SELEZIONE NOTIZIE aprile-maggio 2000
---
NELSON MANDELA CONTESTA GLI INTERVENTI DELLA NATO
CONTRO LA JUGOSLAVIA E L'IRAK
http://www.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/africa/04/12/un.mandela.reut/index.html
Mandela slams Western action in Kosovo, Iraq
Mandela said U.S. and British actions have undermined
the United Nations' ability to resolve conflict
April 12, 2000
Web posted at: 9:26 p.m. EDT (0126 GMT)
DUBLIN, Ireland (Reuters) -- Nelson Mandela warned
Wednesday that powerful Western countries such as the
United States and Britain risked sparking global
conflict if they tried to police the world alone.
"When two nations take it upon themselves to police
the world ... without getting the authorization of the
United Nations, we must condemn that because it can
lead to another world war," the former South African
president said in a speech.
Mandela did not name the United States and Britain,
but joked that he was sure that everyone in the
audience knew the two countries he had in mind.
Mandela said military actions in Iraq and Kosovo
undermined the role of the United Nations as a forum
for the peaceful resolution of conflict around the
globe.
"They send a message that the powerful will police the
world," Mandela said as he delivered the Irish
Independent newspaper annual lecture at Dublin's
Trinity College.
"From there it is only a step to chaos in world
affairs, as power is substituted for the security of
collective and democratic decision," added Mandela,
winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for the part he played
in South Africa's transformation into a multiracial
democracy after centuries of white rule.
U.S. and British planes patrol no-fly zones over Iraq
and frequently clash with air defenses. The zones were
declared by the West after the 1991 Gulf War and are
designed to protect groups opposed to Iraqi President
Saddam Hussein. And NATO conducted a 78-day bombing
campaign against Serbia last year to protect ethnic
Albanians in the province of Kosovo.
Mandela said powerful nations should not bully other
members of the United Nations into following their
line.
"The principle that all differences can be resolved
through talk and negotiation applies also within
organizations like the Security Council of the United
Nations and there can be no justification for
unilateral action that imposes one view over others in
that body," he added.
Mandela said the example of South Africa showed that
even the bitterest conflicts could be resolved through
negotiation.
"On the brink of a bloody war that would have scorched
the earth of our common land, South Africans
recognized they were one nation with one destiny."
---
ANCORA INCIDENTI CAUSATI DAI SOLDATI
STATUNITENSI UBRIACHI A SKOPLJE
Clash In Macedonia
U.S. Troops Involved in Altercations, Drunkenness Alleged
By Konstantin Testorides
The Associated Press
S K O P J E, Macedonia, April 12 — U.S. soldiers, some
drunk, clashed with locals today, leading the
Macedonian police and NATO MPs to detain 30 American
servicemen, the Macedonian Interior Ministry said.
But a U.S. military spokesman called the
assertion that they were detained “a fabrication.”
NATO and U.S. military officials did confirm
there were disturbances in three separate instances
involving American troops in Skopje, the Macedonian
capital, but said only five were temporarily detained
by Macedonian police, who later turned them over to
U.S. military authorities. All the Americans were
stationed in Kosovo and were on leave in Skopje, they
said.
One U.S. military spokesman suggested that in
least two of the cases, the U.S. soldiers did not
initiate violence but were provoked.
Ed Loomis, a public affairs officer at U.S.
European Command in Stuttgart, Germany, said that in
one incident, “an American soldier was spit on by a
Macedonian; the soldier reacted to that and was
detained by Macedonian police.” In another, Loomis
said, two American soldiers tried to stop a Macedonian
trying to steal the belongings of one of the soldiers.
In the third incident, “four soldiers at a
restaurant got in some type of verbal altercation with
the staff at the restaurant and possibly police,” he
said. All four were detained.
Loomis called the report of 30 soldiers being
detained “a fabrication.”
The Macedonian Account
A Macedonian Interior Ministry statement said the
soldiers, members of NATO-led peacekeeping troops
stationed in Macedonia, were detained in connection
with “indecent behavior, violation of public order,
harassment of citizens and a fight involving a
policeman.” Some were drunk, the statement said.
After a disturbance in a local cafe in downtown
Skopje, the soldiers clashed with a group of citizens,
injuring a police officer who tried to intervene, the
statement said.
In Kosovo, U.S. Major Debbie Allen said, “there
were eight U.S. soldiers involved in three minor
incidents.” She said “there are reports of alcohol
being involved, and there were altercations.”
All five were back in Kosovo and were being
investigated by military authorities before a decision
on whether to file charges, Allen said.
Macedonia serves as a staging ground and a supply
route for international peacekeepers in Kosovo.
Speaking in Skopje for KFOR, the NATO-led peacekeeping
force, Captain Andreas Reinecke said KFOR “deeply
regrets these incidents.”
“We would like to make this very clear that this
kind of behavior does not reflect the attitude that we
expect from our personnel,” Reinecke said.
-
Macedonia will push for criminal charges against U.S.
soldiers
Associated Press
By KONSTANTIN TESTORIDES, Associated Press
SKOPJE, Macedonia (April 13, 2000 5:22 p.m. EDT
http://www.nandotimes.com) - Macedonia wants criminal
charges pressed against U.S. soldiers detained after a
clash with residents that left a policeman seriously
injured, said a police spokesman Thursday.
Stevo Pendarovski said Macedonian legal authorities
will seek assault charges against American soldiers
allegedly responsible for injuring a Macedonian
policeman and brawling with residents Wednesday.
The policeman was injured when he tried to intervene
in a clash between the Americans and the Skopje
residents. The policeman was hit in the head with a
brick, suffering serious head injuries, Pendarovski
said.
"It is very likely that the most aggressive of the
detained American soldiers will face charges for
taking part in a brawl and attacking citizens,"
Pendarovski said.
U.S. military spokesmen said the Macedonians were free
to make recommendations but final decisions on what
action to take against the soldiers rested with
American military authorities after an investigation.
Pendarovski said Macedonian police "will ask the
Macedonian foreign ministry to submit the full report
to the native country of the soldiers regarding the
incidents."
Capt. Russell Berg, a spokesman at Kosovo's main U.S.
base at Camp Bondsteel, said that once investigations
were completed, "it will be decided whether there will
be judicial punishment or nonjudicial punishment." All
Americans involved were back in Kosovo, he said.
American troops were involved in three separate
incidents Wednesday in the Macedonian capital,
including one alleged clash with locals. NATO and U.S.
military spokesmen said eight servicemen were
detained, but on Thursday revised that figure to six.
