.S. and European Union officials visited Cyprus for
consultations on sanctions against Yugoslavia.
Greek Cypriots traditionally have close ties with Serbs but Cyprus
authorities have followed the international community in imposing
sanctions
on Belgrade.
12:40 06-07-00
---
DUE GUARDIE DI FRONTIERA FERITE AL CONFINE KOSOVARO-MACEDONE
http://www.albaniannews.com
Albanian Daily News
June 7, 2000
Two Macedonian Guards Wounded on Border with Kosovo
SKOPJE - Macedonia said two border guards were wounded
on Monday by a sniper firing from inside the
neighbouring Kosovo.
The incident happened at the Dolmo Blace border post
after a patrol spotted two people who had illegally
crossed some 50 metres (yards) into Macedonian
territory from Kosovo, a defence ministry statement
said.
It said the two had escaped back to Kosovo after being
warned and the Macedonian army sent another patrol of
four soldiers to set up an observation post.
“At 3:15 p.m. (1315 GMT) a sniper shot at the patrol
from the Kosovo side and two guards suffered arm and
leg injuries,” the statement said, adding their
condition was stable and that an investigation was
under way.
Monday’s incident was the second in two months on
Macedonia’s border with Kosovo.
In the previous incident, a group of Kosovo Albanians
kidnapped four Macedonian border guards. The
Macedonian authorities have demanded stricter KFOR
border controls.
The Macedonian Defence Ministry announced earlier this
year that the country’s borders are controlled by a
new border brigade and at the same time the military
readiness of the border brigade has been stepped up.
The number of border guards has been reduced in posts
on the border with Greece and Bulgaria, while their
numbers have been increased on Madedonia’s western
border with Albania and northern borders with Kosovo
and Yugoslavia, the ministry said.
---
RELAZIONI BILATERALI RFJ-VIETNAM
Communist Internet
Wednesday 7th May 2000 9.30pm gmt
Vietnam, Yugoslavia Develop Co-operation
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien said that Vietnam has
constantly
consolidated and developed comprehensive co-operation with Yugoslavia
and other
traditional friends.
This was affirmed during the talks between the Vietnamese foreign
minister and his
Yugoslavian counterpart, Zivadin Jovanovic, on June 5 at the Government
Guest House.
Mr Nien expressed his pleasure at new developments in the friendly and
co-operative
relations between the two countries. He also expressed strong support
for the
Yugoslavian
people's cause of protecting national independence, sovereignty and
territorial
integrity as
well as the restoration of Yugoslavia's legal position at the United
Nations and other
international organisations.
Mr Z Jovanovic said he highly appreciated the achievements recorded by
the Vietnamese
people in the implementation of the open-door policy and integration
into the regional
and
world communities. He thanked the Vietnamese government and people for
their support
to Yugoslavia's struggle against the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation's (NATO)
aggression. The foreign minister affirmed that Yugoslavia treasures its
traditional
ties with
Vietnam and wished that the comprehensive co-operation between the two
countries
would be further boosted, particularly in trade and economy.
The two foreign ministers discussed regional and international issues of
mutual
concern,
the situation in both countries and agreed to strengthen co-operation in
all fields.
After the talks, the two ministers signed a visa-exemption agreement for
holders of
diplomatic and official passports and...
http://www.billkath.demon.co.uk/cw/vietnamy/vietnamy.html
-
YUGOSLAVIA - VIETNAM
YUGOSLAVIA AND VIETNAM HAVE TIES OF STRONG MUTUAL SUPPORT AND TRUST
HANOI, June 6 (Tanjug) - Vietnam has high respect for the
Yugoslav people's unflinching struggle against NATO's aggression and for
Yugoslavia's determination to accomplish economic reconstruction and
development, Vietnam's top official said on Tuesday. President Tran Duc
Luong was meeting in Hanoi with visiting Yugoslav Foreign Minister
Zivadin
Jovanovic. In reply to greetings from Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic
conveyed by Jovanovic, Tran said he was sure Milosevic would stand firm
with his people and surmount all difficulties, defend the country and
rebuild NATO-wreaked devastation. The meeting rounded off Jovanovic's
successful contacts with ranking government and communist party
officials
in this influential Asian country, with a population of 82 million and
an
impressive annual economic growth rate of 7-8 percent over the past
decade.
Vietnam firmly supports Yugoslavia and its people, and demands a strict
and
full implementation of U.N. Resolution 1244, Tran said, adding that
Vietnam
insists that all bans and sanctions against Yugoslavia be lifted
immediately. He went on to say he was sure Jovanovic's visit would be
successful and would boost friendly bilateral relations and cooperation,
and accepted with pleasure Milosevic's invitation to visit Yugoslavia.
Jovanovic, in turn, stressed that President Milosevic, the Yugoslav
Government and people highly appreciate the solidarity and support of
Vietnam, especially at the time of last year's NATO aggression. He said
that Vietnam's support for and solidarity with Yugoslavia were all the
more
important for coming from a state and nation symbolic of the struggle
for
freedom and independence in the world. Yugoslavia highly appreciates
also
Vietnam's support for its reintegration in the United Nations, the
non-aligned movement and other international organisations. During the
meeting, strong support was given to a further strengthening of
bilateral
relations and expansion and diversification of cooperation, especially
in
the economy.
====================================================================
ANNIVERSARI MORTE (4 MAGGIO) E NASCITA (25 MAGGIO) DI TITO
Piu' di 10mila persone a Kumrovec
http://www.ce-review.org/00/19/pozun19.html
e http://www.egroups.com/message/crj-mailinglist/198?&start=188
====================================================================
REPUBBLICA SERBA DI BOSNIA
STOP NATO: ¡NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM
The West's colonial governor of Bosnia Wolfgang Petrisch (an Austrian,
and
head of the OHR) has decided to criticise the recent appointment made by
Bosnia's multi-ethnic presidency because this man happens to be
suggesting
that Bosnia can't rush headlong into privatization. It seems that the
only
thing that the Serbs, Croats and Muslims are united on is to protect the
countries industry from the voracious apetites of the neoliberal
financial
elite! [note that the previous man who held the post was from the
Socialist
Party (SPRS)!]
Top envoy blasts Bosnia authorities over new PM
By Nedim Dervisbegovic
SARAJEVO, June 7 (Reuters) - The West's top envoy in Bosnia on Wednesday
blasted the appointment of a little known Serb professor as the
country's
next prime minister.
Parliament approved Spasoje Tusevljak, reported to have been an
economics
adviser to indicted war criminal Radovan Karadzic, as rotating chairman
of
the Council of Ministers on Tuesday.
Western envoy Wolfgang Petritsch, who has sweeping powers to implement
Bosnia's peace process, slammed the move.
``I want to express my deep dissatisfaction about the process of
selecting
the most important executive in this country,'' he said after a meeting
with
the three-man presidency that proposed Tusevljak, 48, last month.
``A candidate was selected (who) is virtually unknown in this country,''
he
told reporters, adding that the whole process of selection was
unprofessional.
Tusevljak, without party membership, must return to parliament for a
vote on
the full cabinet of six ministries, one of which will be held by him. No
date
has been set.
The chair rotates among ministers every eight months.
Bosnia, made up of the Moslem-Croat federation and the Serb republic,
has
been without central government since February, when a Constitutional
Court
ruling forced it to dissolve.
The central institutions have only a limited role. The new Council of
Ministers will oversee policy areas including foreign affairs, trade,
human
rights and the state treasury.
The international community, which is sponsoring Bosnia's recovery from
the
1992-95 war with billions of dollars, sees stronger central government
as the
key to economic revival.
Tusevljak was a pre-war resident of Sarajevo but fled to the Serb
territory
and later to Belgrade after war broke out. He now lectures in economics
at
the university in the Serb part of Sarajevo.
Sarajevo media reported last month that he was an economic adviser early
in
the conflict to Bosnian Serb wartime leader Karadzic, who is now in
hiding.
Petritsch said he would keep the presidency and the parliament
accountable
for their decisions. He criticised Tusevljak for saying on Tuesday that
Bosnia should progress slowly, calling his remarks ``simply unacceptable
to
me.''
``We need to speed up the process of the implementation, not to slow it
down,'' he said.
A previous candidate to chair the central government, former Bosnian
Serb
Deputy Prime Minister Tihomir Gligoric, lost the support of the
presidency
after Western officials complained that his Socialist party was too
close to
Belgrade.
14:03 06-07-00
-
Bosnian parliament approves Serb PM, envoy unhappy
SARAJEVO, June 6 (Reuters) - Bosnia's parliament on Tuesday approved
Serb
Spasoje Tusevljak as the next rotating chairman of the restructured
central
government but the West's top envoy in the country said he was not the
right
man for the job.
Tusevljak, a relatively unknown economics professor without party
affiliation, passed the confidence motion in the 42-seat lower house
after 19
deputies voted for him, 11 voted against and two abstained. Ten were
absent.
He will return to the lower chamber for the vote on the full cabinet
which
has six ministries, one of which will be held by Tusevljak, but no date
has
been set yet. The chair rotates among ministers every eight months.
A spokeswoman for international High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch
said
after the vote that the envoy did not know ``what qualifies Mr Tusevljak
for
this position.''
``Neither the presidency nor the parliament have lived up to their
responsibility of providing Bosnia with a chair who meets criteria of
being
able to turn the Council of Ministers into an efficient common
institution,''
she said.
The international community sponsoring the Balkan country's peace
process
with billions of dollars sees the strengthening of the joint
institutions as
a cornerstone of future development.
Under the 1995 Dayton peace treaty, Bosnia is divided into a
highly-autonomous Moslem-Croat Federation and Serb Republic, each of
which
has its own military and police.
The all-Bosnian central institutions -- the parliament, the presidency
and
the government -- have a limited role.
The old Council of Ministers ceased to exist in February after the
country's
Constitutional Court ruled that it could not have two co-chairs and a
deputy.
It had three ministers.
The three-man inter-ethnic presidency nominated Tusevljak last month as
a
compromise solution, put forward by Serb member Zivko Radisic.
Previous Bosnian Serb candidate Tihomir Gligoric lost presidency support
after peace officials objected to his nomination, saying his Bosnian
Serb
Socialist Party was too close to the Yugoslav ruling party of President
Slobodan Milosevic.
13:35 06-06-00
==================================================================
MONTENEGRO
Tuesday, June 6 11:30 AM SGT
Montenegro president's brother accused of wounding militant
PODGORICA, Yugoslavia, June 6 (AFP) -
The brother of Montenegro's President Milo Djukanovic took part in an
attack
on a militant of the Montenegro Liberal Alliance (LSCG) who was
seriously
injured, an LSCG official told AFP.
The opposition party's number two, Miroslav Vickovic, said Aleksandar
Djukanovic and a friend Pajo Jabucanin attacked Zoran Kljajic late
Sunday
outside a hotel in the centre of Montenegro's capital Podgorica.
Kljajic was pistol-whipped, receiving a double skull fracture and
concussion, Vickovic said. He was hospitalized and operated on early
Monday,
the LSCG official said.
Friends of Kljajic tried to halt the aggression but the president's
brother
and his friend threatened them with pistols, Vickovic said, adding that
Montenegro's deputy interior minister, Vuk Boskovic, was present.
Vickovic called on Interior Minister Vukasin Maras to act according to
the
law.
President Djukanovic's brother is a businessman who is not involved in
politics.
The LSCG, which promotes independence for Montenegro, broke off a local
alliance with the president's "Live Better" coalition in Podgorica and
Herceg Novi, a town on the Adriatic coast.
The split and the LSCG's entry into opposition caused early municipal
elections to be called in the two towns. They are to be held Sunday.
-
Montenegro police prepare for conflict-Yugo army
BELGRADE, June 8 (Reuters) - The Yugoslav army on Thursday accused
Montenegro's police of setting the scene for conflict and said the
republic's
authorities had joined a Western campaign against Yugoslavia and its
armed
forces.
The accusations, in an army statement carried by the state news agency
Tanjug, coincided with tensions between the pro-Western coastal republic
and
Serb-dominated federation ahead of local elections in two Montenegro's
towns.
``The Montenegrin leadership, the authorities and police whole-heartedly
joined a Western psychological propaganda and media campaign aimed at
our
country and the Yugoslav army,'' the statement said on Thursday.
But, it added, the Montenegrins, ``aware of the historic moment and
responsibility for the future, will pull their strength together in
order to
recognise who is who in the Yugoslav reality.''
Montenegro's President Milo Djukanovic has been at odds with Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic since 1997, pushing for democratic and
economic
reforms in Yugoslavia and threatening a referendum on independence if
Belgrade does not comply.
Djukanovic is facing early local polls in the capital Podgorica and in
the
costal town of Herceg-Novi after the Liberal Alliance party pulled out
of his
local coalitions in order to campaign on a pro-independence ticket.
Pro-Milosevic parties in Montenegro formed a coalition for the polls and
have
been campaigning vigorously, accusing Djukanovic of treason and of
trying to
secede from Serbia.
Last Friday, the Montenegrin Finance Minister said he saw no risk the
army
would try to overthrow his government that has edged away from the
federation
dominated by Milosevic, himself of Montenegrin origin.
``We are fully aware that top officers of the Yugoslav army are
completely
loyal to Mr Milosevic,'' Miroslav Ivanisevic told reporters in Brussels,
but
added he ``would say the Yugoslav army would not be used in Montenegro
for a
coup d'etat.''
The army has also denied it was doing anything else in Montenegro but
its
regular duties stipulated by the federal constitution and said it posed
no
threat to the republic.
But on Thursday, it listed a number of examples of what it called
``measures,
acts and preparations set to provoke incidents, conflicts and clashes
with
members of the army in order to cause the international community
condemnation and reactions.''
The statement said that Montenegrin police were arming and exercising a
reserve in the towns of Cetinje and Herceg-Novi, while in the towns of
Tivat,
Bar and Ulcinj the reserve was made up mostly of ethnic Croats and
Albanians.
``In addition, Montenegro's police have enormous forces in other
security
centres formed on the basis of political and national criteria,'' the
statement said.
15:56 06-08-00
-
http://www.antiwar.com/szamuely/sz061500.html
Antiwar.com
June 15, 2000
Bribing Montenegro –- It Didn't Work
-
GRANDE RACCOLTA DI LINK SUL MONTENEGRO:
http://www.usip.org/library/regions/montenegro.html
Updated: March 20 2000
United States Institute of Peace Library
Montenegro Web Links
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
IL DANESE SCHMEICHEL CHIEDE IL PASSAPORTO JUGOSLAVO
Subject: [STOPNATO] Danish Soccer Star Wants Yugoslav Passport
Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2000 08:59:10 -0500 (CDT)
From: (Rick Rozoff)
To: stopnato@...
STOP NATO: ¡NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM
BREAKING NEWS :
SCHMEICHEL WANTS YUGOSLAV PASSPORT FROM MILOSEVIC.
Rotterdam 16.6.2000
Danish football superstar Peter Boleslaw Schmeichel shocked the world at
today's press-conference after the match with Holland. Disturbed and
disappointed after another humiliating defeat of his team at EURO 2000,
he made a short statement for the press: "I am too ambitious and too
good goalkeeper to play in such a bad team as Denmark. I'm feed up
,therefore, tonight I officially applied at the embassy of The Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia, for Yugoslavian passport. Yugoslav football
team is excellent, and it is the only team I would like to play for. I
personally asked president Slobodan Milosevic it grant me Yugoslavian
National Passport, because I highly respect him and his achievements in
the last year War against Nato-agressors."
Schmeichel still didn't get any answer from Yugoslav officials, but
Yugoslav coach Boskov said that Schmeichel is not good enough to play in
the Yugoslav team.
---
E' PARTITO IL FINANZIAMENTO PER L'OLEODOTTO SUL CORRIDOIO OTTO
http://www.albaniannews.com
Albanian Daily News
June 16, 2000
Balkan AMBO Pipeline to Start Raising Funds in July
SKOPJE - The Albanian, Macedonian and Bulgarian Oil
Corporation LLC (AMBO) of Pound Ridge, New York, said
on Thursday it would start raising funds in early July
for a $1.13bn pipeline to ship crude oil from the
Black and Caspian seas to the West.
“The feasibility study gives oil companies operating
in the Caspian region a commercially compelling
proposition to invest in the project. Almost all major
companies in the world can use the pipeline,” AMBO
Executive Vice-President Gligor Taskovic told Reuters
in the Macedonian capital Skopje.
The company’s president, Ted Fergusson, had said
earlier in Sofia AMBO aimed to start work in 2001.
“Project’s sanctions and funding should be established
by the end of this year,” said Fergusson, announcing
conclusions of the project’s updated feasibility
study. An earlier estimate had put the project at
about $850m.
The underground pipeline, 913 kilometres long, is
designed to carry 750,000 barrels a day, or 35m metric
tons per year, which will represent 40 percent of the
crude oil from newly-developed oilfields to enter the
Black Sea in the next five years or 30 percent of the
new oil over the next 10 years, Fergusson said.
It will pass from Burgas, on the Black Sea coast, to
Vlora, to ship Russian, Azerbaijani, Kazakh and
Turkmenian oil from around the Black Sea to the
markets of Western Europe and North America. It will
also bypass Turkey’s heavily travelled Bosphorus
Straits.
Big tankers with 300,000 tonnes of crude can anchor at
the port of Vlora, which makes the transit journey to
the United States economic, while the biggest tankers
passing the Bosphorus could carry 150,000 tonnes, AMBO
officials said. A holding structure with three
separate companies in Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania
will build the pipeline. Each country can be an equity
holder in the investment.
AMBO has letters of acceptance from the governments of
Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria for the underground
link.
Taskovic said companies including Texaco, Chevron,
Exxon Mobil, BP Amoco, Agip, Total, Elf, Fina, were
interested in the pipeline that will become
operational in 2005.