One U.S. military spokesman suggested that in at least
two of the cases, the U.S. soldiers did not initiate
violence but reacted to being provoked.
But Macedonia's Interior Ministry said the U.S.
soldiers were drunk and "behaved indecently, violated
public law and order, harassed the citizens and
injured one Macedonian policeman."
Macedonia serves as a staging ground and a supply
route for international peacekeepers in neighboring
Kosovo.
---
RELAZIONI BILATERALI RF DI JUGOSLAVIA - LIBIA
> F.R.YUGOSLAVIA - LIBYA
>
> YUGOSLAVIA HAD ITS DAY AT TRIPOLI FAIR
>
> TRIPOLI, April 12 (Tanjug) - The Yugoslav pavilion at Tripoli's
>International Fair organised on Wednesday a formal function to mark Yugoslav
>Day at the Fair.
>
> The assembled guests, among whom diplomatic representatives from
>31 countries, were addressed by Yugoslav Ambassador to Libya Radomir
>Bogdanovic.
>
> Bogdanovic said Yugoslavia's participation in the Fair and the
>exibits on display, representing the output of over 50 companies, are best
>evidence that Yugoslav industry and agriculture are still able to manufacture
>and market their products in the world despite damage wreaked by NATO in its
>aggression on Yugoslavia last spring.
---
L'AUSTRALIA ROMPE L'ISOLAMENTO DELLA RF DI JUGOSLAVIA
http://www.centraleurope.com/yugoslaviatoday/news.php3?id=151415
Australian Ambassador Meets Isolated Milosevic
BELGRADE, Apr 14, 2000 -- (Reuters) Australia's new
ambassador to Belgrade met Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic on Thursday, in a move likely to anger the
United States. Washington criticized Australia last
week for sending a new ambassador to Belgrade and
urged Canberra to fax his credentials to Milosevic
rather than presenting them in person, fearing that
could boost Milosevic in his quest for international
acceptance.
But Australia defended its decision and denied reports
that its maintenance of high-level diplomatic
relations with Belgrade was part of a deal to secure
the release of three of its aid workers jailed during
last year's NATO air strikes over Kosovo.
"Certainly there's no deal," the new envoy, Charles
Stewart, said by telephone.
He said Canberra's interest in maintaining diplomatic
relations stemmed from the large Yugoslav community in
Australia and he declined to comment on the row with
the United States.
Since the Kosovo conflict last year, during which a UN
tribunal indicted Milosevic for war crimes against
Albanian civilians in the province, many Western
countries have downgraded their diplomatic missions in
Belgrade.
The United States, which led the air campaign, is not
represented at all and other countries have not
replaced ambassadors when they leave, to avoid the
credentials issue.
AUSTRALIA IS NOT ALONE
But Australia is not the only country to have broken
the mould.
South Africa's envoy did so last year and the new
ambassador to Russia, a traditional ally of
fellow-Orthodox Slav Serbia and fierce critic of the
NATO bombing, presented his credentials at the same
time as Australia's new envoy.
State media carried full accounts of the ceremony.
"Charles Stewart said Australia wanted to develop
successful bilateral cooperation with Yugoslavia,
having pointed out that many Australian citizens of
Yugoslav origin represent a lasting and stable bridge
linking the two countries and reaffirming their mutual
interests," Tanjug news agency said.
"Milosevic said he was convinced bilateral ties
between the two countries would continue to develop
successfully and mutual interests in economic,
cultural, sports and other relations would be
fulfilled," the agency added.
Stewart's own account was less effusive.
"Our principle interest is in terms of a very large
Yugoslav community in Australia," he told Reuters.
"We are keen to improve the cordial relations that
exist between our two countries."
---
IN GERMANIA I POLITICI CONSERVATORI SONO PIU' A SINISTRA DEI VERDI
Conservative German Politician
Lauches Fierce Attack Against NATO
War
by Rainer Rupp
Saarbrücken, Germany
Special to Antiwar.com
4/14/00
"Serbia, the only truly multi-ethnical state left in the Balkans"
Willy Wimmer, Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE
and
member of the German Bundestag (National Parliament) for the
conservative Christian
Democratic Union (CDU) of former Chancellor Helmut Kohl, has never
held back with
his sharp criticism of NATO's war against Yugoslavia. But his recent
statement,
distributed on 3rd April in the lobby of the Bundestag has caused a
stir in German politics
and was given broad attention in the national media.
In his statement Mr. Wimmer warned that one year after the beginning
of the NATO
attack against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" the Kosovo War was
increasingly
proving to have become a watershed for the future development of the
world." Referring
to his recent talks in Moscow he emphasised that, after years of
having waited in vain for
a fruitful dialog with Europe and the USA, Russia had now passed a new
military
doctrine, "which specifically addresses NATO and the West." (NATO is
designated in
the new doctrine as a potential threat to Russia). "What makes Moscow
publish its
guidelines for the (first) use of nuclear weapons now," asks Mr.
Wimmer and offers the
answer: "What other reason could there have been than the war against
Yugoslavia."
In Beijing too, things had changed to the worse, asMr Wimmer recalls
his talks there. In
spite of all American apologies and assertions to the opposite, the
Chinese firmly believe,
" that one single US-bomber flew all the way from the United States in
order to hit the
Chinese embassy in Belgrade."
Despite all assertions about the "humanitarian war" by NATO-officials,
Mr. Wimmer
urged Europeans to draw the right conclusions from an operation,
"which was essentially
led, in order to ensure the expansion of NATO and to underpin its
credibility."
Moreover, in Mr. Wimmers's view the NATO-Operation in Kosovo seems to
have "got
out of control." Referring to Western newspaper reports Mr. Wimmer
emphasises that
"the Jews of Kosovo have now fled, almost without exception, to
Belgrade." He added
that "it goes without saying" that the KLA "has almost completely
cleansed the
remaining ethnic Serbs and Roma from Kosovo; the ethnical Turks had to
go, and the
catholic Albanians report acts of violence against them. Even Albanian
intellectuals are
leaving Kosovo and apparently flee to Belgrade." From these
observations the
conservative representative Willy Wimmer draws the only logical
conclusion, that
Belgrade remains "the only large multi-ethnical state in the Balkans."
He considers that
Kosovo is "on the eve of another civil war between rival albanian
groups, which are
supported by competing drug barons. What will NATO do then? – An
undignified
withdrawal or the provocation of a new war?"
He sternly warns against a new war against Serbia and ridicules NATO's
grand claims.
"What is left of NATO's big mouth announcements of a year ago, that it
would cut the
Yugoslav army into pieces?" he asked. "After 78 days of war and
approximately 36,000
bombing missions the Yugoslav Army left (Kosovo) with polished tanks!"
Next time, Mr.
Wimmer expects, that NATO might not get away so easily: "It is highly
questionable if a
future conflict in Kosovo would follow the old pattern, or if a
President Putin would again
refuse the S-300 air defence systems to the Serbs, as happened in
October 1998. In the
actual air duels the most modern US technology confronted Soviet
technology of the
70ies. That might change. "
In conclusion Mr. Willy Wimmer addresses the increasing tensions
between Europe and
the USA and requests Europeans to think again before they get dragged
into the next
Balkan war: "Europeans should ask themselves, how they see their own
role against the
background of the official American defence planning guidelines? This
Pentagon
document states razor-sharp that all American efforts must be directed
against the
emergence of a rival power while upholding NATO as the substantial
channel for
American influence in Europe and as an instrument for participation in
European decision
making."
With reference to The Hague, Mr. Wimmer, the deputy chairman of the
OSCE's
parliamentary assembly does not see "much of a future" for the
International War Crimes
Tribunal. Quoting a high official in the German government he said:
"the tribunal would
quickly unravel once it started in earnest to pursue the complaints
that have been filed
against NATO."
If you would like to contact Mr. Willy Wimmer, you may call, fax or
e-mal his office in the
German Bundestag (Parliament) in Berlin;
Mr. Willy Wimmer
Platz der Republik 1,
11011 Berlin
Germany
Tel. 00 49 30 1227-75094
Fax: .........30 22746498
willy.wimmer@...
---
1100 VOLTE SUPERIORE ALLA NORMA LA RADIOATTIVITA'
IN JUGOSLAVIA A CAUSA DELL'USO "UMANITARIO" DI ARMI ATOMICHE
>POST-NATO-WAR YUGOSLAVIA HAS URANIUM LEVELS 1,000 TIMES ABOVE
>NORMAL
>
> BELGRADE, April 13 (Tanjug) - The Yugoslav government, at
>Thursday's session chaired by Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic, approved a
>report on the effects on the environment of NATO's air strikes on Yugoslavia
>last spring, a government statement said.
> Evidence collected and analyses made by local institutes have
>shown that the NATO aggressors used ammunition with depleted uranium, among
>others, which is a crime against humanity punishable under the international
>law of war.
> Analyses of individual samples showed contamination levels up to a
>thousand times above normal, the government said, noting that the use of
>ammunition with depleted uranium is in violation of the fundamental norms of
>international humanitarian and war law.
> The competent bodies and services have investigated and marked
>contaminated areas, and removed radioactive materials from all accessible
>locations, significantly lowering the threat of contamination.
> People in high-risk areas have been medically examined, while
>complete decontamination is yet to be done and necessitates huge financial
>outlays.
> However, no checks have been made at a hundred or so localities in
>the U.N.-ruled Serbian province of Kosovo-Metohija, where the number of
>depleted uranium warheads dropped was ten times higher than elsewhere.
> This puts the environment and the local population, including the
>international force and the U.N. civilian mission, particularly at risk from
>radioactive contamination, the statement said.
> The government defined specific measures for alleviating the
>consequences as much as possible.
> The government also reviewed a report on efforts to prevent
>flooding of the River Tamis.
> It noted that, in cooperation with the competent Romanian bodies,
>adequate measures have been taken to reduce the water levels and flow in the
>Romanian sector of the river and to consolidate the dikes and protect the
>people and industry on the Yugoslav side.
> The high-risk Secanj municipality has been granted two million
>dinars (1 U.S. dollar fetches roughly 11 dinars) in aid to finance the
>necessary anti-flood operations, the statement said.
---
LA FYROM CONTRO IL TERRORISMO UCK CHIEDE AIUTO AGLI USA (!)
"NON VOGLIAMO ENTRARE IN CONFLITTO CON I TERRORISTI MA
ALMENO RISPETTINO I NOSTRI CONFINI" (!!!)
Macedonia Appeals to U.S. for Aid Against Terrorists
SKOPJE, Apr 15, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) Macedonian President
Boris Trajkovski on Friday asked US Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright for extra security along Macedonia's border with Kosovo.
During the telephone conversation, Trajkovski also asked for "total
support" in Macedonia's fight against "terrorist groups" and said "the
principal preoccupation for Macedonia was security along the border with
Kosovo", presidential aids revealed Friday.
Security in southern Kosovo, along the province's border with Macedonia,
is the responsibility of the US contingent of the NATO-led peacekeeping
force KFOR.
Trajkovski drew Albright's attention to the recent kidnap on the border
of four Macedonian soldiers who were later released.
"We do not wish to enter into conflict with terrorist groups but if they
do not respect our country and its territorial sovereignty ... and if
they represent a threat to our soldiers, then we shall deal with them
firmly," Trajkovski reportedly said.
The terrorist groups concerned were not identified.
Macedonia has a large ethnic-Albanian minority and fears that the
separatist violence that erupted last year in Serbia could spread across
its frontier.
Around 30 US troops, allegedly drunk, were detained on Tuesday following
a street fight with Macedonian civilians in Skopje that left one person
injured.
Macedonia is a logistical base for NATO's operations in Kosovo. Tensions
between KFOR and the local population rose last year after a series of
road accidents were blamed on NATO vehicles. ((c) 2000 Agence France
Presse)
---
RELAZIONI BILATERALI RFJ-IRAK
Yugoslav Statement on Iraq - from Radio Yugoslavia, 4-15
FR Yugoslavia is against any interference of the air traffic over Iraq,
and
sharply condemns the establishment of so-called restricted flight zones,
which is contrary to the international law and the UN Charter, Yugoslav
Foreign Ministry has stated, on the occasion of the flight of an Italian
plane carrying humanitarian relief to Iraq.
The limitation of the freedom of air traffic is a manifestation of force
and
hegemonic behaviour in international relations. FR Yugoslavia resolutely
opposes the punishing of sovereign states and nations and the policy of
sanctions as a flagrant and most mass form of human rights violation.
The
sanctions, as an inhumane and uncivilized instrument of bare force, are
causing death and hunger in Iraq, killing children, women, the elderly
and
the most vulnerable population categories. The Yugoslav Foreign Ministry
seeks that the policy of violation of human right to a dignified life
should
cease immediately, the statement says.