The project has also interested the US government and
European Commission, but the construction funding will
depend on whether foreign companies will find it
feasible to invest in such countries, where the
political risk is high.
The trans-Balkan pipeline is also part of the
Transport Corridor 8 plan. Corridor 8 will include a
highway, railway, oil pipeline and fibre-optic
telecommunications line as well as AMBO’s oil
pipeline.
“We will begin formal discussions with these companies
in two weeks,” Taskovic said, adding that it would
take time to raise the money needed for the project.
“This will take one or two years. We need to raise
$450m in equity funding. The rest of the money will be
loans from banks. We have talked to the EBRD, MIGA,
IFC, OPIC and EXIM. They are excited. Once we raise
the money, we will need three years for the
construction,” Taskovic said.
He was referring to the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank’s
insurance agency MIGA, its International Finance
Corporation, the US Overseas Prime Investment Corp,
and an export-import bank.
AMBO was confident that another planned pipeline
sending crude from Russia to Greece via Bulgaria would
not threaten its own project as the Caspian region was
expected to yield as much as 110 million tonnes of oil
a year from 2005, he said.
“So much oil will be flowing from the Caspian region
that there will be sufficient crude for all,” Taskovic
said. (Compiled from Reuters dispatch, archives)
---
RAPPORTI BILATERALI RFJ-CINA
----- Original Message -----
From: wolfgang mueller <karovier@...>
To: Wolfgang Mueller <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2000 2:19 PM
Subject: MLL: Li Peng Delivers Speech in Belgrade
Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the
National People's Congress, said in Belgrade Monday
that peace cannot be forged out of bombings.
Referring to air strikes against Yugoslavia by a
US-led
NATO force last year, Li said the assault was a
violation of the intent of the United Nations Charter
and universally recognized norms governing
international relations. The air strikes seriously
threatened stability in Europe.
To read more, please look at:
http://web3.peopledaily.com.cn/english/200006/13/eng20000613_42856.html
-
http://www.peopledaily.net/english/200006/10/eng20000610_42658.html
People's Daily
Saturday, June 10, 2000, updated at 09:37(GMT+8)
China
China: It's Time for In-depth Reflection on Kosovo
China said Friday that it is time for in-depth
reflection on Kosovo, a Yugoslav province, where the
current situation is very critical as Serbs are
suffering from deportation and persecution.
The statement came as Shen Guofang, the deputy Chinese
permanent representative to the United Nations, took
the floor at an open U.N. Security Council meeting, at
which Bernard Kouchner, head of the U.N. Interim
Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), briefed the
15-nation body on the latest developments in the
Serbian province.
"We are of the view that it is time for in-depth
reflection," he said. "The Security Council has the
political responsibility and moral obligation to face
this reality, and it should seriously seek the
resolution to the serious problems faced by Kosovo,
otherwise the credibility of the United Nations will
continue to be impaired."
"First, the international presence should respect the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY)," he said."UNMIK should
respect the laws of FRY and seek cooperation with
FRY."
However, "some of the current administrative measures
adopted in Kosovo impair the sovereignty of FRY and it
has created a false impression that Kosovo is going to
independence."
Shen said that "any attempt to lead Kosovo to
independence is dangerous and illegal, it will deprive
the Balkan region of peace and the ultimate victim
will be the people of the Balkan region." "UNMIK can
not afford to make a slightest mistake on this very
important policy of issue," he said.
Secondly, "we are very concerned with the security of
Serbs and other minorities in Kosovo," he said.
"We firmly oppose any forms of ethnic cleansing," he
said. " The flagrant violations of basic human rights
in Kosovo, no matter when it take place and which
ethnic group it target, can not be accepted by the
international community."
"All human rights violations are crimes," he said.
"The crimes, be they big or small, can not be
tolerated."
"In the same way, it is irresponsible to use past
events as excuses to explain the way to the critical
situation," he said. " We are concerned at the ways
UNMIK and the international peacekeepers turn about
the situation."
Apart from that, he said, "What arises our particular
concern is that a large number of non-Kosovo Albanians
have entered Kosovo, and this will change the
demographic composition of Kosovo," which has a
multi-ethnic society since ancient times.
"There should a Kosovo where different ethnic groups
can have peaceful coexistence, and this should be the
target of UNMIK," he said.
"We are opposed to any attempt to create national
division and sabotage national unity," he said.
"Fundamentally, the solution to the Kosovo issue can
only be achieved within the framework of FRY through
substantial autonomy and good ethnic policy."
-
YUGOSLAVIA - CHINA
CHINESE PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT LI PENG IN BELGRADE
BELGRADE, June 11 (Tanjug) - President of the Permanent Committee of the
Pan-Chinese People's Congress Li Peng arrived on Sunday on a three-day
official and friendly visit to Yugoslavia, accompanied by his wife and
aides. "I am very pleased for the opportunity to visit Yugoslavia, given
the traditional friendship between our two countries," said Li Peng upon
arrival at Belgrade airport, adding that he was confident that his trip
will help further develop the friendship between China and Yugoslavia.
The
President of Chinese Parliament was welcomed by the Presidents of both
houses of Yugoslav Parliament - Milomir Minic and Srdja Bozovic. Li Peng
was greeted by Yugoslav Deputy Premier Nikola Sainovic, Yugoslav Foreign
Minister Zivadin Jovanovic, Serbian Parliament President Dragan Tomic,
Yugoslav Parliament Upper House Vice-President Gorica Gajevic, Yugoslav
Army General Staff Chief Gen. Nebojsa Pavkovic, Yugoslav Parliament
Foreign
Policy Committee chairman Ljubisa Ristic, Yugoslav Ambassador to China
Slobodan Unkovic, and the Ambassador of PR China in Belgrade Pan Zhanlin
with Chinese Embassy personnel. Li Peng, who will stay in Yugoslavia
till
June 13, will address Yugoslav Parliament deputies on Monday, and during
his visit will be received by top Yugoslav officials.
----- Original Message -----
From: Ning Mao <mao.ning@...>
To: MLL <marxist-leninist-list@...>
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 2:35 PM
Subject: MLL: [People's Daily] " Largest Sino-Yugoslav Joint Venture
Operational"
Largest Sino-Yugoslav Joint Venture Operational
The Hemofarm Pharmaceutical Co., the largest Sino-Yugoslav
joint venture in China, went into production Thursday in
this capital of east China's Shandong Province.
The 23-million U.S. dollars company with an annual
production capacity 30 million bottles will produce a dozen
varieties of transfusion medicine in plastic and glass
bottles at the initial stage.
The Yugoslav side covers 70 percent of the investment in
the joint venture equipped with state-of-the-art production
lines imported from Germany, Italy, Sweden and Finland.
It will turn out more varieties of medicine, such as
tablets, and Vitamin pills in the second-phase with an
investment of US$5.2 million.
More than 400 people attended the inauguration ceremony,
including Yugoslav ambassador to China Slobodan Unkovic and
Yugoslavian foreign trade minister Borislav Vukovic.
---
INTERVISTA ALLA TANJUG DEL MINISTRO DELLA DIFESA JUGOSLAVO
YUGOSLAV DEFENCE MINISTER OJDANIC GIVES INTERVIEW TO TANJUG
BELGRADE, June 7 (Tanjug) - Yugoslav Defence Minister Dragoljub Ojdanic
on Wednesday
visited the national news agency TANJUG and gave an interview to
Director
and Editor-in-Chief Dusan Djurdjevic. General Ojdanic stressed that
timely
and true information was more powerful than any weapon, because media
war
was no less important than armed conflict. "During last year's NATO
aggression on Yugoslavia, TANJUG played a very important part in
disseminating the truth and combatting the lies that the aggressors were
spreading about our people and state. "TANJUG has shown the
international
public the true causes and effects of developments in connection with
(the
Yugoslav republic of Serbia's province of) Kosovo-Metohija", Ojdanic
said.
"The military-political situation in the region has drastically
deteriorated since NATO's armed aggression on the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia in 1999. "The aggression is not stopping, but is continuing
by
other methods and weapons, with a view to attaining the interests of the
United States both in the Balkans and wider in the world. "Most states
see
a way out as lying in creating a multipolar world, with all its
weaknesses,
to replace the unipolar one," Ojdanic said, adding however that "nearly
all
Balkan countries have embraced the concept and strategy of the so-called
new world order." Stressing that Yugoslavia's security is still in great
jeopardy, he noted that NATO is waging three parallel wars on
Yugoslavia:
one, trying to detach Kosovo-Metohija from Serbia and to create a
Greater
Albania; next, trying to fragment the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,
whose
organisation and size are an obstacle in the way of implementing a plan
for
a total subjugation of the Balkans and getting closer to the East; and,
third, waging war on "recalcitrant" Serbia which resists globalism and
global U.S. domination. He went on to speak about the non-implementation
of
U.N. Resolution 1244 on Kosovo-Metohija and the Kumanovo
Military-Technical
accord. He said the international force (KFor) and the U.N. civilian
mission (UNMIK) in Kosovo-Metohija had neither disarmed the ethnic
Albanian
Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) nor protected the local Serbian and other
non-Albanian populations. "As I see it, a way out of the crisis lies in
the
West reviving cooperation with Yugoslavia, in an appropriate number of
Yugoslav armed and security force troops returning to Kosovo-Metohija,
which necessitates a new accord that would deviate somewhat from the
Kumanovo Military-Technical accord", Ojdanic said. Speaking about
Yugoslavia's military-political experience gleaned during the NATO
aggression, he said that "we already know in a great measure how we
shall
defend ourselves in the future. "We shall formulate final answers and
solutions as we define a new defence doctrine and work out a civil
defence
doctrine", he said. He added that the conceptual phase of the army's
reorganisation had been completed and now a schedule was to be worked
out
and the programme implemented. "A new civil defence doctrine will
specifically define the place, role and job of each defence factor. Such
a
consistent defence system will open scope for reducing the size of the
army", he explained. He went on to say that more than 215 civil defence
centres had operated during the 11-week NATO aggression, and about
32,000
civil defence activists in Serbia alone, whose efforts saved 702 lives
and
who were instrumental in getting 408 people to hospital. The civil
defence
service carried out 626 interventions of clearing away debris and 539
fire-fighting operations, dislocated 1,713 tonnes of dangerous materials
and 56,768 tonnes of oil derivatives. In cooperation with the Yugoslav
army, the civil defence service organised 16 river ferries and
transported
2,145,000 people, and prepared and organised 1,171 bomb shelters for
more
than 200,000 people. Asked about the phenomenon of global terrorism,
Ojdanic said that the greatest terrorist activity was in Europe, 90
percent
of which had lately been in Yugoslavia. "America is spared terrorist
activity and has had no more than a dozen terrorist outrages since 1991,
while Europe has had thousands", Ojdanic said, noting that terrorism had
been imported into Yugoslavia. "The ethnic Albanian terrorist
organisation
had been active before, but never as active as in 1998 and 1999, or
today,
when in plain view of KFor, ethnic Albanian terrorists carry out
terrorist
operations against non-Albanians and often even against other ethnic
Albanians who hold different political opinions." He noted that murders
and
assassinations perpetrated over the past months throughout Yugoslavia
were
text-book terrorist acts instigated and organised by the U.S.
intelligence
service. "We shall have trouble eradicating terrorism, because its roots
are in other countries. But just as any other state, we also shall
combat
terrorism with all weapons at our disposal, on which a special law will
be
passed", he stressed. He went on to speak about the sub-regional arms
control treaty signed at Florence, Italy, by Yugoslavia, Croatia,
(Bosnian
Serb) Republika Srpska and the Bosnian Muslim-Croat Federation. He said
Yugoslavia had honoured the treaty and had submitted its arms for
inspection and destroyed what it had been instructed to destroy.
"Regrettably, inspection teams that visited our country were collecting
data about military and other targets to be used in NATO's aggression",
he
said. He added that Yugoslavia had responded to its suspension from
various
international activities by freezing all activities in arms control.
"When
they recognise our state and army the way accords explicitly define
them,
then only shall we unfreeze our activities", he said. Commenting on the
attention excited at the Hague-based war crimes tribunal for former
Yugoslavia by his recent visit to Russia, the defence minister said it
was
a crime not to defend one's nation, not the other way around. "As a
soldier, I am bound by all conventions stemming from international
humanitarian and war laws. During the aggression, as chief of staff, I
fought that these conventions be consistently implemented and honoured
at
all levels of command", he said. He noted that the Yugoslav army command
and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had some months
before the aggression organised a seminar in this field at all levels of
command. At the outbreak of the NATO aggression, all army units had
received manuals with excerpts from the regulations, he explained. "In
light of this, I fear no charges and shall go freely wherever I am
invited", Ojdanic stressed, adding that he had already received
invitations
from other friendly countries.
---
ANCHE CIPRO OFF-LIMITS PER LA FINANZA JUGOSLAVA
ORA LA RFJ E' COMPLETAMENTE ISOLATA DAL PUNTO DI VISTA BANCARIO
Cyprus revokes Yugoslavian bank's licence-bankers
NICOSIA, June 7 (Reuters) - Cyprus's Central Bank has revoked the
licence of
Beogradska Banka, the largest Serbian commercial bank and one with close
ties
to the Yugoslavian government, senior bankers said on Wednesday.
``The licence was revoked and they (Beogradska) challenged the decision
to
revoke the licence...there will be a court hearing in 10 to 15 days,'' a
senior central bank source told Reuters.
The central bank source, who requested anonymity, declined to say why
the
licence had been revoked. Beogradska Banka officials were not
immediately
available for comment.
Greek Cypriot newspaper Alithia also reported Beogradska's licence had
been
revoked but gave no reason.
Beogradska has had a presence in Cyprus since 1988, operating as an
offshore
bank.
Earlier this year U.S. and European Union officials visited Cyprus for
consultations on sanctions against Yugoslavia.
Greek Cypriots traditionally have close ties with Serbs but Cyprus
authorities have followed the international community in imposing
sanctions
on Belgrade.
12:40 06-07-00
---
DUE GUARDIE DI FRONTIERA FERITE AL CONFINE KOSOVARO-MACEDONE
http://www.albaniannews.com
Albanian Daily News
June 7, 2000
Two Macedonian Guards Wounded on Border with Kosovo
SKOPJE - Macedonia said two border guards were wounded
on Monday by a sniper firing from inside the
neighbouring Kosovo.
The incident happened at the Dolmo Blace border post
after a patrol spotted two people who had illegally
crossed some 50 metres (yards) into Macedonian
territory from Kosovo, a defence ministry statement
said.
It said the two had escaped back to Kosovo after being
warned and the Macedonian army sent another patrol of
four soldiers to set up an observation post.
“At 3:15 p.m. (1315 GMT) a sniper shot at the patrol
from the Kosovo side and two guards suffered arm and
leg injuries,” the statement said, adding their
condition was stable and that an investigation was
under way.
Monday’s incident was the second in two months on
Macedonia’s border with Kosovo.
In the previous incident, a group of Kosovo Albanians
kidnapped four Macedonian border guards. The
Macedonian authorities have demanded stricter KFOR
border controls.
The Macedonian Defence Ministry announced earlier this
year that the country’s borders are controlled by a
new border brigade and at the same time the military
readiness of the border brigade has been stepped up.
The number of border guards has been reduced in posts
on the border with Greece and Bulgaria, while their
numbers have been increased on Madedonia’s western
border with Albania and northern borders with Kosovo
and Yugoslavia, the ministry said.
---
RELAZIONI BILATERALI RFJ-VIETNAM
Communist Internet
Wednesday 7th May 2000 9.30pm gmt
Vietnam, Yugoslavia Develop Co-operation
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien said that Vietnam has
constantly
consolidated and developed comprehensive co-operation with Yugoslavia
and other
traditional friends.
This was affirmed during the talks between the Vietnamese foreign
minister and his
Yugoslavian counterpart, Zivadin Jovanovic, on June 5 at the Government
Guest House.
Mr Nien expressed his pleasure at new developments in the friendly and
co-operative
relations between the two countries. He also expressed strong support
for the
Yugoslavian
people's cause of protecting national independence, sovereignty and
territorial
integrity as
well as the restoration of Yugoslavia's legal position at the United
Nations and other
international organisations.
Mr Z Jovanovic said he highly appreciated the achievements recorded by
the Vietnamese
people in the implementation of the open-door policy and integration
into the regional
and
world communities. He thanked the Vietnamese government and people for
their support
to Yugoslavia's struggle against the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation's (NATO)
aggression. The foreign minister affirmed that Yugoslavia treasures its
traditional
ties with
Vietnam and wished that the comprehensive co-operation between the two
countries
would be further boosted, particularly in trade and economy.
The two foreign ministers discussed regional and international issues of
mutual
concern,
the situation in both countries and agreed to strengthen co-operation in
all fields.
After the talks, the two ministers signed a visa-exemption agreement for
holders of
diplomatic and official passports and...
http://www.billkath.demon.co.uk/cw/vietnamy/vietnamy.html
-
YUGOSLAVIA - VIETNAM
YUGOSLAVIA AND VIETNAM HAVE TIES OF STRONG MUTUAL SUPPORT AND TRUST
HANOI, June 6 (Tanjug) - Vietnam has high respect for the
Yugoslav people's unflinching struggle against NATO's aggression and for
Yugoslavia's determination to accomplish economic reconstruction and
development, Vietnam's top official said on Tuesday. President Tran Duc
Luong was meeting in Hanoi with visiting Yugoslav Foreign Minister
Zivadin
Jovanovic. In reply to greetings from Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic
conveyed by Jovanovic, Tran said he was sure Milosevic would stand firm
with his people and surmount all difficulties, defend the country and
rebuild NATO-wreaked devastation. The meeting rounded off Jovanovic's
successful contacts with ranking government and communist party
officials
in this influential Asian country, with a population of 82 million and
an
impressive annual economic growth rate of 7-8 percent over the past
decade.