---
CACCIA F-16 DAGLI USA ALLA "CROAZIA DAL VOLTO NUOVO"
Eternera Mailing List - http://get.to/eternera
Stratfor: Croatia Preps For Nato / Cheap Planes In The Works
Stratfor - Global Inteligence Center [www.stratfor.com]
Apr. 14, 2000
Croatia Preps For Nato: Cheap Planes In The Works
During U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's visit to Croatia's
capital of Zagreb last month, a member of her delegation was rumored to
have made an offer on behalf of the United States to donate several
F-16 fighters to Croatia. Such a deal would certainly help pave the way
for a rapid Croatian integration into NATO. It would also dovetail
nicely with the increased respect that Croatia and NATO have recently
granted each other.
Ever since the formation of Croatia's new government under the joint
leadership of President Stipe Mesic and Prime Minister Ivica Racan a few
weeks ago, the Croatian government has grown exceedingly pro-Western.
Croatia is cooperating with the United
Nations in investigating war crimes from the Yugoslav war. Mesic is
working with other former Yugoslav states to knit some sort of southeast
European regional fabric. But most importantly, last month the Croatian
government decided not to upgrade its aging MiG-21s. This indicates that
it will hold out for more expensive Western military equipment. Such a
firm - and expensive - commitment to Western weapons systems
demonstrates the seriousness of the new Croatian government's desire to
pull itself into the Western camp.
But integrating with the West - especially joining NATO - will not be a
cheap process, especially if Mesic is serious about joining as soon as
2002. The three states that were admitted into the alliance in 1999 -
the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland - are still struggling with the
costs of integration. These three states had almost a decade to prepare
for NATO membership. Croatia is aiming for membership in less than
three; thus, the cost will be higher. But Croatia has two advantages its
predecessors lacked. Having recently emerged from a war, Croatia allots
proportionally twice as much on its military as its northern neighbors.
While defense spending cannot stay at this level forever, it will make
it easier for Croatia to meet its ambitious NATO integration goals. This
factor is certainly noticed by Western leaders disappointed by NATO's
newest members' reluctance
[http://www.stratfor.com/SERVICES/GIU/112599.ASP] toward investing in
their own militaries. Once in NATO, Croatia reasons that European Union
(EU) membership - with all of its long-term economic perks - will only
be a short skip away, and that military outlays can then decrease.
TABLE:
Population (mill.) GDP (bill.) GDP per capita Defense Budget (bill.)
Defense as % of
GDP
Czech Republic 10.3 $51.9 $5040 $1.1 1.8%
Hungary 10.1 $45.6 $4510 $0.645 1.4%
Poland 38.7 $150.9 $3900 $3.3 2.2%
Croatia 4.6 $20.7 $4520 $0.950 5.0%
Source: The World Bank, CIA World Factbook
Currently, the EU and NATO are both fixated on the Balkans. The outcome
of the Stability Pact's recent donor meeting
[http://www.stratfor.com/CIS/specialreports/special29.htm] indicates the
EU is willing to put up the cash - $1.8 billion to be exact - needed to
bring a measure of prosperity to the region.
Croatia is the region's gatekeeper. This sudden attention emerges in
stark contrast to the multi-year delays that the states of Central
Europe faced in garnering EU investment; Croatia's pro-Western
government took the helm just early this year. The two major highway
projects currently targeted by the EU will more firmly connect Croatia
to Hungary - already a NATO member - and Slovenia - one of NATO's
leading candidates.
This indicates that the American offer of F-16s was more than mere
rumor. And a fighter deal is certainly feasible. There are several
hundred surplus F-16s at the Davis-Mothan Air Force base in Arizona. To
maintain the same air force capability it currently possesses, Croatia
would only need 12 to 16 F-16s to replace its 30 aging MiG-21s - the
same number that Albright's delegation was rumored to offer. Croatia
originally allotted $110 million to upgrade its MiGs; this money will
now likely be spent on purchasing U.S. planes at a discounted rate. If
this deal materializes, it could also trigger additional donations or
cut-rate sales of aircraft to the Czech Republic, Hungary or Poland.
The West certainly would like to include Croatia among its ranks.
Croatian membership in the EU and NATO would be a large step toward
stabilizing the Balkans and providing more strategic depth to NATO while
supplying another pressure point on Yugoslavia
[http://www.stratfor.com/CIS/commentary/0004110023.htm]. Croatian
membership in NATO would not raise the same Russian ire that Baltic
membership would [http://www.stratfor.com/CIS/commentary/0003030232.htm]
, as the Soviet Union never controlled Yugoslavia. Swallowing the cost
of a few outdated planes would be a low-cost, but high-benefit deal for
the military alliance.
---
IN SCIOPERO DELLA FAME SERBI DETENUTI NELLA "CROAZIA DAL VOLTO NUOVO"
CROATIA - SERBS - PRISON
SERBS CAPTURED IN 1995 CROATIAN ARMY OPERATIONS GO ON HUNGER STRIKE
BELGRADE, April 19 (Tanjug) - Serbs from what was formerly the Republic
of
Serb Krajina who were captured during the Croatian army's operations in
1995 and are now in the prison in Lepoglava, have been on hunger strike
since April 17, according to the Veritas information and documentation
centre.
Thirty-nine Serbs, captured during the Croatian army's May 1999
Operation
Lightning and its August 1995 Operation Storm, have for years been in
the
Lepoglava prison. Only five of them have been charged with conventional
crimes characteristic of war times, while all others have been charged
with
war crimes.
The prison authorities have declined comment on the hunger strike.
The imprisoned Serbs told Veritas that they demanded either that their
cases be reviewed again by Croatian courts, or that they be taken over
by
the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague or that they be
exchanged
on the all-for-all principle in line with an agreement reached between
the
Yugoslav and Croatian Foreign Ministries in 1998.
Serbs charged with war-related crimes are serving sentences also in
other
Croatian prisons - in Split (16), Osijek (10), Pozega (4), Karlovac (3),
Sisak (2), Vukovar (1) and Zagreb (1).
---
INTERVISTA AL MINISTRO MACEDONE DEL COMMERCIO
http://www.globalbizgroup.com/pematopstory.shtm
No Tricks, Just Trade
Macedonian Privatization Eye caught up with then Trade Minister Nikola
Gruevski just days before he was appointed as Macedonia's new Finance
Minister. Although he turns only 30 this year, Gruevski has proved that
he's by no means in short supply of what leaders need most - vision.