Vietnam firmly supports Yugoslavia and its people, and demands a strict
and
full implementation of U.N. Resolution 1244, Tran said, adding that
Vietnam
insists that all bans and sanctions against Yugoslavia be lifted
immediately. He went on to say he was sure Jovanovic's visit would be
successful and would boost friendly bilateral relations and cooperation,
and accepted with pleasure Milosevic's invitation to visit Yugoslavia.
Jovanovic, in turn, stressed that President Milosevic, the Yugoslav
Government and people highly appreciate the solidarity and support of
Vietnam, especially at the time of last year's NATO aggression. He said
that Vietnam's support for and solidarity with Yugoslavia were all the
more
important for coming from a state and nation symbolic of the struggle
for
freedom and independence in the world. Yugoslavia highly appreciates
also
Vietnam's support for its reintegration in the United Nations, the
non-aligned movement and other international organisations. During the
meeting, strong support was given to a further strengthening of
bilateral
relations and expansion and diversification of cooperation, especially
in
the economy.
====================================================================
ANNIVERSARI MORTE (4 MAGGIO) E NASCITA (25 MAGGIO) DI TITO
Piu' di 10mila persone a Kumrovec
http://www.ce-review.org/00/19/pozun19.html
e http://www.egroups.com/message/crj-mailinglist/198?&start=188
====================================================================
REPUBBLICA SERBA DI BOSNIA
STOP NATO: ¡NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM
The West's colonial governor of Bosnia Wolfgang Petrisch (an Austrian,
and
head of the OHR) has decided to criticise the recent appointment made by
Bosnia's multi-ethnic presidency because this man happens to be
suggesting
that Bosnia can't rush headlong into privatization. It seems that the
only
thing that the Serbs, Croats and Muslims are united on is to protect the
countries industry from the voracious apetites of the neoliberal
financial
elite! [note that the previous man who held the post was from the
Socialist
Party (SPRS)!]
Top envoy blasts Bosnia authorities over new PM
By Nedim Dervisbegovic
SARAJEVO, June 7 (Reuters) - The West's top envoy in Bosnia on Wednesday
blasted the appointment of a little known Serb professor as the
country's
next prime minister.
Parliament approved Spasoje Tusevljak, reported to have been an
economics
adviser to indicted war criminal Radovan Karadzic, as rotating chairman
of
the Council of Ministers on Tuesday.
Western envoy Wolfgang Petritsch, who has sweeping powers to implement
Bosnia's peace process, slammed the move.
``I want to express my deep dissatisfaction about the process of
selecting
the most important executive in this country,'' he said after a meeting
with
the three-man presidency that proposed Tusevljak, 48, last month.
``A candidate was selected (who) is virtually unknown in this country,''
he
told reporters, adding that the whole process of selection was
unprofessional.
Tusevljak, without party membership, must return to parliament for a
vote on
the full cabinet of six ministries, one of which will be held by him. No
date
has been set.
The chair rotates among ministers every eight months.
Bosnia, made up of the Moslem-Croat federation and the Serb republic,
has
been without central government since February, when a Constitutional
Court
ruling forced it to dissolve.
The central institutions have only a limited role. The new Council of
Ministers will oversee policy areas including foreign affairs, trade,
human
rights and the state treasury.
The international community, which is sponsoring Bosnia's recovery from
the
1992-95 war with billions of dollars, sees stronger central government
as the
key to economic revival.
Tusevljak was a pre-war resident of Sarajevo but fled to the Serb
territory
and later to Belgrade after war broke out. He now lectures in economics
at
the university in the Serb part of Sarajevo.
Sarajevo media reported last month that he was an economic adviser early
in
the conflict to Bosnian Serb wartime leader Karadzic, who is now in
hiding.
Petritsch said he would keep the presidency and the parliament
accountable
for their decisions. He criticised Tusevljak for saying on Tuesday that
Bosnia should progress slowly, calling his remarks ``simply unacceptable
to
me.''
``We need to speed up the process of the implementation, not to slow it
down,'' he said.
A previous candidate to chair the central government, former Bosnian
Serb
Deputy Prime Minister Tihomir Gligoric, lost the support of the
presidency
after Western officials complained that his Socialist party was too
close to
Belgrade.
14:03 06-07-00
-
Bosnian parliament approves Serb PM, envoy unhappy
SARAJEVO, June 6 (Reuters) - Bosnia's parliament on Tuesday approved
Serb
Spasoje Tusevljak as the next rotating chairman of the restructured
central
government but the West's top envoy in the country said he was not the
right
man for the job.
Tusevljak, a relatively unknown economics professor without party
affiliation, passed the confidence motion in the 42-seat lower house
after 19
deputies voted for him, 11 voted against and two abstained. Ten were
absent.
He will return to the lower chamber for the vote on the full cabinet
which
has six ministries, one of which will be held by Tusevljak, but no date
has
been set yet. The chair rotates among ministers every eight months.
A spokeswoman for international High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch
said
after the vote that the envoy did not know ``what qualifies Mr Tusevljak
for
this position.''
``Neither the presidency nor the parliament have lived up to their
responsibility of providing Bosnia with a chair who meets criteria of
being
able to turn the Council of Ministers into an efficient common
institution,''
she said.
The international community sponsoring the Balkan country's peace
process
with billions of dollars sees the strengthening of the joint
institutions as
a cornerstone of future development.
Under the 1995 Dayton peace treaty, Bosnia is divided into a
highly-autonomous Moslem-Croat Federation and Serb Republic, each of
which
has its own military and police.
The all-Bosnian central institutions -- the parliament, the presidency
and
the government -- have a limited role.
The old Council of Ministers ceased to exist in February after the
country's
Constitutional Court ruled that it could not have two co-chairs and a
deputy.
It had three ministers.
The three-man inter-ethnic presidency nominated Tusevljak last month as
a
compromise solution, put forward by Serb member Zivko Radisic.
Previous Bosnian Serb candidate Tihomir Gligoric lost presidency support
after peace officials objected to his nomination, saying his Bosnian
Serb
Socialist Party was too close to the Yugoslav ruling party of President
Slobodan Milosevic.
13:35 06-06-00
==================================================================
MONTENEGRO
Tuesday, June 6 11:30 AM SGT
Montenegro president's brother accused of wounding militant
PODGORICA, Yugoslavia, June 6 (AFP) -
The brother of Montenegro's President Milo Djukanovic took part in an
attack
on a militant of the Montenegro Liberal Alliance (LSCG) who was
seriously
injured, an LSCG official told AFP.
The opposition party's number two, Miroslav Vickovic, said Aleksandar
Djukanovic and a friend Pajo Jabucanin attacked Zoran Kljajic late
Sunday
outside a hotel in the centre of Montenegro's capital Podgorica.
Kljajic was pistol-whipped, receiving a double skull fracture and
concussion, Vickovic said. He was hospitalized and operated on early
Monday,
the LSCG official said.
Friends of Kljajic tried to halt the aggression but the president's
brother
and his friend threatened them with pistols, Vickovic said, adding that
Montenegro's deputy interior minister, Vuk Boskovic, was present.
Vickovic called on Interior Minister Vukasin Maras to act according to
the
law.
President Djukanovic's brother is a businessman who is not involved in
politics.
The LSCG, which promotes independence for Montenegro, broke off a local
alliance with the president's "Live Better" coalition in Podgorica and
Herceg Novi, a town on the Adriatic coast.
The split and the LSCG's entry into opposition caused early municipal
elections to be called in the two towns. They are to be held Sunday.
-
Montenegro police prepare for conflict-Yugo army
BELGRADE, June 8 (Reuters) - The Yugoslav army on Thursday accused
Montenegro's police of setting the scene for conflict and said the
republic's
authorities had joined a Western campaign against Yugoslavia and its
armed
forces.
The accusations, in an army statement carried by the state news agency
Tanjug, coincided with tensions between the pro-Western coastal republic
and
Serb-dominated federation ahead of local elections in two Montenegro's
towns.
``The Montenegrin leadership, the authorities and police whole-heartedly
joined a Western psychological propaganda and media campaign aimed at
our
country and the Yugoslav army,'' the statement said on Thursday.
But, it added, the Montenegrins, ``aware of the historic moment and
responsibility for the future, will pull their strength together in
order to
recognise who is who in the Yugoslav reality.''
Montenegro's President Milo Djukanovic has been at odds with Yugoslav
President Slobodan Milosevic since 1997, pushing for democratic and
economic
reforms in Yugoslavia and threatening a referendum on independence if
Belgrade does not comply.
Djukanovic is facing early local polls in the capital Podgorica and in
the
costal town of Herceg-Novi after the Liberal Alliance party pulled out
of his
local coalitions in order to campaign on a pro-independence ticket.
Pro-Milosevic parties in Montenegro formed a coalition for the polls and
have
been campaigning vigorously, accusing Djukanovic of treason and of
trying to
secede from Serbia.
Last Friday, the Montenegrin Finance Minister said he saw no risk the
army
would try to overthrow his government that has edged away from the
federation
dominated by Milosevic, himself of Montenegrin origin.
``We are fully aware that top officers of the Yugoslav army are
completely
loyal to Mr Milosevic,'' Miroslav Ivanisevic told reporters in Brussels,
but
added he ``would say the Yugoslav army would not be used in Montenegro
for a
coup d'etat.''
The army has also denied it was doing anything else in Montenegro but
its
regular duties stipulated by the federal constitution and said it posed
no
threat to the republic.
But on Thursday, it listed a number of examples of what it called
``measures,
acts and preparations set to provoke incidents, conflicts and clashes
with
members of the army in order to cause the international community
condemnation and reactions.''
The statement said that Montenegrin police were arming and exercising a
reserve in the towns of Cetinje and Herceg-Novi, while in the towns of
Tivat,
Bar and Ulcinj the reserve was made up mostly of ethnic Croats and
Albanians.
``In addition, Montenegro's police have enormous forces in other
security
centres formed on the basis of political and national criteria,'' the
statement said.
15:56 06-08-00
-
http://www.antiwar.com/szamuely/sz061500.html
Antiwar.com
June 15, 2000
Bribing Montenegro –- It Didn't Work
-
GRANDE RACCOLTA DI LINK SUL MONTENEGRO:
http://www.usip.org/library/regions/montenegro.html
Updated: March 20 2000
United States Institute of Peace Library
Montenegro Web Links
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
* Iniziative a TRIESTE
* INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AGAINST DEPLETED URANIUM
---
Associazione "Internazionalismo e SolidarietÈ"
Trieste
JUGOSLAVIA 2000:
AIUTIAMO IL "POPOLO INVISIBILE"
Anche l'embargo uccide, come le bombe, come l'uranio
Come l'indifferenza
Un anno fa cessavano i bombardamenti degli aerei della NATO sulla
Repubblica Federale di Jugoslavia lasciando un Paese devastato: case,
scuole, ospedali, fabbriche, ponti, strade distrutti in nome di una
"ingerenza umanitaria" che in realtÈ era la volontÈ dell'imperialismo
americano di sottomettere un Paese e un popolo che, nel cuore
dell'Europa non vuole sottostare ai diktat dei paesi occidentali. I
bombardamenti
effettuati sulla fabbrica di automobili Zastava di Kragujevac e sul polo
industriale di Panc evo, con la contemporanea distruzione del
petrolchimico, della fabbrica di fertilizzanti e della raffineria, sono
forse i fatti piË emblematici perchÉ dimostrano senza ombra di dubbio
che
si voleva distruggere le fonti del lavoro e determinare le condizio ni
del
piË pesante carico di distruzioni ambientali che si potesse realizzare:
acqua, aria, terra avvelenati (e non solo su quel martoriato Paese!) da
una guerra che ha avuto tutti i connotati di un attacco
chimico-nucleare.
Ed É risibile e scandaloso come il Tribunale speciale dell'Aja abbia
deciso di archiviare il caso dei crimi-ni commessi dalla NATO. Ad
esempio
per quanto riguarda Pancevo si sostiene che "non risulta che la Nato
fosse
a conoscenza dei possibili danni ambi entali conseguenti ad un attacco
aereo." £ ovvio: cosa volete che ci fosse in una raffineria? Nulla di
tossico! Certamente profumi! Tutto questo a riprova della sudditanza di
istituzioni pseudo-neutrali a chi vuole essere il padrone e il gendarme
del mon do. E come se non fossero bastate le bombe la "civile" comunitÈ
dei Paesi aggressori ha deciso di mantenere e rafforzare l'embargo
contro
la Repubblica Federale di Jugoslavia, in atto giÈ da molti anni, e
che
ri-guarda tutta una serie di servizi, beni e tecno logie, a cominciare
dai
presidi sanitari piË semplici, siringhe ed aspirine, per finire con gli
strumenti necessari per le indagini sui livelli di inquinamento. Il che
vuol dire condannare il "popolo invisibile" a soffrire fame e malattie,
a
negargli il l avoro, a morire per mancanza di cure mediche; e questo
colpisce inevitabilmente i piË poveri e indifesi: i profughi, i bambini,
i
vecchi.
Chiamiamo tutte le persone, le associazioni, le forze sociali che non
accettano l'arroganza dell'imperialismo e della NATO ad esprimere tutta
la
loro solidarietÈ ai lavoratori e alle popolazioni della Repubblica
Federale di Jugoslavia.
Al fine di raccogliere aiuti la
Associazione "Internazionalismo e SolidarietÈ"
organizza per
martedÙ 27 giugno 2000
alle ore 19 e 30
presso la Casa del Popolo di Sottolongera, Via Masaccio 24
un incontro sul tema della campagna di
solidarietÈ materiale con il popolo jugoslavo
(adozioni a distanza, medicinali, denaro, cibo non deperibile,
vestiario)
SeguirÈ una serata conviviale animata dalla musica balcanica dei gruppi
Kraski Ovcarji e Balkan Babau Circus Orkestar
Per chi lo volesse sarÈ in funzione un buffet.
Medicinali per la Zastava
Abbiamo ricevuto dal Sindacato dei lavoratori della fabbrica Zastava di
Kragujevac un lungo elenco di farmaci assolutamente necessari e
introvabili a causa dell'embargo, tra i quali:
COUMADIN
SINTROM
SIRINGHE PER INSULINA U-100
SIRINGHE BD PER INSULINA-1ML
SIRINGHE NORMALI
VI INVITIAMO
a partecipare alla serata portando con voi confezioni di questi
medicinali.
---
Rossi Alma wrote:
>
> Vi segnaliamo che nel sito del coordinamento RSU coord.naz.rsu@... è
> disponibile, e scaricabile, il primo materiale relativo all'iniziativa che
> si sta organizzando per il prossimo 15 luglio a Trieste in solidarietà ai
> lavoratori della jugoslavia e contro l'embargo.
> L'iniziativa prevede la convocazione di una assemblea nazionale che punta a
> mettere assieme quanti, dopo essersi già mobilitati contro la guerra, sono
> oggi impegnati o sensibili alle iniziative di solidarietà verso i lavoratori
> della Yugoslavia ed ai contenuti della lotta per il ritiro immediato ed
> unilaterale dell'embargo.
> Dalla home page potete risalire alla pagina con queste informazioni
> (assemblea e concerto).
> E' necessario però che attorno a questa iniziativa si costruisca il massimo
> di mobilitazione, in questa fase sopratutto per la raccolta delle adesioni.
> Chiediamo alle Rsu di discutere di questo al loro interno e di costruire
> quindi la loro adesione, ma chiediamo a tutti anche di coinvolgere le loro
> strutture sindacali categoriali e territoriali, le Ammininistrazioniu
> Pubbliche (comuni e provincie) per costruire anche la loro adesione.
> Nel caso segnalateci gli indirizzi di queste Amministrazioni in modo che gli
> si possa inviare una lettera ufficiale di richiesta di adesione.
> Nel primo gruppo dei promotori segnaliamo alcune strutture sindacali (Cgil
> Lombardia, Cgil di Massa - Carrara - Cgil Brescia - Fiom di Lecco, anche la
> Cgil di Trieste ha dichiarato di condividere gli obiettivi dell'iniziativa)
> e associazioni come la sezione Italiana del tribunale Clark sui crimini di
> guerra (che interverranno anche all'assemblea per illustrare i risultati
> dell'inchiesta che come sapete si è conclusa lo scorso 10 giugno a New
> York).
> Scaricate e diffondete il materiale (materiale che sarà via via aggiornato)
> e cercate di spingere per altre adesioni sopratutto verso le vostre
> strutture sindacali locali e verso le vostre RSU.
> La riuscita dell'iniziativa di Trieste è il modo migliore di dimostrare come
> il mondo del lavoro Italiano sia schierato contro la guerra (sia come
> bombardamenti sia come embargo).
>
> Ciao ALMA
>
> Alma Rossi - email - alma@...
> indirizzo email del coordinamento RSU - coord.naz.rsu@...
> indirizzo internet del Coordinamento RSU - http://www.ecn.org/coord.rsu/
---
TEXT-ONLY VERSION OF CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM.
PLEASE FORWARD TO THOSE YOU THINK MAY BE INTERESTED.
---------------
CAMPAIGN AGAINST DEPLETED URANIUM
Invitation and Registration Form for the
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AGAINST DEPLETED URANIUM
4-5 November, 2000 Manchester, UK
Register soon! Limited places available!
Sponsors: The Wainwright Trust, The Rowntree Reform Trust, Manchester
City
Council, Greater Manchester and District CND
Send your form (below) and payment by post to: CADU, One World Centre, 6
Mount St., Manchester, M2 5NS England
Invoiceable organisations only may:
email to: gmdcnd@...
OR fax to: 44-(0)161-834-8187
Thank You!
For more information please telephone the CADU office on:
44-(0)161-834-8301; or 834-8176 or send us an email!
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AGAINST DEPLETED URANIUM
Bringing Together Speakers and Campaigners from All Over the World
We hope this international conference will be an opportunity not only to
provide accessible information to those not familiar with the issue, but
also provide a working platform for activists, politicians and national
representatives to collaborate on key global strategies for removing the
threat of depleted uranium from all peoples, and for putting pressure on
governments to respond appropriately to this threat. The conference will
also provide a place for scientists from around the world to compare
notes
on their research thus far. The conference will begin at 9am on Saturday
4
November and conclude at 5 pm on Sunday, 5 November. The plenary
sessions
will include speakers from Iraq, Serbia, and veterans groups.
Scientists
will present the latest information on the testing programmes and
medical
effects. Workshops on the huge range of issues related to DU include:
health effects, the nuclear industry, international law and UN work,
government responses, Gulf War and Balkans veterans, clean up
operations,
practical support for those affected, the role of the World Health
Organisation and the International Atomic Energy Authority,
environmental
effects, non-violent protest actions, etc. Full conference programmes
will
be sent out with your registration pack.
Speakers Include:
High-level UN speakers have been invited, but we are still awaiting
confirmation (June 2000). Confirmed speakers thus far include
representatives from campaign groups in Puerto Rico, the Netherlands,
Italy, Serbia, and the U.S.; the International Association of Lawyers
Against Nuclear Arms; the Military Toxics Project; radiation scientists
from Iraq and Serbia; Alice Mahon, MP; Dr. Doug Rokke, US Army Radiation
Health Specialist during the Gulf War; Dr. Rosalie Bertell, who has
worked
in the field of environmental epidemiology of cancer and birth defects
for
thirty years; Karen Parker, JD, international lawyer at the UN; Dr.
Malcolm
Hooper, Chief Scientific Advisor to UK Gulf War Veterans; Damacio Lopez,
director of the International Depleted Uranium Study Team; Dr. Chris
Busby,
physical chemist and consultant to the Low Level Radiation Campaign;
and
Felicity Arbuthnot, investigative journalist.
What is Depleted Uranium?
Depleted Uranium is a waste product of the nuclear industry. It is
radioactive and chemically toxic, extremely dense, and is now used to
make
armour-piercing weapons. When it burns or explodes, a fine, breathable,
insoluble radioactive dust is released that can travel for many miles.
DU
has a half-life of 4.5 billion years. This means that, unless isolated,
it
can remain accessible to the human environment forever. About 320 tons
of
DU were fired on Iraq during the Gulf War, and about 10 tons on Kosovo
and
Serbia; a smaller, unknown amount, was used in Bosnia in 1994-95.
Veterans
and civilians in the Gulf War and the Balkans have reported ill-health,
cancers, and nerve damage, as well as cancers and genetic abnormalities
in
their children.
What is CADU?
The Campaign Against Depleted Uranium was launched in Manchester,
England,
in January 1999. Issues covered by its work include ill effects of DU on
soldiers and civilians in Iraq and the Balkans, medical effects of DU
on
soldiers and civilians, DU storage in the UK and the US, DU in scrap
metal
in the UK, use of DU in airplanes, and DU testing in New Mexico,
Scotland,
Japan and Puerto Rico. CADU, together with other groups, initiated
meetings at the Hague Appeal for Peace, May 1999. These meetings formed
the
strong international links in the campaign against DU that are enjoyed
today. CADU is a small, largely voluntary group, funded by small
grants,
affiliation fees and donations.
CADU's Aims:
-a global ban on the manufacture, export, and use of depleted uranium
weapons;
-recognition by European defence ministries that DU weapons are
connected
with illnesses among veterans and civilians from the Gulf War, the
Balkans,
and among those near DU testing, manufacturing and air crash sites;
- governments that use DU must take responsibility for environmental
decontamination of areas where it has been used;
-recognition that DU weapons are already banned under international
humanitarian law.
Manchester - A Nuclear Free City for Twenty Years
5 November 2000 marks the twentieth anniversary of Manchester's 'nuclear
free' policy. Manchester became the UK's first Nuclear Free Local
Authority
in the world in 1980. Manchester City Council is generously supporting
the
conference.
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
* INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AGAINST DEPLETED URANIUM
---
Associazione "Internazionalismo e SolidarietÈ"
Trieste
JUGOSLAVIA 2000:
AIUTIAMO IL "POPOLO INVISIBILE"
Anche l'embargo uccide, come le bombe, come l'uranio
Come l'indifferenza
Un anno fa cessavano i bombardamenti degli aerei della NATO sulla
Repubblica Federale di Jugoslavia lasciando un Paese devastato: case,
scuole, ospedali, fabbriche, ponti, strade distrutti in nome di una
"ingerenza umanitaria" che in realtÈ era la volontÈ dell'imperialismo
americano di sottomettere un Paese e un popolo che, nel cuore
dell'Europa non vuole sottostare ai diktat dei paesi occidentali. I
bombardamenti
effettuati sulla fabbrica di automobili Zastava di Kragujevac e sul polo
industriale di Panc evo, con la contemporanea distruzione del
petrolchimico, della fabbrica di fertilizzanti e della raffineria, sono
forse i fatti piË emblematici perchÉ dimostrano senza ombra di dubbio
che
si voleva distruggere le fonti del lavoro e determinare le condizio ni
del
piË pesante carico di distruzioni ambientali che si potesse realizzare:
acqua, aria, terra avvelenati (e non solo su quel martoriato Paese!) da
una guerra che ha avuto tutti i connotati di un attacco
chimico-nucleare.
Ed É risibile e scandaloso come il Tribunale speciale dell'Aja abbia
deciso di archiviare il caso dei crimi-ni commessi dalla NATO. Ad
esempio
per quanto riguarda Pancevo si sostiene che "non risulta che la Nato
fosse
a conoscenza dei possibili danni ambi entali conseguenti ad un attacco
aereo." £ ovvio: cosa volete che ci fosse in una raffineria? Nulla di
tossico! Certamente profumi! Tutto questo a riprova della sudditanza di
istituzioni pseudo-neutrali a chi vuole essere il padrone e il gendarme
del mon do. E come se non fossero bastate le bombe la "civile" comunitÈ
dei Paesi aggressori ha deciso di mantenere e rafforzare l'embargo
contro
la Repubblica Federale di Jugoslavia, in atto giÈ da molti anni, e
che
ri-guarda tutta una serie di servizi, beni e tecno logie, a cominciare
dai
presidi sanitari piË semplici, siringhe ed aspirine, per finire con gli
strumenti necessari per le indagini sui livelli di inquinamento. Il che
vuol dire condannare il "popolo invisibile" a soffrire fame e malattie,
a
negargli il l avoro, a morire per mancanza di cure mediche; e questo
colpisce inevitabilmente i piË poveri e indifesi: i profughi, i bambini,
i
vecchi.
Chiamiamo tutte le persone, le associazioni, le forze sociali che non
accettano l'arroganza dell'imperialismo e della NATO ad esprimere tutta
la
loro solidarietÈ ai lavoratori e alle popolazioni della Repubblica
Federale di Jugoslavia.
Al fine di raccogliere aiuti la
Associazione "Internazionalismo e SolidarietÈ"
organizza per
martedÙ 27 giugno 2000
alle ore 19 e 30
presso la Casa del Popolo di Sottolongera, Via Masaccio 24
un incontro sul tema della campagna di
solidarietÈ materiale con il popolo jugoslavo
(adozioni a distanza, medicinali, denaro, cibo non deperibile,
vestiario)
SeguirÈ una serata conviviale animata dalla musica balcanica dei gruppi
Kraski Ovcarji e Balkan Babau Circus Orkestar
Per chi lo volesse sarÈ in funzione un buffet.
Medicinali per la Zastava
Abbiamo ricevuto dal Sindacato dei lavoratori della fabbrica Zastava di
Kragujevac un lungo elenco di farmaci assolutamente necessari e
introvabili a causa dell'embargo, tra i quali:
COUMADIN
SINTROM
SIRINGHE PER INSULINA U-100
SIRINGHE BD PER INSULINA-1ML
SIRINGHE NORMALI
VI INVITIAMO
a partecipare alla serata portando con voi confezioni di questi
medicinali.
---
Rossi Alma wrote:
>
> Vi segnaliamo che nel sito del coordinamento RSU coord.naz.rsu@... è
> disponibile, e scaricabile, il primo materiale relativo all'iniziativa che
> si sta organizzando per il prossimo 15 luglio a Trieste in solidarietà ai
> lavoratori della jugoslavia e contro l'embargo.
> L'iniziativa prevede la convocazione di una assemblea nazionale che punta a
> mettere assieme quanti, dopo essersi già mobilitati contro la guerra, sono
> oggi impegnati o sensibili alle iniziative di solidarietà verso i lavoratori
> della Yugoslavia ed ai contenuti della lotta per il ritiro immediato ed
> unilaterale dell'embargo.
> Dalla home page potete risalire alla pagina con queste informazioni
> (assemblea e concerto).
> E' necessario però che attorno a questa iniziativa si costruisca il massimo
> di mobilitazione, in questa fase sopratutto per la raccolta delle adesioni.
> Chiediamo alle Rsu di discutere di questo al loro interno e di costruire
> quindi la loro adesione, ma chiediamo a tutti anche di coinvolgere le loro
> strutture sindacali categoriali e territoriali, le Ammininistrazioniu
> Pubbliche (comuni e provincie) per costruire anche la loro adesione.
> Nel caso segnalateci gli indirizzi di queste Amministrazioni in modo che gli
> si possa inviare una lettera ufficiale di richiesta di adesione.
> Nel primo gruppo dei promotori segnaliamo alcune strutture sindacali (Cgil
> Lombardia, Cgil di Massa - Carrara - Cgil Brescia - Fiom di Lecco, anche la
> Cgil di Trieste ha dichiarato di condividere gli obiettivi dell'iniziativa)
> e associazioni come la sezione Italiana del tribunale Clark sui crimini di
> guerra (che interverranno anche all'assemblea per illustrare i risultati
> dell'inchiesta che come sapete si è conclusa lo scorso 10 giugno a New
> York).
> Scaricate e diffondete il materiale (materiale che sarà via via aggiornato)
> e cercate di spingere per altre adesioni sopratutto verso le vostre
> strutture sindacali locali e verso le vostre RSU.
> La riuscita dell'iniziativa di Trieste è il modo migliore di dimostrare come
> il mondo del lavoro Italiano sia schierato contro la guerra (sia come
> bombardamenti sia come embargo).
>
> Ciao ALMA
>
> Alma Rossi - email - alma@...
> indirizzo email del coordinamento RSU - coord.naz.rsu@...
> indirizzo internet del Coordinamento RSU - http://www.ecn.org/coord.rsu/
---
TEXT-ONLY VERSION OF CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM.
PLEASE FORWARD TO THOSE YOU THINK MAY BE INTERESTED.
---------------
CAMPAIGN AGAINST DEPLETED URANIUM
Invitation and Registration Form for the
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AGAINST DEPLETED URANIUM
4-5 November, 2000 Manchester, UK
Register soon! Limited places available!
Sponsors: The Wainwright Trust, The Rowntree Reform Trust, Manchester
City
Council, Greater Manchester and District CND
Send your form (below) and payment by post to: CADU, One World Centre, 6
Mount St., Manchester, M2 5NS England
Invoiceable organisations only may:
email to: gmdcnd@...
OR fax to: 44-(0)161-834-8187
Thank You!
For more information please telephone the CADU office on:
44-(0)161-834-8301; or 834-8176 or send us an email!
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AGAINST DEPLETED URANIUM
Bringing Together Speakers and Campaigners from All Over the World
We hope this international conference will be an opportunity not only to
provide accessible information to those not familiar with the issue, but
also provide a working platform for activists, politicians and national
representatives to collaborate on key global strategies for removing the
threat of depleted uranium from all peoples, and for putting pressure on
governments to respond appropriately to this threat. The conference will
also provide a place for scientists from around the world to compare
notes
on their research thus far. The conference will begin at 9am on Saturday
4
November and conclude at 5 pm on Sunday, 5 November. The plenary
sessions
will include speakers from Iraq, Serbia, and veterans groups.
Scientists
will present the latest information on the testing programmes and
medical
effects. Workshops on the huge range of issues related to DU include:
health effects, the nuclear industry, international law and UN work,
government responses, Gulf War and Balkans veterans, clean up
operations,
practical support for those affected, the role of the World Health
Organisation and the International Atomic Energy Authority,
environmental
effects, non-violent protest actions, etc. Full conference programmes
will
be sent out with your registration pack.
Speakers Include:
High-level UN speakers have been invited, but we are still awaiting
confirmation (June 2000). Confirmed speakers thus far include
representatives from campaign groups in Puerto Rico, the Netherlands,
Italy, Serbia, and the U.S.; the International Association of Lawyers
Against Nuclear Arms; the Military Toxics Project; radiation scientists
from Iraq and Serbia; Alice Mahon, MP; Dr. Doug Rokke, US Army Radiation
Health Specialist during the Gulf War; Dr. Rosalie Bertell, who has
worked
in the field of environmental epidemiology of cancer and birth defects
for
thirty years; Karen Parker, JD, international lawyer at the UN; Dr.
Malcolm
Hooper, Chief Scientific Advisor to UK Gulf War Veterans; Damacio Lopez,
director of the International Depleted Uranium Study Team; Dr. Chris
Busby,
physical chemist and consultant to the Low Level Radiation Campaign;
and
Felicity Arbuthnot, investigative journalist.
What is Depleted Uranium?
Depleted Uranium is a waste product of the nuclear industry. It is
radioactive and chemically toxic, extremely dense, and is now used to
make
armour-piercing weapons. When it burns or explodes, a fine, breathable,
insoluble radioactive dust is released that can travel for many miles.
DU
has a half-life of 4.5 billion years. This means that, unless isolated,
it
can remain accessible to the human environment forever. About 320 tons
of
DU were fired on Iraq during the Gulf War, and about 10 tons on Kosovo
and
Serbia; a smaller, unknown amount, was used in Bosnia in 1994-95.
Veterans
and civilians in the Gulf War and the Balkans have reported ill-health,
cancers, and nerve damage, as well as cancers and genetic abnormalities
in
their children.
What is CADU?
The Campaign Against Depleted Uranium was launched in Manchester,
England,
in January 1999. Issues covered by its work include ill effects of DU on
soldiers and civilians in Iraq and the Balkans, medical effects of DU
on
soldiers and civilians, DU storage in the UK and the US, DU in scrap
metal
in the UK, use of DU in airplanes, and DU testing in New Mexico,
Scotland,
Japan and Puerto Rico. CADU, together with other groups, initiated
meetings at the Hague Appeal for Peace, May 1999. These meetings formed
the
strong international links in the campaign against DU that are enjoyed
today. CADU is a small, largely voluntary group, funded by small
grants,
affiliation fees and donations.
CADU's Aims:
-a global ban on the manufacture, export, and use of depleted uranium
weapons;
-recognition by European defence ministries that DU weapons are
connected
with illnesses among veterans and civilians from the Gulf War, the
Balkans,
and among those near DU testing, manufacturing and air crash sites;
- governments that use DU must take responsibility for environmental
decontamination of areas where it has been used;
-recognition that DU weapons are already banned under international
humanitarian law.
Manchester - A Nuclear Free City for Twenty Years
5 November 2000 marks the twentieth anniversary of Manchester's 'nuclear
free' policy. Manchester became the UK's first Nuclear Free Local
Authority
in the world in 1980. Manchester City Council is generously supporting
the
conference.
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
LE INCREDIBILI AVVENTURE DEL SIGNOR KOUCHNER (4)
Il capo della missione civile dell'ONU (UNMIK) in Kosmet Bernard
Kouchner e' molto tollerante verso chi commette "errori" nel processo
inarrestabile (?) di democratizzazione del suo protettorato (leggi: le
bande di assassini finanziati, addestrati ed appoggiati dalla NATO), ma
non altrettanto verso chi la pensa diversamente da lui.
Quando alla conferenza stampa tenutasi nel primo anniversario della
occupazione coloniale del Kosmet gli e' stato chiesto cosa ne pensasse
delle opinioni di Jiri Dinstbier, il suo collega dell'ONU inviato
speciale per i diritti umani nella ex-RFSJ che sostiene che
l'amministrazione Kouchner ha chiuso un occhio verso i criminali
dell'UCK compromettendo la convivenza sul territorio kosovaro, Kouchner
e' diventato furioso ed ha detto che Dinstbier non sa niente della
realta' di quel territorio, e che lui che ha speso 30 anni della sua
vita a proteggere i diritti umani non puo' essere criticato in tal senso
da nessuno.
Kouchner si rifiuta di incontrare Dinstbier, e la rabbia e' tale che non
vuole ricevere nemmeno il connazionale di Dinstbier, il presidente ceco
Havel, che pure invece non ha mai mostrato perplessita' nei confronti
delle politiche razziste dell'UNMIK in Kosmet. Per chiudere la
discussione sull'argomento, Kouchner ha urlato "Mr. Dinstbier, shut up!"
("Chiudi il becco Dinstbier!") dinanzi ai giornalisti convenuti.
Fonte:
>UN's Kouchner tells critic Shut up!
>http://www.abcnews.go.com/wire/World/reuters20000612_2132.html
>PRISTINA, Yugoslavia, June 12 (Reuters)
Per le puntate precedenti si veda:
http://www.egroups.com/message/crj-mailinglist/218?
http://www.egroups.com/message/crj-mailinglist/219?&start=218
http://www.egroups.com/message/crj-mailinglist/231?&start=218
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
Il capo della missione civile dell'ONU (UNMIK) in Kosmet Bernard
Kouchner e' molto tollerante verso chi commette "errori" nel processo
inarrestabile (?) di democratizzazione del suo protettorato (leggi: le
bande di assassini finanziati, addestrati ed appoggiati dalla NATO), ma
non altrettanto verso chi la pensa diversamente da lui.