Q: What is the big picture regarding the situation of Macedonia's
foreign
trade?
A: The volume of Macedonia's foreign trade has increased in almost every
year over the last decade, from less than $1 billion in 1990 to over
$1.4
billion in 1998. Nevertheless, the biggest problem that we are now
facing
is the country's large trade deficit. The deficit mainly stems from
Macedonia's separation from the former Yugoslavia, as before Macedonian
companies had a domestic market of 22 million people, whereas now it has
shrunk to 2 million. Many companies have had to cut output by 50%, or
even
more. We still have a lot of spare, unused production capacity, and
turning this unused capacity into export-oriented companies, and opening
new export businesses, would be one way to narrow the trade deficit.
Our main export market is the European Union, which absorbs 52% of our
exports, of which Germany alone absorbs in excess of 20% -- followed by
Yugoslavia, with 18%. The USA ranks third, while Greece comes in fourth.
In fact, in 1999 Greece became the largest investor in Macedonia, and it
is also becoming more and more important as a trade partner. After we
had
shelved the dispute over the name of the country, although this issue is
not yet settled, Greece is actually helping us in our relations with the
EU. Both governments have decided to untangle the name issue from
economic
ties. The situation is roughly similar for imports, and we have the
largest bilateral trade deficit with Slovenia - almost $100 million.
Q: How are you dealing with Macedonia's condition of being a small
market?
A: There are many solutions. For instance, we have finalized five free
trade agreements with Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Croatia, and in 1999 with
Bulgaria and Turkey. When the last two last agreements are enforced, our
market size would expand to some 100 million people. The free trade
agreement with Turkey is of particular importance to us, not just
because
Turkey is a large market, but because the agreement is very
disproportionate, leaning in our favor. There is a 10-year transition
period, and over the first five years Macedonia will export to Turkey
almost every industrial product, while Turkey will export to Macedonia
only products that we do not manufacture.
Furthermore, we are poised to start negotiations over free trade
agreements with Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Romania.
In March or April we will wrap up the talks with the EFTA countries.
Due to the name issue we are not yet WTO members. However, the
negotiations have been unlocked and I am confident that we will soon win
WTO membership. We also received an invitation from the European Union
to
start negotiations for associated membership. The negotiations will take
place throughout this year and I believe that we stand a good chance of
signing an association agreement by January 1, 2001.
Q: What are the main products that Macedonia exports?
A: The largest categories are steel and steel products, textiles,
agricultural products, food products, and chemicals. For instance, we
export mainly steel and textiles to the United States and according to
our
export quotas we are the fifth largest textile exporter to the United
States, ahead of countries like China. Textiles is a huge industry in
Macedonia: over the past four years alone, some 425 new textile
companies
have been established, and most of them are export-oriented.
Q: What are the country's largest exporters?
A: There are several large steel makers, like Balkan Steel, which saw
output rise threefold in 1999 and IT exports a lot to the United States.
There are also some pharmaceuticals producers and a couple of wine
producers, as well. We also hope that the negotiations currently
underway
with Taiwan will lead this year to the start-up of computer assembly in
Macedonia.
Q: What is the average custom duty in Macedonia?
A: The average import tax stands at 15.2%. However, there are large
variations depending on the actual products that are imported. For
instance, for raw materials that are not produced in Macedonia and there
are tax-free import quotas, with the government's approval. For
quantities
that exceed the quotas, the average import tax rate is about 8.5%.
Interview by Catalin DIMOFTE
Last updated :
Thu, Apr 20 2000
---
RELAZIONI BILATERALI RDP DI COREA - RF DI JUGOSLAVIA
DPRK News Apr 27
Greetings to Yugoslav President
Pyongyang, April 27 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the
presidium
of the DPRK Supreme People's
Assembly, today sent a message of greetings to Slobodan Milosevic,
President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,
on the occasion of its day of constitution.
The message extends warm congratulations to the President, the
government and the people of Yugoslavia on its
day of constitution.
Expressing the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations
between the two countries will further expand and
develop, it wishes the President and the people of Yugoslavia great
success
in their efforts for the security,
development and territorial integrity of the country.
DPRK News May 18
Yugoslav embassy officials visit Sinchon Museum
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- Milorad Kosovac, charge d'affaires ad
interim of Yugoslavia, and embassy
officials visited the Sinchon Museum yesterday on the occasion of the
Yugoslav day of constitution.
The guests looked round exhibits and visual aids of the museum which
show atrocities of the U.S. aggressors
who massacred innocent people most cruelly in Sinchon.
They went round a air-raid shelter of the former Sinchon county
committee of the Worker's Party of Korea and a
powder magazine in Wonam-ri which bears witness to the brutality,
viciousness and cruelty of the aggressors, and a
tomb of 5,605 patriots, a tomb of 400 mothers and a tomb of 102 children
killed by the U.S.
They laid bouquets before the tombs and observed a moments' silence.
---
40MILA IN PIAZZA A SKOPLJE CONTRO IL GOVERNO FILOOCCIDENTALE
FORMATO DALLE DESTRE NAZIONALISTE
Thousands demand government resignation in Macedonia
May 19, 2000
Web posted at: 6:54 AM EDT (1054 GMT)
SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) -- More than 40,000 people gathered at an
opposition rally Thursday to demand the Macedonian government resign and
hold early elections.
"Down with the government," "We want elections," read the banners
carried by the protesters at the rally held at the main city square in
the capital Skopje.
The Social Democrats and eight other opposition parties announced a
series of anti-government protests in a declaration read at the
gathering.
"The only thing this government can do to save Macedonia is to quit
power," Branko Crvenkovski, the leader of the Social Democrats told the
crowd.
Crvenkovski's party, formerly the Communists, blame the center-right
government for the worsening economic situation in Macedonia, the only
former Yugoslav republic to secede peacefully.
Macedonia is believed to be dangerously close to bankruptcy. With more
than half the workforce unemployed and a foreign debt amounting to $1.45
billion, the impoverished Balkan nation is hoping to boost its economy
by bringing in foreign capital.
The opposition also accuses the government of giving in to the country's
ethnic Albanians, who make up one-fourth of the country's 2 million
people and have been demanding more rights.
Opposition calls for the government resignation have grown since an
incident earlier this year in which four Macedonian soldiers were
abducted by Kosovo Albanian extremists and reportedly exchanged for a
Kosovo Albanian facing trial in Macedonia.