Quando alla conferenza stampa tenutasi nel primo anniversario della
occupazione coloniale del Kosmet gli e' stato chiesto cosa ne pensasse
delle opinioni di Jiri Dinstbier, il suo collega dell'ONU inviato
speciale per i diritti umani nella ex-RFSJ che sostiene che
l'amministrazione Kouchner ha chiuso un occhio verso i criminali
dell'UCK compromettendo la convivenza sul territorio kosovaro, Kouchner
e' diventato furioso ed ha detto che Dinstbier non sa niente della
realta' di quel territorio, e che lui che ha speso 30 anni della sua
vita a proteggere i diritti umani non puo' essere criticato in tal senso
da nessuno.
Kouchner si rifiuta di incontrare Dinstbier, e la rabbia e' tale che non
vuole ricevere nemmeno il connazionale di Dinstbier, il presidente ceco
Havel, che pure invece non ha mai mostrato perplessita' nei confronti
delle politiche razziste dell'UNMIK in Kosmet. Per chiudere la
discussione sull'argomento, Kouchner ha urlato "Mr. Dinstbier, shut up!"
("Chiudi il becco Dinstbier!") dinanzi ai giornalisti convenuti.
Fonte:
>UN's Kouchner tells critic Shut up!
>http://www.abcnews.go.com/wire/World/reuters20000612_2132.html
>PRISTINA, Yugoslavia, June 12 (Reuters)
Per le puntate precedenti si veda:
http://www.egroups.com/message/crj-mailinglist/218?
http://www.egroups.com/message/crj-mailinglist/219?&start=218
http://www.egroups.com/message/crj-mailinglist/231?&start=218
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
* Uno scambio di vedute su diritto internazionale e legalita' borghese
* Amnesty International sul Tribunale "ad hoc" dell'Aia
* Carla del Ponte, criminale di guerra impunita
* Richiesta di dimissioni per Carla del Ponte
* Il governo olandese sotto processo
---
DIRITTO INTERNAZIONALE E LEGALITA' BORGHESE
In seguito al nostro ultimo messaggio sui crimini della NATO
(http://www.egroups.com/message/crj-mailinglist/286?&start=263)
abbiamo ricevuto da Luca il seguente commento:
> Ho letto l' articolo sulle leggi di guerra.
> A me pare pericoloso appoggiare le critiche alla guerra ed alla nato in
> particolare seguendo un approccio "legalitario".
>
> Le forze borghesi amano le cosiddette convenzioni di guerra perche' esse
> fanno parte della copertura ideologica della guerra ....Forse si
> dovrebbero mostrare le inconsistenze logiche insite negli argomenti
> legalisti. Soprattutto per quanto concerne
> i "coccodrilli " del manifesto
>
> o no?
Sicuramente! Tuttavia sottolineare queste come altre violazioni della
legalita' borghese commesse da parte della stessa borghesia ha un suo
significato. In pratica si tratta del "sovversivismo
delle classi dirigenti", lo stesso fenomeno che ci ha portato al
fascismo ed al nazismo, quando la classe dirigente rompe le leggi che
essa stessa ha formulato. Questo puo' avere due ricadute:
- o si prefigura come scontro inter-borghese (inter-imperialista);
- oppure semplicemente significa una deriva autoritaria, quando anche le
garanzie, gli spazi della democrazia borghese ci vengono sottratte;
oppure tutte e due le cose insieme. Percio' ci sembra importante
evidenziare quando questo succede. CRJ
---
Subject: YUGOSLAVIA: Amnesty International's initial comments
on the review by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former
Yugoslavia of NATO's Operation Allied Force
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 09:06:13 -0400
From: amnesty@...
Reply-To: owner-amnesty-l@...
To: amnesty-L@...
* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *
Amnesty International Public document
AI Index EUR 70/029/2000
News Service Nr. 116
13 June 2000
Amnesty International's initial comments on the review by the
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia of NATO's
Operation Allied Force
The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has
published today the Final Report to the Prosecutor by the Committee
Established to Review the NATO Bombing Campaign Against the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia. The report examines general issues and five
specific incidents and recommends to the ICTY Prosecutor not to commence
a criminal investigation "in relation to the NATO bombing campaign or
incidents occurring during the campaign" (para 91).
Ms Carla Del Ponte, ICTY's Prosecutor, informed the United Nations'
Security Council on 2 June 2000 that she had decided to accept this
recommendation. She specifies that although some mistakes were made by
NATO, "the Prosecutor is satisfied that there was no deliberate
targeting of civilians or unlawful military targets by NATO during the
campaign".
Amnesty International has received a copy of the 45-page ICTY report and
is examining it carefully. All five incidents examined in the report by
ICTY's review committee were included in the Amnesty International
report, Collateral Damage or Unlawful Killings?, Violations of the Laws
of War by NATO during Operation Allied Force, published last week (AI
Index: EUR 70/18/00).
Amnesty International welcomes the unusual publication by the ICTY of
the reasoning behind the decision not to open an investigation related
to NATO's bombing campaign. The organization believes that this step
contributes greatly to the Tribunal's transparency, offering important
perspectives on the interpretation of the laws of war.
Amnesty International also respects the discretion enjoyed by the ICTY's
Prosecutor in deciding whether or not to open criminal investigations.
The organization understands that, as with other cases, the Prosecutor
may still decide to open an investigation into the NATO bombing should
additional relevant information become available.
Amnesty International notes that the report of the ICTY assessment
indicates that when NATO was requested "to answer specific questions
about specific incidents, the NATO reply was couched in general terms
and failed to address the specific incidents." The report also points
out that the "committee has not spoken to those involved in directing or
carrying out the bombing campaign". These facts must have contributed to
the information gaps that the committee itself acknowledges in its
report. Amnesty International also notes the following overall
conclusion of the review committee (para 90):
"NATO has admitted that mistakes did occur during the bombing campaign;
errors of judgment may also have occurred. Selection of certain
objectives for attack may be subject to legal debate. On the basis of
the information reviewed, however, the committee is of the opinion that
neither an in-depth investigation related to the bombing campaign as a
whole nor investigations related to specific incidents are justified. In
all cases, either the law is not sufficiently clear or investigations
are unlikely to result in the acquisition of sufficient evidence to
substantiate charges against high level accused or against lower accused
for particularly heinous offences."
The report does not explain what difficulties are envisaged by the
Office of the Prosecutor in gathering sufficient evidence against any
NATO or NATO member state official.
With regard to the bombing of the headquarters and studios of Serbian
state television and radio (Radio Televisija Srbije, RTS) in Belgrade on
23 April 1999, the report states (para 76):
"The committee finds that if the attack on the RTS was justified by
reference to its propaganda purpose alone, its legality might well be
questioned by some experts in the field of international humanitarian
law. It appears, however, that NATO's targeting of the RTS building for
propaganda purposes was an incidental (albeit complementary) aim of its
primary goal of disabling the Serbian military command and control
system and to destroy the nerve system and apparatus that keeps
Milosevic in power."
Earlier (para 55) the report made the following observation regarding
the role of the media in general:
"The media as such is not a traditional target category. To the extent
particular media components are part of the C3 (command, control and
communications) network they are military objectives. If media
components are not part of the C3 network then they may become military
objectives depending upon their use. As a bottom line, civilians,
civilian objects and civilian morale as such are not legitimate military
objectives. The media does have an effect on civilian morale. If that
effect is merely to foster support for the war effort, the media is not
a legitimate military objective. If the media is used to incite crimes,
as in Rwanda, it can become a legitimate military objective. If the
media is the nerve system that keeps a war-monger in power and thus
perpetuates the war effort, it may fall within the definition of a
legitimate military objective."
Amnesty International reiterates that the explanation it sought and
received by NATO regarding the attack on the RTS headquarters was that
the attack was carried out because the RTS was a propaganda organ. In a
letter to Amnesty International dated 17 May 1999 and quoted in ICTY's
report (para 73), NATO's then Secretary General Javier Solana said that
NATO made "every possible effort to avoid civilian casualties and
collateral damage by exclusively and carefully targeting the military
infrastructure of President Milocevic", adding that the RTS facilities
"are being used as radio relay stations and transmitters to support the
activities of the FRY military and special police forces, and therefore
they represented legitimate military targets". However, as also
indicated in the Amnesty International report published last week, at a
meeting with Amnesty International in Brussels on 14 February 2000 NATO
officials clarified that this reference to relay stations and
transmitters was to other attacks on RTS infrastructure and not this
particular attack on the RTS headquarters. They insisted that the attack
on the RTS headquarters was carried out because RTS was a propaganda
organ and argued that propaganda is direct support for military action.
The point relating to propaganda has been made repeatedly, most recently
by General Wesley Clark, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe at the time
of Operation Allied Force. In an address at the Brookings Institution on
8 June 2000 he is quoted as saying:
"I noticed on the news today there is criticism of the attack on the
Serb media. Well, of course, that was a controversial target. But the
Serb media engine was feeding the war. It was a crucial instrument of
Milosevic's control over the Serb population. And it exported fear,
hatred and instability into neighbouring regions. And so it was a
legitimate target of war, validated by lawyers in many countries and
validated by the International Criminal Tribunal. But it sure eased our
minds a lot to know that our elected political leaders took the
responsibility for that strike."
As explained in its report last week, Amnesty International recognizes
that disrupting government propaganda may help to undermine the morale
of the population and the armed forces. However, the organization
believes that justifying an attack on such grounds stretches the meaning
of "effective contribution to military action" and "definite military
advantage" -- essential requirements of the definition of a military
objective -- beyond the acceptable bounds of interpretation. As such,
Amnesty International takes the view that the attack on the RTS
headquarters was directed at a civilian object and points out that
"[I]ntentionally directing attacks against civilian objects" is a war
crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Amnesty International regrets the lack of full cooperation by NATO in
resposnding to ICTY's inquiries. The organization stresses that the fact
that the ICTY Prosecutor has decided not to open a criminal
investigation against NATO should not lead NATO to ignore the detailed
and nuanced contents of the ICTY report, or dismiss recommendations made
by Amnesty International and other organizations.
Amnesty International calls again on NATO and NATO member states to heed
the recommendations it made in its report published last week, including
the need for all NATO member states to ratify without reservations
Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949; ensure a common
interpretation of international humanitarian law in line with the
highest international standards; reflect these standards in NATO's rules
of engagement; and clarify NATO's chain of command, so as to ensure
clear lines of responsibility.
NATO and NATO member states should also conduct their own investigation
into reported breaches of the rules of war during Operation Allied
Force, whether or not they may amount to war crimes, so as to take
appropriate measures against anyone found responsible, provide redress,
including compensation, to victims of such violations, and learn lessons
for the future. ...
ENDS.../
Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street,
WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom
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need to get in touch with the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International.
---
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/indexe.htm
The Emperor's New Clothes
Louise Arbour: Unindicted War Criminal
by Christopher Black and Edward S. Herman (6-14-00)
Among the many ironies of the NATO war against Yugoslavia was the role
of the International Criminal Tribunal and its chief prosecutor, Louise
Arbour, elevated by Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien to Canada's
highest court in 1999. It will be argued here that as Arbour and her
Tribunal played a key role in EXPEDITING war crimes, an excellent case
can be made that in a just world she would be in the dock rather than in
judicial robes.
Arbour To NATO's Rescue
In the midst of NATO's 78-day bombing campaign against Yugoslavia,
Arbour participated in an April 20 press conference with British Foreign
Secretary Robin Cook to receive from him documentation on Serb war
crimes. Then on May 27, Arbour announced the indictment of Serb
President Slobodan Milosevic and four of his associates for war crimes.
The inappropriateness of a supposedly judicial body doing this when
Germany, Russia and other powers were trying to find a diplomatic
resolution to the conflict, was staggering.
At the April 20 appearance with Cook, Arbour stated that
"It is inconceivable...that we would agree to be guided by the political
will of those who may want to advance an agenda."
But her appearance with Cook and the followup indictments fitted
perfectly the needs of the NATO leadership. There had been growing
criticism of NATO's increasingly civilian infrastructure-oriented
bombing of Serbia. Arbour's and the Tribunal's intervention declaring
the Serb leadership to be guilty of war crimes was a public relations
coup that justified the NATO policies and helped permit the bombing to
continue and escalate. This was pointed out repeatedly by NATO leaders
and propagandists: for example, Madeleine Albright noted that the
indictments
"make very clear to the world and the publics in our countries that this
[NATO policy] is justified because of the crimes committed, and I think
also will enable us to keep moving all these processes [i.e., bombing]
forward" (CNN, May 27).
Arbour herself noted that "I am mindful of the impact that this
indictment may have on the peace process," and although indicted
individuals are "entitled to the presumption of innocence until they are
convicted, the evidence upon which this indictment was confirmed raises
serious questions about their suitability to be guarantors of any deal,
let alone a peace agreement." (CNN, May 27). So Arbour not only
understood the political significance of her indictment, she suggested
that interference with diplomatic efforts was justified because the
indicted individuals, though not yet found guilty, were not suitable to
negotiate. This hugely unjudicial political judgment, along with the
convenient timing of the indictments, points up Arbour's and the
Tribunal's highly political role.
The Tribunal's Politicization
Arbour's service to NATO in indicting Milosevic was the logical outcome
of the Tribunal's de facto control and purpose. Established by the
Security Council in the early 1990s to serve the Balkan policy ends of
its dominant members, the Tribunal's funding and interlocking functional
relationship with the leading NATO powers have made it NATO's
instrument. (1)
Although Article 32 of the Tribunal's Charter declares that its expenses
shall be provided in the general budget of the United Nations, this
proviso has been regularly violated. In 1994-1995 the U.S. government
provided it with $700,000 in cash and $2.3 million in equipment, and
numerous other U.S.-based governmental and non- governmental agencies
have provided the Tribunal with resources.
Article 16 of the Tribunal's charter states that the Prosecutor shall
act independently and shall not seek or receive instruction from any
government. This section also has been systematically violated. NATO
sources have regularly made claims suggesting their authority over the
Tribunal: "We will make a decision on whether Yugoslav actions against
ethnic Albanians constitute genocide," states a USIA Fact Sheet, and
Cook asserted at his April 20 press conference with Arbour that "we are
going to focus on the war crimes being committed in Kosovo and our
determination to bring those responsible to justice, " as if he and
Arbour were a team jointly deciding on who should be charged for war
crimes.
Tribunal officials have even bragged about "the strong support of
concerned governments and dedicated individuals such as Secretary
Albright," further referred to as "mother of the Tribunal" (by Judge
Gabrielle Kirk McDonald, president of the Tribunal). In 1996 Arbour met
with the Secretary-General of NATO and its supreme commander to
"establish contacts and begin discussing modalities of cooperation and
assistance." Numerous other meetings have occurred between prosecutor
and NATO, which was given the function of Tribunal gendarme.
Arbour acknowleged (April 20) that "the real danger is whether we would
fall into [following somebody's political agenda] inadvertently by being
in the hands of information-providers who might have an agenda that we
would not be able to discern." But even an imbecile could discern that
NATO had an agenda and that simply accepting the flood of documents
offered by Cook and Albright entailed ADVERTENTLY following that agenda.
Arbour's April 20 reference to the "morality of the [NATO] enterprise"
and her remarks on Milosevic's possible lack of character disqualifying
him from negotiations, as well as her rush to help NATO with an
indictment, point to quite clearly understood political service.
The Arbour-Tribunal bias was dramatically illustrated by the disposition
of an internal Tribunal report on Operation Storm, which described war
crimes committed by the Croatian armed forces in their expulsion of more
than 200,000 Serbs from Krajina in August 1995. (6) In only four days
"at least 150 Serbs were summarily executed, and many hundreds
disappeared," totals that exceeded the 241 victims of the Serbs named in
the indictment of Milosevic. But as the United States supported the
Croat's ethnic cleansing of Serbs in Krajina, and refused to provide
requested information, no indictment of any Croat officer named in the
report, or head of state Tudjman, was ever brought by the Tribunal.
Tribunal's Kangaroo Court Processes
According to Arbour, the Tribunal was "subject to extremely stringent
rules of evidence with respect to the admissibility and the credibility
of the product that we will tender in court," thus precluding
"unsubstantiated, unverifiable, uncorroborated allegations" (April 20).
This is a gross misrepresentation of what John Laughland described in
the Times (London) as "a rogue court with rigged rules" (June 17, 1999).
The Tribunal violates virtually every standard of due process: among
others, it fails to separate prosecution and judge; witnesses can
testify anonymously; confessions are presumed free and voluntary unless
the contrary can be established by the prisoner; and "rules against
hearsay, deeply entrenched in Common Law, are not observed and the
Prosecutor's office has even suggested not calling witnesses to give
evidence but only the tribunal's own 'war crimes investigators'"
(Laughland).
As noted, Arbour presumes guilt before trial; the concept of "innocent
till convicted" is rejected, and she can declare that people linked with
Arkan "will be tainted by their association with an indicted war
criminal" (March 31). Arbour clearly does not believe in the basic rules
of Western jurisprudence. And within a month of her elevation to the
Canadian Supreme Court she joined a court majority that grafted onto
Canadian law the dangerous Tribunal practice of permitting a more
liberal use of hearsay evidence in trials. (2) The consequent corruption
of the Canadian justice system, both by her appointment and her impact,
mirrors that in the Canadian political system, whose leading members
supported the NATO war without question.
NATO's Crimes
In bombing Yugoslavia from March 24 to June 8 1999, NATO violated the UN
Charter requirement that it not use force without UN Security Council
sanction. (3) It was also guilty of aggression in attacking a sovereign
state that was not going beyond its borders. In its defense, NATO
claimed that "humanitarian" concerns demanded these actions and
justified seemingly serious law violations. (4) This reply sanctions law
violations on the basis of self-serving judgments that contradict the
rule of law, but it is also dubious on its own grounds. The NATO bombing
made "an internal humanitarian problem into a disaster" in the words of
Rollie Keith, the returned Canadian OSCE human rights monitor in Kosovo.
Furthermore, NATO refused to negotiate a settlement in Kosovo and
insisted on a violent solution; in the words of one State Department
official, NATO deliberately "raised the bar" and precluded a compromise
resolution because Serbia "needed to be bombed." These counter- facts
suggest that the alleged humanitarian basis of the law violations was a
cover for starkly political and geopolitical objectives.
NATO was also guilty of more traditional war crimes, including some that
the Tribunal had found indictable when [allegeldy] carried out by Serbs.
Thus on March 8, 1996, the Serb leader Milan Martic was indicted for
[allegeldy] launching a rocket cluster-bomb attack on military targets
in Zagreb in May 1995, on the ground that the rocket was "not designed
to hit military targets but to terrorize the civilians of Zagreb." But
the same case could be made for numerous NATO bombing raids, as in the
cluster-bombing of Nis on May 7, 1999, in which a market and hospital
far from any military target were hit in separate strikes--but no
indictment has yet been handed down against NATO.
But NATO was also guilty of bombing non-military targets as systematic
policy. On March 26, 1999, General Wesley Clark said that "We are going
to very systematically and progressively work on his military
forces...[to see] how much pain he is willing to suffer." But this focus
on "military forces" wasn't effective, so NATO quickly turned to "taking
down...the economic apparatus supporting" Serb military forces
(Clinton's words); targets were gradually extended to factories of all
kinds, electric power stations, water and sewage processing facilities,
transport, public buildings, and even schools and hospitals. In effect,
it was NATO's strategy to bring Serbia to its knees by gradually
escalating its attacks on the civil society.
But international law makes civilian targets off limits; the "wanton
destruction of cities, towns or villages or devastation not justified by
military necessity" is prohibited (Sixth Principle of Nuremberg,
formulated in 1950 by a UN-sponsored international law commission).
"Military necessity" does not allow the destruction of a civil society
to make it more difficult for the country to support its armed forces,
any more than civilians can be killed directly because they pay taxes
supporting the war machine or might some day become soldiers. Making an
entire population a hostage is a blatant violation of international law
and its implementing acts are war crimes.
In December 1999, it was finally reported that post-Arbour prosecutor
Carla Del Ponte was reviewing the conduct of NATO, at the urging of
Russia and several other "interested parties" ("U.N. Court Examines
NATO's Yugoslavia War," NYT, Dec. 29, 1999). But the news report
indicates that the focus is on the conduct of NATO pilots and their
commanders, not the NATO decision-makers who decided to target the
civilian infrastructure. It also suggests the public relations nature of
the inquiry, which would "go far in dispelling the belief...that the
tribunal is a tool used by Western leaders to escape accountability."
The report also indicates the delicate matter that the tribunal "depends
on the military alliance to arrest and hand over suspects." It also
quotes Del Ponte saying that "It's not my priority, because I have
inquiries about genocide, about bodies in mass graves." We may rest
assured that no indictments will result from this inquiry.
Beyond Orwell
NATO's leaders, frustrated in attacking the Serb military machine, quite
openly turned to smashing the civil society of Serbia as their means of
attaining the desired quick victory. Arbour and the Tribunal helped NATO
by indicting Milosevic, thereby giving NATO the moral cover needed for
escalated attacks on the hostage population.
Arbour and the Tribunal thus present us with the amazing spectacle of an
institution supposedly organized to contain, prevent, and prosecute for
war crimes actually knowingly facilitating them. Furthermore, petitions
submitted to the Tribunal during Arbour's tenure had called for
prosecution of the leaders of NATO, including Canadian Prime Minister
Jean Chretien, for the commission of war crimes. If she had been a
prosecutor in Canada, Britain or the United States, she would have been
subject to disbarment for considering and then accepting a job from a
person she had been asked to charge. But Arbour was elevated to the
Supreme Court of Canada by Chretien with hardly a mention of this
conflict of interest and immorality. **
About the authors...
Christopher Black (5) is part of the team of Canadian lawyers who have
attempted to bring war crimes charges against NATO before the War Crimes
Tribunal. At present, Mr. Black is serving as the attorney for one of
the defendant at the Rwandan war crimes hearings. He believes that
Western meddling is in large measure responsible for the horrendous
killing in Rwanda. He plans to write an article for Emperors-Clothes on
the subject.
Edward S. Herman is the author of many books including 'Real Terror
Network: Terrorism in Fact and Propaganda' (June 1998) and 'Triumph of
the Market: Essays on Economics, Politics, and the Media' (October
1995).
Further reading...
(1) See Money Talks - US Funds ICTY Public Relations at
http://emperors-clothes.com/news/press.htm
(2) Back to the dark ages by Jared Israel at
http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/jared/bac.htm
(3) See NATO's War & World Security by Prof. Raju G. C. Thomas at
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/analysis/security.htm
(4) See HUMANITARIAN WAR: Making the Crime Fit the Punishment by Diana
Johnstone at
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/articles/Johnstone/crime.htm
(5) See An Impartial Tribunal? Really? by Christopher Black at
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/analysis/Impartial.htm
(6)See Conditions of Serbs in Croatia, by Alice Mahon, MP at
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/articles/mahon/croatia.htm
---
>Tribunal Watch archives are on-line at:
>http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/archives/
>==========================================
>
>CANA (Christians Against NATO Aggression)
>Statement from William Spring, Director
>
>CARLA DEL PONTE SHOULD RESIGN AS WAR CRIMES PROSECUTOR
>
>Carla del Ponte should resign as war crimes prosecutor for the Hague
>Tribunal responsible for War Crimes in the area of the Former Yugoslavia.
>She has brought international law into disrepute by her decision announced
>to the Security Council June 2nd not to prosecute NATO leaders for war
>crimes committed by NATO forces in relation to the illegal military attack
>on Yugoslavia last year.
>
>Thomas Fuller, as quoted by the late Lord Denning, Master of the Rolls,
>said: "whoever you are the law is above you." In effect Carla del Ponte has
>put NATO civilian & military leaders beyond the law - has given them
>immunity to engage in whatever criminal action they like. A disgrace to
>the legal profession she should be replaced forthwith by the UN Secretary
>General.
>
>Her investigation into allegations made, not only by the Russian, Yugoslav
>& Chinese Governments concerning NATO war crimes, but also by ordinary
>people across the world, (in which I include CANA, as we detailed specific
>NATO atrocities in a dossier sent to her January 28th this year) was at
>best cursory; at worst her inaction can be interpreted as the frantic
>manoeuvrings of a mafia judge eager to please her mafia paymasters.
>Someone should do an investigation into the War Crimes Tribunal & her
>role, & that of of her predecessor, Ms Arbour. How is this body financed?
>Is it a legal entity? Does the UN Charter allow for new Institutions to be
>created simply on the say so of the Security Council?
>
>What has happened is a juridical nightmare; a nominally independent
>prosecutor, who in fact is leaned on, & responds to pressure from
>representatives of whatever coalition of powers happens to hold most
>influence in the Security Council at any one time.
>
>Her willingness to receive Jamie Shea, & Robin Cook, in her office at the
>Hague, while still theoretically engaged in an investigation as to whether
>NATO had committed war crimes was reprehensible, indicating collusion &
>undue influence. She should have had the courage to stand up to gangsters
>who 'fix' international Courts in the same way as Clinton fixed Congress to
>avoid impeachment.
>
>Her Office wrote to me 15th March stating "aerial warfare is a complex
>area of military international law involving difficult issues of targeting
>& execution." That may be so, but is not an excuse to duck the moral
>questions involved. The Prosecutor gets NATO off the hook by saying she is
>not satisfied there was 'intent' on the part of the NATO authorities to
>cause civilian casualties, which misses the point entirely: all deaths
>caused by those responsible for a war of aggression, whether they be
>military or civilian, are unlawful homicides, & it's not necessary to prove
>intent for every act which flowed from the decision to engage in aggressive
>war. But in the 15th March letter Gavin Ruxton said "The Prosecutor has no
>locus to consider the lawfulness or otherwise of the NATO decision to
>launch its air campaign": which means the Tribunal is disqualified from
>making any finding acquitting NATO of war crimes. (There is of course
>unambiguous evidence of NATO's intent to cause civilian casualties.)
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
>For further info tel 02088022144 cana@... also diarise
>House of Lords Cttee Room 4 12 noon 28th June 2000 Press Conference by
>Justin/Cana/Planning for Peace
>
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---
From: Herman de Tollenaere <hermantl@...>
To: right-left@...,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Subject: 9 June Amsterdam: report on Dutch ministers on trial for NATO
bombing
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 00:24:20 +0200
[Unofficial report, hastily written by a non-lawyer]
On Friday 9 June, at the "Paleis van Justitie" [court house] in
Amsterdam,
Dutch Government Ministers were on trial for the NATO bombing of
Yugoslavia
in 1999.
As I walk to the court house, posters of a beer brand proclaim
"Yugoslavs
like our drink". Maybe, like people in Colombia or in Sierra Leone. All
these people, however, might think one drinks more safely if there is
less
chance of dying by a bomb or other weapon made in a NATO country.
Opening
headline of the day of daily De Volkskrant: the Dutch UN representative
says
that the Netherlands armed forces should get over their Balkans trauma
by
sending a thousand soldiers to Sierra Leone. The British NATO allies
would
like that. Might the Dutch soldiers not find out too late they go there,
like to the Balkans, not really for peace; but maybe for British diamond
millionaires, fighting out their conflict with French diamond
millionaires
at the cost of lives of European soldiers and [especially] African
soldiers,
including child soldiers, and civilians? Remember racism and escalating
violence, when troops from NATO countries were supposed to bring peace
to
Somalia?
Police had not allowed a demonstration, which would have started at 10
o'clock. The case starts 11 o'clock at the "Paleis van Justitie",
Prinsengracht 434 in Amsterdam. Long before the start, people gather
outside. Pro peace leaflets change hands. A big banner goes aloft: NATO
OUT
OF THE BALKANS. It is held by a local anti war committee member, and by
a
twentyish Amsterdam university student. She is here with others of De
Socialist magazine, also present at earlier peace demonstrations.
Celine is there as well. Though more than fifty-five years ago, the Nazi
occupiers of The Netherlands put her in a camp, today she still fights
against racism and war. She is of De Anti Fascist. This is the magazine
of
the Bond van Anti Fascisten [Anti Fascist League], founded by ex members
of
the 1940-1945 resistance against German Nazi occupation. Later, younger
fighters against present day racism and other forms of discrimination
joined. The Anti Fascist League is a main source making it financially
possible to have this case: as the Yugoslav plaintiffs are very poor,
having
often lost jobs and everything by the war.
Speaking of media: a TV crew of the local [multicultural] Amsterdam TV
records the scene outside and the court case inside. Radio The
Netherlands
World Broadcasting is there; as are correspondents of De Volkskrant and
Bosnian media. Yesterday, an article in Ganashakti daily, all the way in
India, told its readers of the case.
In 1999, 29 citizens of Yugoslavia, victims of the bombs, started this
civil
court case against Ministers Kok [Prime Minister], Van Aartsen [Foreign
Affairs], and De Grave [Defense]. In May/June 1999, the judge did not
grant
their request for summary proceedings. However, he also did not throw
out
the case, as pro-war politicians might have liked. Similar court cases
are
on their way in other NATO countries; though often, in these countries
the
legal system works a little slower, or is more expensive for plaintiffs,
than in The Netherlands. In The Netherlands, there are now also cases
against the State [so, not against ministers individually, like in this
case]; other Dutch civil cases against individuals; and World Court
cases
for violation of UN Charter point 2 sub 4, against military aggression.
In a
few months' time, the case brought by surviving families of the bombed
Belgrade television studio crew members will start in The Netherlands.
Before a full big court room, Mr Van Schendel, court president, first
arranges for the media representatives' reporting. Then, he calls upon
the
bombs victims' lawyers to speak. He grants them one hour. As twenty
minutes
is usual for lawyers in civil cases, this indicates some sense of the
juridical importance of this case.
These lawyers are Mr Steijnen and Mr Olof, of Juristen voor de Vrede
[Lawyers for Peace] and the Permanente Commissie [Permanent Legal
Commission
against Dutch War Crimes]. Lawyers for Peace have a long history of
legal
challenges to the Dutch government for allowing NATO nuclear weapons in
The
Netherlands [officially, the people are not allowed to know whether the
nuclear weapons are there or not].
Mr Olof pointed out NATO's war was against the United Nations charter
and
international law. Mr Steijnen pointed out that the Dutch government,
like
NATO, claims NATO's targets were all military. The civilian victims
supposedly were "collateral damage". Really? asked Mr Steijnen. NATO
destroyed fifty churches and monasteries, over three hundred schools;
many
bridges unsuited for military vehicles; buses; passenger trains; TV
studios;
cigarette factories; 100% of chemical industry and 100% of agricultural
fertilizer industry in Yugoslavia; even apart from depleted uranium
ammunition radiation, creating enormous environmental damage. NATO used
cluster bombs.
Conservative pro NATO estimates say 1000 civilians died, 6000 were
wounded.
The MEAT report of the United States Air Force, quoted by Newsweek and
others, says all the weeks of air war destroyed 14 Yugoslav tanks, 18
armed
vehicles, 20 pieces of artillery. If we base ourselves on the
conservative
estimate of civilian victims: then, 70 civilians died for every Yugoslav
tank. Would it not be more accurate to say civilians and civilian
targets
were the real targets, and the damage against Yugoslav army vehicles and
artillery really was "collateral" damage? NATO leaders themselves
basically
admitted this [eg, when asked: why did the Yugoslav government finally
admit NATO troops in Kosovo? Eg, General Short said on BBC television
the
first target [to his regret, only destroyed later] should have been the
"rock and roll bridge" in Belgrade, where young people had concerts
against
the bombing].
Concluding, Mr Steijnen named three random examples of the plaintiffs.
One
worked as a car mechanic in Montenegro. The war started; very worried
about
his family in Belgrade, he went there, and parked his car. NATO bombs
fell
and destroyed the car. This loss meant also the loss of his mechanic's
job.
Now, he has nothing.
Another plaintiff worked in a small businessman's garage. A bomb
destroyed
the garage and the cars in it. Now, the employer is jobless and hungry.
So
is the employee.
A third example: this man used to work in a metal working factory. Bombs
totally destroyed the factory. Like its other 8000 workers, now he is
jobless.
For the ministers, Mr Houtzagers spoke. He quoted from a political
government statement, claiming NATO became involved as it worried about
stability of Albania and Macedonia [both non NATO members; and how did
the
war 'help stability' of these countries, let alone of Kosovo? Mr
Steijnen
replied]. And 'Yugoslavia had refused to negotiate seriously in
Rambouillet
[and how about NATO's proposed Appendix B, amounting to de facto
occupation
of all Yugoslavia?]'. Repeatedly interrupted by judges' critical
questions,
Mr Houtzagers talked about the legal base for the NATO attack. He
admitted
that UN Resolution 1199 was not such a legal base; nevertheless, the
government used it as justification. Mr Steijnen pointed out that only
one
member of the Dutch parliament, Mr Van Middelkoop, had known about
Resolution 1199. So, then, how about democratic control by parliament on
whether The Netherlands were at war or not [not even Prime Minister Kok
knew
when the bombing started]?
Mr Houtzagers also said the ministers could not be sued, 'as they had
acted
as organs of the State'. In reply, Mr Steijnen pointed out that at the
1945
Nuremberg trials, the court had rejected such a defense. *Individuals*
commit war crimes. The Nuremburg decisions are important in
international
law; though in its defence the Dutch government now more or less tries
to
dismiss them. They were part of the precedents claimed, by, for
instance,
the 1993 establishment of the court on Yugoslavia in The Hague. Mr
Steijnen
said: "How would a court react to General Pinochet claiming he had not
been
an individual, only '"an organ of the state"?
To the argument: "the war is over now, so the plaintiffs have no case
anymore. [Two of the plaintiffs last year complained, as the war had
made
them join the Yugoslav army as conscripts, thus putting them in danger
involuntarily]", Mr Steijnen replied the plaintiffs still were in
danger,
also if they would all continue to be civilians as at the moment; as
there
was only a cease fire, not peace. If one listens today to Dutch and
other
NATO leaders they may not yet have learned not to start a similar war
again
against Yugoslavia [or against another country].
President Van Schendel concluded the session by saying that the court
decision will, in principle, become public at 6 July, at 11.30 in the
same
court house. However, Mr Van Schendel left open the possibility that the
court would need more time for the legal complexities of the case; then,
the
verdict would be later.
Even if Lawyers for Peace lose the case in Amsterdam, they will appeal,
all
the way up to the European Court.
After the court case, Mr Houtzagers, contrary to the bombs victims'
lawyers,
refused to answer media questions. Later that day, there was a meeting.
Other Dutch ministers may also face civil cases. So may F16 pilots. So
may
pro-war Members of Parliament like Mr Blaauw of the ["Rightist Liberal"]
VVD
government party: Blaauw, during the Balkan war, talked of glorious
profit
opportunities for Dutch construction millionaires in Kosovo, after the
NATO
bombs would have done their job. Mr Blaauw is also a leader of the Press
Now
organization; officially for 'independent' [in fact, NATOish] media in
the
Balkans. Maybe, also a civil case by people hurt by the bombs, against
Mr De
Hoop Scheffer of the ["Christian Democrat"] CDA [very pro bombing,
though
officially in opposition].
And, maybe also civil damages claims against Marcel Rüter, businessman,
and
leader of the extreme Rightist Voorpost ["Vanguard"] movement, not
represented in government or parliament, which made pro bombing
propaganda.