The Social Democrats led Macedonia to independence from former
Yugoslavia in 1991 and ruled the country for seven years before losing
elections to the ruling center-right coalition, which includes
pro-Western politicians in the country.
---
INTERVISTA AL MOVIMENTO AUSTRIACO DI SOLIDARIETA' CON LA JUGOSLAVIA
www.serbia-info.com/news
Interview of Wilhelm Langtaler to Serbian Broadcasting Co.: "Resistance
to NATO aggression, support to FRY"
May 16, 2000
Belgrade, May 15th - President of Austro-Serbian movement "Solidarity",
which was founded in Vienna as a sign of resistance to NATO aggression
and support to our country, Wilhelm Langtaler, estimated yesterday
evening that NATO would try to create the conditions for new
intervention and new war by prompting opposition, secessionist
movements.
Langtaler said precisely in his interview to Serbian Broadcasting Co.
that the real cause for the aggression on FRY was "throwing a country
which dared confront the demands of new world order on its knees". That
was, according to his words, an obstacle for NATO's way to Russia.
Speaking about the recent visit to Kosovska Mitrovica, Langtaler
stressed that in the southern part of that town a "virtual occupation"
was under way.
"There are numerous evidence that the 1244 Resolution of the UN Security
Council is not being conducted at all", Langtaler said, adding that
Serbs are being systematically thrown out of Kosmet, controlled,
disarmed and that they are not permitted to defend themselves in any
way, which is not the case with the Albanians.
Langtaler reminded that "Solidarity" members were demonstrating for all
78 days of the aggression on FRY, and he pointed that the demonstrations
had out-of-party character i.e. members of different parties
participated in them as well as those who are not in favor of any party.
"One of our most significant actions was foundation of the Vienna
tribunal - directed against Austrian government and its helping NATO
aggression", Langtaler said, stressing that the Organization went to
Kosmet after the aggression and "showed its solidarity with Serbs,
especially with the confined in UNMIK prison in Kosovska Mitrovica".
Speaking about the new world order and the US attempt to dominate the
world, Langtaler estimated that the new world order presented a terrible
dictatorship of the rich over the poor, the minority over the majority,
and he expressed his hopes that "this dictatorship would be destroyed
soon, since majority of the world population would have to find ways of
confronting it".
"We wish to fight against the NATO and new world order with Serbs,
because NATO is the greatest criminal organization in the history",
Langtaler said, stressing that "there will come the time when every
nation would be able to free itself from such dictatorship".
---
DITTE STATUNITENSI ADDESTRANO I GOLPISTI MONTENEGRINI?
Date:
Tue, 23 May 2000 05:06:52 EDT
From:
Petokraka78@...
Reply-To:
"STOP NATO: NO PASARAN!" <STOPNATO@...>
To:
STOPNATO@...
STOP NATO: NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM
Dear all,
just thought I'd let you know that I know for a fact that private
security
firms are currently training the Montenegrhin "police" loyal to
Jukhanovich!
An article on this apparently appeared in the Independent (?) But I
learned
about this from a friend who heard it from the Mountainegrin Trade
Mission in
Vasington DC (sorry for the intentional misspeling!)
In a message dated 22/05/00 8:24:57 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
alakemerrittneighbor@... writes:
<< Subj: [STOPNATO] The privatization of war by the USA in
Yugoslavia
Date: 22/05/00 8:24:57 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: alakemerrittneighbor@... (Steve Wagner)
Reply-to: STOPNATO@... (STOP NATO: NO PASARAN!)
To: STOPNATO@...
STOP NATO: NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
>
> GENERALS FOR HIRE: CONFRONTED WITH ITS TRICKIEST
> TASK IN BOSNIA, THE USA
> HAS MADE PLANS TO PAY SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT.
> Source: TIME magazine - By Mark Thompson, >>
---
IN KOSOVO LO SMINAMENTO NON VIENE EFFETTUATO - PERCHE'?
BBC News
Tuesday, 23 May, 2000, 21:07 GMT 22:07 UK
Kosovo mine expert criticises Nato
Soldiers on the ground support demining
By the BBC's Nicholas Wood in Pristina
The head of the UN's demining programme in Kosovo has blamed Nato for
the slow progress made to clear up unexploded bombs in the province.
The latest victim, a 10-year-old boy, was killed on Sunday when he
walked into an unmarked field of cluster bombs.
Sometimes the first time we knew there was an area [with unexploded
bombs] was when there was a casualty reported
John Flanagan
Mine Action Co-Ordination Centre
More than 100 people have now died from bomb and mine injuries since the
end of the war in Kosovo, in June last year.
John Flanagan, the head of the Mine Action Co-Ordination Centre in
Pristina, says essential information about the precise location of
cluster bomb sites was withheld from his group.
"It was definitely frustrating, 10 months later we are just getting to
grips with the information. It shouldn't be like that," he said.
Unexploded bombs
Almost 1,400 cluster bombs were dropped in Kosovo, mainly by British and
US planes.
The shells break up into dozens of smaller bomblets and scatter over an
area of one square kilometre.
About 10% fail to explode on impact, and remain on the ground.
Children are attracted by the bright colours of the bomblets
The Mine Action Centre first asked K-For for information about the
location of the bombs last in August.
But it was not until this April that the centre realised it did not have
the full details.
Mr Flanagan says his teams would have been able to mark out and demine
far more areas if Nato had co-operated earlier.
The UN had to lobby Nato officials in Brussels and Washington before the
information was handed over.
Since the arrival of spring there has been a steady increase in number
of casualties from mines and cluster bombs.
Rising toll
In April 15 people were injured compared with 13 in March, and six in
February.
The bombs are particularly attractive to children.
The American bomblets are plastic and coloured bright yellow.
However, they contain an incendiary device - shrapnel - and armour
pearcing explosive that can pearce steel 25 cm thick.
Unlike most mines they often kill or maim more than one person at a
time.
K-For has the responsibility to mark out "essential sites".
But the Mine Action Co-Ordination Centre says as much as 40% of risk
areas have yet to be cordoned off.
"It became apparent we didn't have the information, and areas were not
marked." said Mr Flanagan.
"Sometimes the first time we knew there was an area was when there was a
casualty reported," he said.
Responsibility
There is now increasing pressure on Nato and K-For to take
responsibility for the problem.
It is estimated that cluster bombs make up to 40% of mines and
unexploded bombs in the province.
Yet the vast majority of demining work is done by civilians.
Also Nato partners have a differing in their concern about the problem.
"Some of the information is considered as sensitive. The UK soldiers are
very supportive of the operation," said Mr Flanagan.
But he added some countries have yet to give their full support.
"The guys on the ground want to help out as much as possible. It's a
political decision. Cluster clearing is not beyond K-For's and Nato's
ability," he said.
[A 'political decision,' indeed. If it's not 'beyond K-For and NATO's
ability,'' then why has nothing been done?...RR]
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
---
NELSON MANDELA CONTESTA GLI INTERVENTI DELLA NATO
CONTRO LA JUGOSLAVIA E L'IRAK
http://www.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/africa/04/12/un.mandela.reut/index.html
Mandela slams Western action in Kosovo, Iraq
Mandela said U.S. and British actions have undermined
the United Nations' ability to resolve conflict
April 12, 2000
Web posted at: 9:26 p.m. EDT (0126 GMT)
DUBLIN, Ireland (Reuters) -- Nelson Mandela warned
Wednesday that powerful Western countries such as the
United States and Britain risked sparking global
conflict if they tried to police the world alone.
"When two nations take it upon themselves to police
the world ... without getting the authorization of the
United Nations, we must condemn that because it can
lead to another world war," the former South African
president said in a speech.
Mandela did not name the United States and Britain,
but joked that he was sure that everyone in the
audience knew the two countries he had in mind.
Mandela said military actions in Iraq and Kosovo
undermined the role of the United Nations as a forum
for the peaceful resolution of conflict around the
globe.
"They send a message that the powerful will police the
world," Mandela said as he delivered the Irish
Independent newspaper annual lecture at Dublin's
Trinity College.
"From there it is only a step to chaos in world
affairs, as power is substituted for the security of
collective and democratic decision," added Mandela,
winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for the part he played
in South Africa's transformation into a multiracial
democracy after centuries of white rule.
U.S. and British planes patrol no-fly zones over Iraq
and frequently clash with air defenses. The zones were
declared by the West after the 1991 Gulf War and are
designed to protect groups opposed to Iraqi President
Saddam Hussein. And NATO conducted a 78-day bombing
campaign against Serbia last year to protect ethnic
Albanians in the province of Kosovo.
Mandela said powerful nations should not bully other
members of the United Nations into following their
line.
"The principle that all differences can be resolved
through talk and negotiation applies also within
organizations like the Security Council of the United
Nations and there can be no justification for
unilateral action that imposes one view over others in
that body," he added.
Mandela said the example of South Africa showed that
even the bitterest conflicts could be resolved through
negotiation.
"On the brink of a bloody war that would have scorched
the earth of our common land, South Africans
recognized they were one nation with one destiny."
---
ANCORA INCIDENTI CAUSATI DAI SOLDATI
STATUNITENSI UBRIACHI A SKOPLJE
Clash In Macedonia
U.S. Troops Involved in Altercations, Drunkenness Alleged
By Konstantin Testorides
The Associated Press
S K O P J E, Macedonia, April 12 — U.S. soldiers, some
drunk, clashed with locals today, leading the
Macedonian police and NATO MPs to detain 30 American
servicemen, the Macedonian Interior Ministry said.
But a U.S. military spokesman called the
assertion that they were detained “a fabrication.”
NATO and U.S. military officials did confirm
there were disturbances in three separate instances
involving American troops in Skopje, the Macedonian
capital, but said only five were temporarily detained
by Macedonian police, who later turned them over to
U.S. military authorities. All the Americans were
stationed in Kosovo and were on leave in Skopje, they
said.
One U.S. military spokesman suggested that in
least two of the cases, the U.S. soldiers did not
initiate violence but were provoked.
Ed Loomis, a public affairs officer at U.S.
European Command in Stuttgart, Germany, said that in
one incident, “an American soldier was spit on by a
Macedonian; the soldier reacted to that and was
detained by Macedonian police.” In another, Loomis
said, two American soldiers tried to stop a Macedonian
trying to steal the belongings of one of the soldiers.
In the third incident, “four soldiers at a
restaurant got in some type of verbal altercation with
the staff at the restaurant and possibly police,” he
said. All four were detained.
Loomis called the report of 30 soldiers being
detained “a fabrication.”
The Macedonian Account
A Macedonian Interior Ministry statement said the
soldiers, members of NATO-led peacekeeping troops
stationed in Macedonia, were detained in connection
with “indecent behavior, violation of public order,
harassment of citizens and a fight involving a
policeman.” Some were drunk, the statement said.
After a disturbance in a local cafe in downtown
Skopje, the soldiers clashed with a group of citizens,
injuring a police officer who tried to intervene, the
statement said.
In Kosovo, U.S. Major Debbie Allen said, “there
were eight U.S. soldiers involved in three minor
incidents.” She said “there are reports of alcohol
being involved, and there were altercations.”
All five were back in Kosovo and were being
investigated by military authorities before a decision
on whether to file charges, Allen said.
Macedonia serves as a staging ground and a supply
route for international peacekeepers in Kosovo.
Speaking in Skopje for KFOR, the NATO-led peacekeeping
force, Captain Andreas Reinecke said KFOR “deeply
regrets these incidents.”
“We would like to make this very clear that this
kind of behavior does not reflect the attitude that we
expect from our personnel,” Reinecke said.
-
Macedonia will push for criminal charges against U.S.
soldiers
Associated Press
By KONSTANTIN TESTORIDES, Associated Press
SKOPJE, Macedonia (April 13, 2000 5:22 p.m. EDT
http://www.nandotimes.com) - Macedonia wants criminal
charges pressed against U.S. soldiers detained after a
clash with residents that left a policeman seriously
injured, said a police spokesman Thursday.
Stevo Pendarovski said Macedonian legal authorities
will seek assault charges against American soldiers
allegedly responsible for injuring a Macedonian
policeman and brawling with residents Wednesday.
The policeman was injured when he tried to intervene
in a clash between the Americans and the Skopje
residents. The policeman was hit in the head with a
brick, suffering serious head injuries, Pendarovski
said.
"It is very likely that the most aggressive of the
detained American soldiers will face charges for
taking part in a brawl and attacking citizens,"
Pendarovski said.
U.S. military spokesmen said the Macedonians were free
to make recommendations but final decisions on what
action to take against the soldiers rested with
American military authorities after an investigation.