Mr Rüter is an ex leader of the Centrumpartij'86, members of which used
to
rally for Adolf Hitler and his deputy, Rudolf Hess. Used to, *as
Centrumpartij'86 people*; because a few years ago, the courts banned
this
party for racism; after members had gone to jail for violence. In 1999
Voorpost tried a political comeback on the wave of pro-war and
anti-Serb-anti-Roma-and-anti-other-foreigner propaganda in the 'popular'
media. Maybe an opportunity for the Anti Fascist League to figuratively
"kill the two birds, of war and racism, with one stone"?
Best wishes,
Herman de Tollenaere
---
http://www.counterpunch.com
CounterPunch [Originally published at Swans: http://www.swans.com]
June 4, 2000
An Impartial Tribunal, Really?
By Christopher Black
-
http://www.serbianna.com/dorich/stories/00_06_09.html
The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions
By William Dorich
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
* Amnesty International sul Tribunale "ad hoc" dell'Aia
* Carla del Ponte, criminale di guerra impunita
* Richiesta di dimissioni per Carla del Ponte
* Il governo olandese sotto processo
---
DIRITTO INTERNAZIONALE E LEGALITA' BORGHESE
In seguito al nostro ultimo messaggio sui crimini della NATO
(http://www.egroups.com/message/crj-mailinglist/286?&start=263)
abbiamo ricevuto da Luca il seguente commento:
> Ho letto l' articolo sulle leggi di guerra.
> A me pare pericoloso appoggiare le critiche alla guerra ed alla nato in
> particolare seguendo un approccio "legalitario".
>
> Le forze borghesi amano le cosiddette convenzioni di guerra perche' esse
> fanno parte della copertura ideologica della guerra ....Forse si
> dovrebbero mostrare le inconsistenze logiche insite negli argomenti
> legalisti. Soprattutto per quanto concerne
> i "coccodrilli " del manifesto
>
> o no?
Sicuramente! Tuttavia sottolineare queste come altre violazioni della
legalita' borghese commesse da parte della stessa borghesia ha un suo
significato. In pratica si tratta del "sovversivismo
delle classi dirigenti", lo stesso fenomeno che ci ha portato al
fascismo ed al nazismo, quando la classe dirigente rompe le leggi che
essa stessa ha formulato. Questo puo' avere due ricadute:
- o si prefigura come scontro inter-borghese (inter-imperialista);
- oppure semplicemente significa una deriva autoritaria, quando anche le
garanzie, gli spazi della democrazia borghese ci vengono sottratte;
oppure tutte e due le cose insieme. Percio' ci sembra importante
evidenziare quando questo succede. CRJ
---
Subject: YUGOSLAVIA: Amnesty International's initial comments
on the review by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former
Yugoslavia of NATO's Operation Allied Force
Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 09:06:13 -0400
From: amnesty@...
Reply-To: owner-amnesty-l@...
To: amnesty-L@...
* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International *
Amnesty International Public document
AI Index EUR 70/029/2000
News Service Nr. 116
13 June 2000
Amnesty International's initial comments on the review by the
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia of NATO's
Operation Allied Force
The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has
published today the Final Report to the Prosecutor by the Committee
Established to Review the NATO Bombing Campaign Against the Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia. The report examines general issues and five
specific incidents and recommends to the ICTY Prosecutor not to commence
a criminal investigation "in relation to the NATO bombing campaign or
incidents occurring during the campaign" (para 91).
Ms Carla Del Ponte, ICTY's Prosecutor, informed the United Nations'
Security Council on 2 June 2000 that she had decided to accept this
recommendation. She specifies that although some mistakes were made by
NATO, "the Prosecutor is satisfied that there was no deliberate
targeting of civilians or unlawful military targets by NATO during the
campaign".
Amnesty International has received a copy of the 45-page ICTY report and
is examining it carefully. All five incidents examined in the report by
ICTY's review committee were included in the Amnesty International
report, Collateral Damage or Unlawful Killings?, Violations of the Laws
of War by NATO during Operation Allied Force, published last week (AI
Index: EUR 70/18/00).
Amnesty International welcomes the unusual publication by the ICTY of
the reasoning behind the decision not to open an investigation related
to NATO's bombing campaign. The organization believes that this step
contributes greatly to the Tribunal's transparency, offering important
perspectives on the interpretation of the laws of war.
Amnesty International also respects the discretion enjoyed by the ICTY's
Prosecutor in deciding whether or not to open criminal investigations.
The organization understands that, as with other cases, the Prosecutor
may still decide to open an investigation into the NATO bombing should
additional relevant information become available.
Amnesty International notes that the report of the ICTY assessment
indicates that when NATO was requested "to answer specific questions
about specific incidents, the NATO reply was couched in general terms
and failed to address the specific incidents." The report also points
out that the "committee has not spoken to those involved in directing or
carrying out the bombing campaign". These facts must have contributed to
the information gaps that the committee itself acknowledges in its
report. Amnesty International also notes the following overall
conclusion of the review committee (para 90):
"NATO has admitted that mistakes did occur during the bombing campaign;
errors of judgment may also have occurred. Selection of certain
objectives for attack may be subject to legal debate. On the basis of
the information reviewed, however, the committee is of the opinion that
neither an in-depth investigation related to the bombing campaign as a
whole nor investigations related to specific incidents are justified. In
all cases, either the law is not sufficiently clear or investigations
are unlikely to result in the acquisition of sufficient evidence to
substantiate charges against high level accused or against lower accused
for particularly heinous offences."
The report does not explain what difficulties are envisaged by the
Office of the Prosecutor in gathering sufficient evidence against any
NATO or NATO member state official.
With regard to the bombing of the headquarters and studios of Serbian
state television and radio (Radio Televisija Srbije, RTS) in Belgrade on
23 April 1999, the report states (para 76):
"The committee finds that if the attack on the RTS was justified by
reference to its propaganda purpose alone, its legality might well be
questioned by some experts in the field of international humanitarian
law. It appears, however, that NATO's targeting of the RTS building for
propaganda purposes was an incidental (albeit complementary) aim of its
primary goal of disabling the Serbian military command and control
system and to destroy the nerve system and apparatus that keeps
Milosevic in power."
Earlier (para 55) the report made the following observation regarding
the role of the media in general:
"The media as such is not a traditional target category. To the extent
particular media components are part of the C3 (command, control and
communications) network they are military objectives. If media
components are not part of the C3 network then they may become military
objectives depending upon their use. As a bottom line, civilians,
civilian objects and civilian morale as such are not legitimate military
objectives. The media does have an effect on civilian morale. If that
effect is merely to foster support for the war effort, the media is not
a legitimate military objective. If the media is used to incite crimes,
as in Rwanda, it can become a legitimate military objective. If the
media is the nerve system that keeps a war-monger in power and thus
perpetuates the war effort, it may fall within the definition of a
legitimate military objective."
Amnesty International reiterates that the explanation it sought and
received by NATO regarding the attack on the RTS headquarters was that
the attack was carried out because the RTS was a propaganda organ. In a
letter to Amnesty International dated 17 May 1999 and quoted in ICTY's
report (para 73), NATO's then Secretary General Javier Solana said that
NATO made "every possible effort to avoid civilian casualties and
collateral damage by exclusively and carefully targeting the military
infrastructure of President Milocevic", adding that the RTS facilities
"are being used as radio relay stations and transmitters to support the
activities of the FRY military and special police forces, and therefore
they represented legitimate military targets". However, as also
indicated in the Amnesty International report published last week, at a
meeting with Amnesty International in Brussels on 14 February 2000 NATO
officials clarified that this reference to relay stations and
transmitters was to other attacks on RTS infrastructure and not this
particular attack on the RTS headquarters. They insisted that the attack
on the RTS headquarters was carried out because RTS was a propaganda
organ and argued that propaganda is direct support for military action.
The point relating to propaganda has been made repeatedly, most recently
by General Wesley Clark, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe at the time
of Operation Allied Force. In an address at the Brookings Institution on
8 June 2000 he is quoted as saying:
"I noticed on the news today there is criticism of the attack on the
Serb media. Well, of course, that was a controversial target. But the
Serb media engine was feeding the war. It was a crucial instrument of
Milosevic's control over the Serb population. And it exported fear,
hatred and instability into neighbouring regions. And so it was a
legitimate target of war, validated by lawyers in many countries and
validated by the International Criminal Tribunal. But it sure eased our
minds a lot to know that our elected political leaders took the
responsibility for that strike."
As explained in its report last week, Amnesty International recognizes
that disrupting government propaganda may help to undermine the morale
of the population and the armed forces. However, the organization
believes that justifying an attack on such grounds stretches the meaning
of "effective contribution to military action" and "definite military
advantage" -- essential requirements of the definition of a military
objective -- beyond the acceptable bounds of interpretation. As such,
Amnesty International takes the view that the attack on the RTS
headquarters was directed at a civilian object and points out that
"[I]ntentionally directing attacks against civilian objects" is a war
crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Amnesty International regrets the lack of full cooperation by NATO in
resposnding to ICTY's inquiries. The organization stresses that the fact
that the ICTY Prosecutor has decided not to open a criminal
investigation against NATO should not lead NATO to ignore the detailed
and nuanced contents of the ICTY report, or dismiss recommendations made
by Amnesty International and other organizations.
Amnesty International calls again on NATO and NATO member states to heed
the recommendations it made in its report published last week, including
the need for all NATO member states to ratify without reservations
Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949; ensure a common
interpretation of international humanitarian law in line with the
highest international standards; reflect these standards in NATO's rules
of engagement; and clarify NATO's chain of command, so as to ensure
clear lines of responsibility.
NATO and NATO member states should also conduct their own investigation
into reported breaches of the rules of war during Operation Allied
Force, whether or not they may amount to war crimes, so as to take
appropriate measures against anyone found responsible, provide redress,
including compensation, to victims of such violations, and learn lessons
for the future. ...
ENDS.../
Amnesty International, International Secretariat, 1 Easton Street,
WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom
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---
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/indexe.htm
The Emperor's New Clothes
Louise Arbour: Unindicted War Criminal
by Christopher Black and Edward S. Herman (6-14-00)
Among the many ironies of the NATO war against Yugoslavia was the role
of the International Criminal Tribunal and its chief prosecutor, Louise
Arbour, elevated by Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien to Canada's
highest court in 1999. It will be argued here that as Arbour and her
Tribunal played a key role in EXPEDITING war crimes, an excellent case
can be made that in a just world she would be in the dock rather than in
judicial robes.
Arbour To NATO's Rescue
In the midst of NATO's 78-day bombing campaign against Yugoslavia,
Arbour participated in an April 20 press conference with British Foreign
Secretary Robin Cook to receive from him documentation on Serb war
crimes. Then on May 27, Arbour announced the indictment of Serb
President Slobodan Milosevic and four of his associates for war crimes.
The inappropriateness of a supposedly judicial body doing this when
Germany, Russia and other powers were trying to find a diplomatic
resolution to the conflict, was staggering.
At the April 20 appearance with Cook, Arbour stated that
"It is inconceivable...that we would agree to be guided by the political
will of those who may want to advance an agenda."
But her appearance with Cook and the followup indictments fitted
perfectly the needs of the NATO leadership. There had been growing
criticism of NATO's increasingly civilian infrastructure-oriented
bombing of Serbia. Arbour's and the Tribunal's intervention declaring
the Serb leadership to be guilty of war crimes was a public relations
coup that justified the NATO policies and helped permit the bombing to
continue and escalate. This was pointed out repeatedly by NATO leaders
and propagandists: for example, Madeleine Albright noted that the
indictments
"make very clear to the world and the publics in our countries that this
[NATO policy] is justified because of the crimes committed, and I think
also will enable us to keep moving all these processes [i.e., bombing]
forward" (CNN, May 27).
Arbour herself noted that "I am mindful of the impact that this
indictment may have on the peace process," and although indicted
individuals are "entitled to the presumption of innocence until they are
convicted, the evidence upon which this indictment was confirmed raises
serious questions about their suitability to be guarantors of any deal,
let alone a peace agreement." (CNN, May 27). So Arbour not only
understood the political significance of her indictment, she suggested
that interference with diplomatic efforts was justified because the
indicted individuals, though not yet found guilty, were not suitable to
negotiate. This hugely unjudicial political judgment, along with the
convenient timing of the indictments, points up Arbour's and the
Tribunal's highly political role.
The Tribunal's Politicization
Arbour's service to NATO in indicting Milosevic was the logical outcome
of the Tribunal's de facto control and purpose. Established by the
Security Council in the early 1990s to serve the Balkan policy ends of
its dominant members, the Tribunal's funding and interlocking functional
relationship with the leading NATO powers have made it NATO's
instrument. (1)
Although Article 32 of the Tribunal's Charter declares that its expenses
shall be provided in the general budget of the United Nations, this
proviso has been regularly violated. In 1994-1995 the U.S. government
provided it with $700,000 in cash and $2.3 million in equipment, and
numerous other U.S.-based governmental and non- governmental agencies
have provided the Tribunal with resources.
Article 16 of the Tribunal's charter states that the Prosecutor shall
act independently and shall not seek or receive instruction from any
government. This section also has been systematically violated. NATO
sources have regularly made claims suggesting their authority over the
Tribunal: "We will make a decision on whether Yugoslav actions against
ethnic Albanians constitute genocide," states a USIA Fact Sheet, and
Cook asserted at his April 20 press conference with Arbour that "we are
going to focus on the war crimes being committed in Kosovo and our
determination to bring those responsible to justice, " as if he and
Arbour were a team jointly deciding on who should be charged for war
crimes.
Tribunal officials have even bragged about "the strong support of
concerned governments and dedicated individuals such as Secretary
Albright," further referred to as "mother of the Tribunal" (by Judge
Gabrielle Kirk McDonald, president of the Tribunal). In 1996 Arbour met
with the Secretary-General of NATO and its supreme commander to
"establish contacts and begin discussing modalities of cooperation and
assistance." Numerous other meetings have occurred between prosecutor
and NATO, which was given the function of Tribunal gendarme.
Arbour acknowleged (April 20) that "the real danger is whether we would
fall into [following somebody's political agenda] inadvertently by being
in the hands of information-providers who might have an agenda that we
would not be able to discern." But even an imbecile could discern that
NATO had an agenda and that simply accepting the flood of documents
offered by Cook and Albright entailed ADVERTENTLY following that agenda.
Arbour's April 20 reference to the "morality of the [NATO] enterprise"
and her remarks on Milosevic's possible lack of character disqualifying
him from negotiations, as well as her rush to help NATO with an
indictment, point to quite clearly understood political service.
The Arbour-Tribunal bias was dramatically illustrated by the disposition
of an internal Tribunal report on Operation Storm, which described war
crimes committed by the Croatian armed forces in their expulsion of more
than 200,000 Serbs from Krajina in August 1995. (6) In only four days
"at least 150 Serbs were summarily executed, and many hundreds
disappeared," totals that exceeded the 241 victims of the Serbs named in
the indictment of Milosevic. But as the United States supported the
Croat's ethnic cleansing of Serbs in Krajina, and refused to provide
requested information, no indictment of any Croat officer named in the
report, or head of state Tudjman, was ever brought by the Tribunal.
Tribunal's Kangaroo Court Processes
According to Arbour, the Tribunal was "subject to extremely stringent
rules of evidence with respect to the admissibility and the credibility
of the product that we will tender in court," thus precluding
"unsubstantiated, unverifiable, uncorroborated allegations" (April 20).
This is a gross misrepresentation of what John Laughland described in
the Times (London) as "a rogue court with rigged rules" (June 17, 1999).
The Tribunal violates virtually every standard of due process: among
others, it fails to separate prosecution and judge; witnesses can
testify anonymously; confessions are presumed free and voluntary unless
the contrary can be established by the prisoner; and "rules against
hearsay, deeply entrenched in Common Law, are not observed and the
Prosecutor's office has even suggested not calling witnesses to give
evidence but only the tribunal's own 'war crimes investigators'"
(Laughland).
As noted, Arbour presumes guilt before trial; the concept of "innocent
till convicted" is rejected, and she can declare that people linked with
Arkan "will be tainted by their association with an indicted war
criminal" (March 31). Arbour clearly does not believe in the basic rules
of Western jurisprudence. And within a month of her elevation to the
Canadian Supreme Court she joined a court majority that grafted onto
Canadian law the dangerous Tribunal practice of permitting a more
liberal use of hearsay evidence in trials. (2) The consequent corruption
of the Canadian justice system, both by her appointment and her impact,
mirrors that in the Canadian political system, whose leading members
supported the NATO war without question.
NATO's Crimes
In bombing Yugoslavia from March 24 to June 8 1999, NATO violated the UN
Charter requirement that it not use force without UN Security Council
sanction. (3) It was also guilty of aggression in attacking a sovereign
state that was not going beyond its borders. In its defense, NATO
claimed that "humanitarian" concerns demanded these actions and
justified seemingly serious law violations. (4) This reply sanctions law
violations on the basis of self-serving judgments that contradict the
rule of law, but it is also dubious on its own grounds. The NATO bombing
made "an internal humanitarian problem into a disaster" in the words of
Rollie Keith, the returned Canadian OSCE human rights monitor in Kosovo.
Furthermore, NATO refused to negotiate a settlement in Kosovo and
insisted on a violent solution; in the words of one State Department
official, NATO deliberately "raised the bar" and precluded a compromise
resolution because Serbia "needed to be bombed." These counter- facts
suggest that the alleged humanitarian basis of the law violations was a
cover for starkly political and geopolitical objectives.
NATO was also guilty of more traditional war crimes, including some that
the Tribunal had found indictable when [allegeldy] carried out by Serbs.
Thus on March 8, 1996, the Serb leader Milan Martic was indicted for
[allegeldy] launching a rocket cluster-bomb attack on military targets
in Zagreb in May 1995, on the ground that the rocket was "not designed
to hit military targets but to terrorize the civilians of Zagreb." But
the same case could be made for numerous NATO bombing raids, as in the
cluster-bombing of Nis on May 7, 1999, in which a market and hospital
far from any military target were hit in separate strikes--but no
indictment has yet been handed down against NATO.
But NATO was also guilty of bombing non-military targets as systematic
policy. On March 26, 1999, General Wesley Clark said that "We are going
to very systematically and progressively work on his military
forces...[to see] how much pain he is willing to suffer." But this focus
on "military forces" wasn't effective, so NATO quickly turned to "taking
down...the economic apparatus supporting" Serb military forces
(Clinton's words); targets were gradually extended to factories of all
kinds, electric power stations, water and sewage processing facilities,
transport, public buildings, and even schools and hospitals. In effect,
it was NATO's strategy to bring Serbia to its knees by gradually
escalating its attacks on the civil society.
But international law makes civilian targets off limits; the "wanton
destruction of cities, towns or villages or devastation not justified by
military necessity" is prohibited (Sixth Principle of Nuremberg,
formulated in 1950 by a UN-sponsored international law commission).
"Military necessity" does not allow the destruction of a civil society
to make it more difficult for the country to support its armed forces,
any more than civilians can be killed directly because they pay taxes
supporting the war machine or might some day become soldiers. Making an
entire population a hostage is a blatant violation of international law
and its implementing acts are war crimes.
In December 1999, it was finally reported that post-Arbour prosecutor
Carla Del Ponte was reviewing the conduct of NATO, at the urging of
Russia and several other "interested parties" ("U.N. Court Examines
NATO's Yugoslavia War," NYT, Dec. 29, 1999). But the news report
indicates that the focus is on the conduct of NATO pilots and their
commanders, not the NATO decision-makers who decided to target the
civilian infrastructure. It also suggests the public relations nature of
the inquiry, which would "go far in dispelling the belief...that the
tribunal is a tool used by Western leaders to escape accountability."
The report also indicates the delicate matter that the tribunal "depends
on the military alliance to arrest and hand over suspects." It also
quotes Del Ponte saying that "It's not my priority, because I have
inquiries about genocide, about bodies in mass graves." We may rest
assured that no indictments will result from this inquiry.
Beyond Orwell
NATO's leaders, frustrated in attacking the Serb military machine, quite
openly turned to smashing the civil society of Serbia as their means of
attaining the desired quick victory. Arbour and the Tribunal helped NATO
by indicting Milosevic, thereby giving NATO the moral cover needed for
escalated attacks on the hostage population.
Arbour and the Tribunal thus present us with the amazing spectacle of an
institution supposedly organized to contain, prevent, and prosecute for
war crimes actually knowingly facilitating them. Furthermore, petitions
submitted to the Tribunal during Arbour's tenure had called for
prosecution of the leaders of NATO, including Canadian Prime Minister
Jean Chretien, for the commission of war crimes. If she had been a
prosecutor in Canada, Britain or the United States, she would have been
subject to disbarment for considering and then accepting a job from a
person she had been asked to charge. But Arbour was elevated to the
Supreme Court of Canada by Chretien with hardly a mention of this
conflict of interest and immorality. **
About the authors...
Christopher Black (5) is part of the team of Canadian lawyers who have
attempted to bring war crimes charges against NATO before the War Crimes
Tribunal. At present, Mr. Black is serving as the attorney for one of
the defendant at the Rwandan war crimes hearings. He believes that
Western meddling is in large measure responsible for the horrendous
killing in Rwanda. He plans to write an article for Emperors-Clothes on
the subject.
Edward S. Herman is the author of many books including 'Real Terror
Network: Terrorism in Fact and Propaganda' (June 1998) and 'Triumph of
the Market: Essays on Economics, Politics, and the Media' (October
1995).
Further reading...
(1) See Money Talks - US Funds ICTY Public Relations at
http://emperors-clothes.com/news/press.htm
(2) Back to the dark ages by Jared Israel at
http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/jared/bac.htm
(3) See NATO's War & World Security by Prof. Raju G. C. Thomas at
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/analysis/security.htm
(4) See HUMANITARIAN WAR: Making the Crime Fit the Punishment by Diana
Johnstone at
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/articles/Johnstone/crime.htm
(5) See An Impartial Tribunal? Really? by Christopher Black at
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/analysis/Impartial.htm
(6)See Conditions of Serbs in Croatia, by Alice Mahon, MP at
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/articles/mahon/croatia.htm
---
>Tribunal Watch archives are on-line at:
>http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/archives/
>==========================================
>
>CANA (Christians Against NATO Aggression)
>Statement from William Spring, Director
>
>CARLA DEL PONTE SHOULD RESIGN AS WAR CRIMES PROSECUTOR
>
>Carla del Ponte should resign as war crimes prosecutor for the Hague
>Tribunal responsible for War Crimes in the area of the Former Yugoslavia.
>She has brought international law into disrepute by her decision announced
>to the Security Council June 2nd not to prosecute NATO leaders for war
>crimes committed by NATO forces in relation to the illegal military attack
>on Yugoslavia last year.
>
>Thomas Fuller, as quoted by the late Lord Denning, Master of the Rolls,
>said: "whoever you are the law is above you." In effect Carla del Ponte has
>put NATO civilian & military leaders beyond the law - has given them
>immunity to engage in whatever criminal action they like. A disgrace to
>the legal profession she should be replaced forthwith by the UN Secretary
>General.
>
>Her investigation into allegations made, not only by the Russian, Yugoslav
>& Chinese Governments concerning NATO war crimes, but also by ordinary
>people across the world, (in which I include CANA, as we detailed specific
>NATO atrocities in a dossier sent to her January 28th this year) was at
>best cursory; at worst her inaction can be interpreted as the frantic
>manoeuvrings of a mafia judge eager to please her mafia paymasters.
>Someone should do an investigation into the War Crimes Tribunal & her
>role, & that of of her predecessor, Ms Arbour. How is this body financed?
>Is it a legal entity? Does the UN Charter allow for new Institutions to be
>created simply on the say so of the Security Council?
>
>What has happened is a juridical nightmare; a nominally independent
>prosecutor, who in fact is leaned on, & responds to pressure from
>representatives of whatever coalition of powers happens to hold most
>influence in the Security Council at any one time.
>
>Her willingness to receive Jamie Shea, & Robin Cook, in her office at the
>Hague, while still theoretically engaged in an investigation as to whether
>NATO had committed war crimes was reprehensible, indicating collusion &
>undue influence. She should have had the courage to stand up to gangsters
>who 'fix' international Courts in the same way as Clinton fixed Congress to
>avoid impeachment.
>
>Her Office wrote to me 15th March stating "aerial warfare is a complex
>area of military international law involving difficult issues of targeting
>& execution." That may be so, but is not an excuse to duck the moral
>questions involved. The Prosecutor gets NATO off the hook by saying she is
>not satisfied there was 'intent' on the part of the NATO authorities to
>cause civilian casualties, which misses the point entirely: all deaths
>caused by those responsible for a war of aggression, whether they be
>military or civilian, are unlawful homicides, & it's not necessary to prove
>intent for every act which flowed from the decision to engage in aggressive
>war. But in the 15th March letter Gavin Ruxton said "The Prosecutor has no
>locus to consider the lawfulness or otherwise of the NATO decision to
>launch its air campaign": which means the Tribunal is disqualified from
>making any finding acquitting NATO of war crimes. (There is of course
>unambiguous evidence of NATO's intent to cause civilian casualties.)
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
>For further info tel 02088022144 cana@... also diarise
>House of Lords Cttee Room 4 12 noon 28th June 2000 Press Conference by
>Justin/Cana/Planning for Peace
>
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From: Herman de Tollenaere <hermantl@...>
To: right-left@...,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;,
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Subject: 9 June Amsterdam: report on Dutch ministers on trial for NATO
bombing
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 00:24:20 +0200
[Unofficial report, hastily written by a non-lawyer]
On Friday 9 June, at the "Paleis van Justitie" [court house] in
Amsterdam,
Dutch Government Ministers were on trial for the NATO bombing of
Yugoslavia
in 1999.
As I walk to the court house, posters of a beer brand proclaim
"Yugoslavs
like our drink". Maybe, like people in Colombia or in Sierra Leone. All
these people, however, might think one drinks more safely if there is
less
chance of dying by a bomb or other weapon made in a NATO country.
Opening
headline of the day of daily De Volkskrant: the Dutch UN representative
says
that the Netherlands armed forces should get over their Balkans trauma
by
sending a thousand soldiers to Sierra Leone. The British NATO allies
would
like that. Might the Dutch soldiers not find out too late they go there,
like to the Balkans, not really for peace; but maybe for British diamond
millionaires, fighting out their conflict with French diamond
millionaires
at the cost of lives of European soldiers and [especially] African
soldiers,
including child soldiers, and civilians? Remember racism and escalating
violence, when troops from NATO countries were supposed to bring peace
to
Somalia?
Police had not allowed a demonstration, which would have started at 10
o'clock. The case starts 11 o'clock at the "Paleis van Justitie",
Prinsengracht 434 in Amsterdam. Long before the start, people gather
outside. Pro peace leaflets change hands. A big banner goes aloft: NATO
OUT
OF THE BALKANS. It is held by a local anti war committee member, and by
a
twentyish Amsterdam university student. She is here with others of De
Socialist magazine, also present at earlier peace demonstrations.
Celine is there as well. Though more than fifty-five years ago, the Nazi
occupiers of The Netherlands put her in a camp, today she still fights
against racism and war. She is of De Anti Fascist. This is the magazine
of
the Bond van Anti Fascisten [Anti Fascist League], founded by ex members
of
the 1940-1945 resistance against German Nazi occupation. Later, younger
fighters against present day racism and other forms of discrimination
joined. The Anti Fascist League is a main source making it financially
possible to have this case: as the Yugoslav plaintiffs are very poor,
having
often lost jobs and everything by the war.
Speaking of media: a TV crew of the local [multicultural] Amsterdam TV
records the scene outside and the court case inside. Radio The
Netherlands
World Broadcasting is there; as are correspondents of De Volkskrant and
Bosnian media. Yesterday, an article in Ganashakti daily, all the way in
India, told its readers of the case.
In 1999, 29 citizens of Yugoslavia, victims of the bombs, started this
civil
court case against Ministers Kok [Prime Minister], Van Aartsen [Foreign
Affairs], and De Grave [Defense]. In May/June 1999, the judge did not
grant
their request for summary proceedings. However, he also did not throw
out
the case, as pro-war politicians might have liked. Similar court cases
are
on their way in other NATO countries; though often, in these countries
the
legal system works a little slower, or is more expensive for plaintiffs,
than in The Netherlands. In The Netherlands, there are now also cases
against the State [so, not against ministers individually, like in this
case]; other Dutch civil cases against individuals; and World Court
cases
for violation of UN Charter point 2 sub 4, against military aggression.
In a
few months' time, the case brought by surviving families of the bombed
Belgrade television studio crew members will start in The Netherlands.
Before a full big court room, Mr Van Schendel, court president, first
arranges for the media representatives' reporting. Then, he calls upon
the
bombs victims' lawyers to speak. He grants them one hour. As twenty
minutes
is usual for lawyers in civil cases, this indicates some sense of the
juridical importance of this case.
These lawyers are Mr Steijnen and Mr Olof, of Juristen voor de Vrede
[Lawyers for Peace] and the Permanente Commissie [Permanent Legal
Commission
against Dutch War Crimes]. Lawyers for Peace have a long history of
legal
challenges to the Dutch government for allowing NATO nuclear weapons in
The
Netherlands [officially, the people are not allowed to know whether the
nuclear weapons are there or not].
Mr Olof pointed out NATO's war was against the United Nations charter
and
international law. Mr Steijnen pointed out that the Dutch government,
like
NATO, claims NATO's targets were all military. The civilian victims
supposedly were "collateral damage". Really? asked Mr Steijnen. NATO
destroyed fifty churches and monasteries, over three hundred schools;
many
bridges unsuited for military vehicles; buses; passenger trains; TV
studios;
cigarette factories; 100% of chemical industry and 100% of agricultural
fertilizer industry in Yugoslavia; even apart from depleted uranium
ammunition radiation, creating enormous environmental damage. NATO used
cluster bombs.
Conservative pro NATO estimates say 1000 civilians died, 6000 were
wounded.
The MEAT report of the United States Air Force, quoted by Newsweek and
others, says all the weeks of air war destroyed 14 Yugoslav tanks, 18
armed
vehicles, 20 pieces of artillery. If we base ourselves on the
conservative
estimate of civilian victims: then, 70 civilians died for every Yugoslav
tank. Would it not be more accurate to say civilians and civilian
targets
were the real targets, and the damage against Yugoslav army vehicles and
artillery really was "collateral" damage? NATO leaders themselves
basically
admitted this [eg, when asked: why did the Yugoslav government finally
admit NATO troops in Kosovo? Eg, General Short said on BBC television
the
first target [to his regret, only destroyed later] should have been the
"rock and roll bridge" in Belgrade, where young people had concerts
against
the bombing].
Concluding, Mr Steijnen named three random examples of the plaintiffs.
One
worked as a car mechanic in Montenegro. The war started; very worried
about
his family in Belgrade, he went there, and parked his car. NATO bombs
fell
and destroyed the car. This loss meant also the loss of his mechanic's
job.
Now, he has nothing.
Another plaintiff worked in a small businessman's garage. A bomb
destroyed
the garage and the cars in it. Now, the employer is jobless and hungry.
So
is the employee.
A third example: this man used to work in a metal working factory. Bombs
totally destroyed the factory. Like its other 8000 workers, now he is
jobless.
For the ministers, Mr Houtzagers spoke. He quoted from a political
government statement, claiming NATO became involved as it worried about
stability of Albania and Macedonia [both non NATO members; and how did
the
war 'help stability' of these countries, let alone of Kosovo? Mr
Steijnen
replied]. And 'Yugoslavia had refused to negotiate seriously in
Rambouillet
[and how about NATO's proposed Appendix B, amounting to de facto
occupation
of all Yugoslavia?]'. Repeatedly interrupted by judges' critical
questions,
Mr Houtzagers talked about the legal base for the NATO attack. He
admitted
that UN Resolution 1199 was not such a legal base; nevertheless, the
government used it as justification. Mr Steijnen pointed out that only
one
member of the Dutch parliament, Mr Van Middelkoop, had known about
Resolution 1199. So, then, how about democratic control by parliament on
whether The Netherlands were at war or not [not even Prime Minister Kok
knew
when the bombing started]?
Mr Houtzagers also said the ministers could not be sued, 'as they had
acted
as organs of the State'. In reply, Mr Steijnen pointed out that at the
1945
Nuremberg trials, the court had rejected such a defense. *Individuals*
commit war crimes. The Nuremburg decisions are important in
international
law; though in its defence the Dutch government now more or less tries
to
dismiss them. They were part of the precedents claimed, by, for
instance,
the 1993 establishment of the court on Yugoslavia in The Hague. Mr
Steijnen
said: "How would a court react to General Pinochet claiming he had not
been
an individual, only '"an organ of the state"?
To the argument: "the war is over now, so the plaintiffs have no case
anymore. [Two of the plaintiffs last year complained, as the war had
made
them join the Yugoslav army as conscripts, thus putting them in danger
involuntarily]", Mr Steijnen replied the plaintiffs still were in
danger,
also if they would all continue to be civilians as at the moment; as
there
was only a cease fire, not peace. If one listens today to Dutch and
other
NATO leaders they may not yet have learned not to start a similar war
again
against Yugoslavia [or against another country].
President Van Schendel concluded the session by saying that the court
decision will, in principle, become public at 6 July, at 11.30 in the
same
court house. However, Mr Van Schendel left open the possibility that the
court would need more time for the legal complexities of the case; then,
the
verdict would be later.
Even if Lawyers for Peace lose the case in Amsterdam, they will appeal,
all
the way up to the European Court.
After the court case, Mr Houtzagers, contrary to the bombs victims'
lawyers,
refused to answer media questions. Later that day, there was a meeting.
Other Dutch ministers may also face civil cases. So may F16 pilots. So
may
pro-war Members of Parliament like Mr Blaauw of the ["Rightist Liberal"]
VVD
government party: Blaauw, during the Balkan war, talked of glorious
profit
opportunities for Dutch construction millionaires in Kosovo, after the
NATO
bombs would have done their job. Mr Blaauw is also a leader of the Press
Now
organization; officially for 'independent' [in fact, NATOish] media in
the
Balkans. Maybe, also a civil case by people hurt by the bombs, against
Mr De
Hoop Scheffer of the ["Christian Democrat"] CDA [very pro bombing,
though
officially in opposition].
And, maybe also civil damages claims against Marcel Rüter, businessman,
and
leader of the extreme Rightist Voorpost ["Vanguard"] movement, not
represented in government or parliament, which made pro bombing
propaganda.
Mr Rüter is an ex leader of the Centrumpartij'86, members of which used
to
rally for Adolf Hitler and his deputy, Rudolf Hess. Used to, *as
Centrumpartij'86 people*; because a few years ago, the courts banned
this
party for racism; after members had gone to jail for violence. In 1999
Voorpost tried a political comeback on the wave of pro-war and
anti-Serb-anti-Roma-and-anti-other-foreigner propaganda in the 'popular'
media. Maybe an opportunity for the Anti Fascist League to figuratively
"kill the two birds, of war and racism, with one stone"?
Best wishes,
Herman de Tollenaere
---
http://www.counterpunch.com
CounterPunch [Originally published at Swans: http://www.swans.com]
June 4, 2000
An Impartial Tribunal, Really?
By Christopher Black
-
http://www.serbianna.com/dorich/stories/00_06_09.html
The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions
By William Dorich
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