Pendarovski said Macedonian police "will ask the
Macedonian foreign ministry to submit the full report
to the native country of the soldiers regarding the
incidents."
Capt. Russell Berg, a spokesman at Kosovo's main U.S.
base at Camp Bondsteel, said that once investigations
were completed, "it will be decided whether there will
be judicial punishment or nonjudicial punishment." All
Americans involved were back in Kosovo, he said.
American troops were involved in three separate
incidents Wednesday in the Macedonian capital,
including one alleged clash with locals. NATO and U.S.
military spokesmen said eight servicemen were
detained, but on Thursday revised that figure to six.
One U.S. military spokesman suggested that in at least
two of the cases, the U.S. soldiers did not initiate
violence but reacted to being provoked.
But Macedonia's Interior Ministry said the U.S.
soldiers were drunk and "behaved indecently, violated
public law and order, harassed the citizens and
injured one Macedonian policeman."
Macedonia serves as a staging ground and a supply
route for international peacekeepers in neighboring
Kosovo.
---
RELAZIONI BILATERALI RF DI JUGOSLAVIA - LIBIA
> F.R.YUGOSLAVIA - LIBYA
>
> YUGOSLAVIA HAD ITS DAY AT TRIPOLI FAIR
>
> TRIPOLI, April 12 (Tanjug) - The Yugoslav pavilion at Tripoli's
>International Fair organised on Wednesday a formal function to mark Yugoslav
>Day at the Fair.
>
> The assembled guests, among whom diplomatic representatives from
>31 countries, were addressed by Yugoslav Ambassador to Libya Radomir
>Bogdanovic.
>
> Bogdanovic said Yugoslavia's participation in the Fair and the
>exibits on display, representing the output of over 50 companies, are best
>evidence that Yugoslav industry and agriculture are still able to manufacture
>and market their products in the world despite damage wreaked by NATO in its
>aggression on Yugoslavia last spring.
---
L'AUSTRALIA ROMPE L'ISOLAMENTO DELLA RF DI JUGOSLAVIA
http://www.centraleurope.com/yugoslaviatoday/news.php3?id=151415
Australian Ambassador Meets Isolated Milosevic
BELGRADE, Apr 14, 2000 -- (Reuters) Australia's new
ambassador to Belgrade met Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic on Thursday, in a move likely to anger the
United States. Washington criticized Australia last
week for sending a new ambassador to Belgrade and
urged Canberra to fax his credentials to Milosevic
rather than presenting them in person, fearing that
could boost Milosevic in his quest for international
acceptance.
But Australia defended its decision and denied reports
that its maintenance of high-level diplomatic
relations with Belgrade was part of a deal to secure
the release of three of its aid workers jailed during
last year's NATO air strikes over Kosovo.
"Certainly there's no deal," the new envoy, Charles
Stewart, said by telephone.
He said Canberra's interest in maintaining diplomatic
relations stemmed from the large Yugoslav community in
Australia and he declined to comment on the row with
the United States.
Since the Kosovo conflict last year, during which a UN
tribunal indicted Milosevic for war crimes against
Albanian civilians in the province, many Western
countries have downgraded their diplomatic missions in
Belgrade.
The United States, which led the air campaign, is not
represented at all and other countries have not
replaced ambassadors when they leave, to avoid the
credentials issue.
AUSTRALIA IS NOT ALONE
But Australia is not the only country to have broken
the mould.
South Africa's envoy did so last year and the new
ambassador to Russia, a traditional ally of
fellow-Orthodox Slav Serbia and fierce critic of the
NATO bombing, presented his credentials at the same
time as Australia's new envoy.
State media carried full accounts of the ceremony.
"Charles Stewart said Australia wanted to develop
successful bilateral cooperation with Yugoslavia,
having pointed out that many Australian citizens of
Yugoslav origin represent a lasting and stable bridge
linking the two countries and reaffirming their mutual
interests," Tanjug news agency said.
"Milosevic said he was convinced bilateral ties
between the two countries would continue to develop
successfully and mutual interests in economic,
cultural, sports and other relations would be
fulfilled," the agency added.
Stewart's own account was less effusive.
"Our principle interest is in terms of a very large
Yugoslav community in Australia," he told Reuters.
"We are keen to improve the cordial relations that
exist between our two countries."
---
IN GERMANIA I POLITICI CONSERVATORI SONO PIU' A SINISTRA DEI VERDI
Conservative German Politician
Lauches Fierce Attack Against NATO
War
by Rainer Rupp
Saarbrücken, Germany
Special to Antiwar.com
4/14/00
"Serbia, the only truly multi-ethnical state left in the Balkans"
Willy Wimmer, Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE
and
member of the German Bundestag (National Parliament) for the
conservative Christian
Democratic Union (CDU) of former Chancellor Helmut Kohl, has never
held back with
his sharp criticism of NATO's war against Yugoslavia. But his recent
statement,
distributed on 3rd April in the lobby of the Bundestag has caused a
stir in German politics
and was given broad attention in the national media.
In his statement Mr. Wimmer warned that one year after the beginning
of the NATO
attack against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" the Kosovo War was
increasingly
proving to have become a watershed for the future development of the
world." Referring
to his recent talks in Moscow he emphasised that, after years of
having waited in vain for
a fruitful dialog with Europe and the USA, Russia had now passed a new
military
doctrine, "which specifically addresses NATO and the West." (NATO is
designated in
the new doctrine as a potential threat to Russia). "What makes Moscow
publish its
guidelines for the (first) use of nuclear weapons now," asks Mr.
Wimmer and offers the
answer: "What other reason could there have been than the war against
Yugoslavia."
In Beijing too, things had changed to the worse, asMr Wimmer recalls
his talks there. In
spite of all American apologies and assertions to the opposite, the
Chinese firmly believe,
" that one single US-bomber flew all the way from the United States in
order to hit the
Chinese embassy in Belgrade."
Despite all assertions about the "humanitarian war" by NATO-officials,
Mr. Wimmer
urged Europeans to draw the right conclusions from an operation,
"which was essentially
led, in order to ensure the expansion of NATO and to underpin its
credibility."
Moreover, in Mr. Wimmers's view the NATO-Operation in Kosovo seems to
have "got
out of control." Referring to Western newspaper reports Mr. Wimmer
emphasises that
"the Jews of Kosovo have now fled, almost without exception, to
Belgrade." He added
that "it goes without saying" that the KLA "has almost completely
cleansed the
remaining ethnic Serbs and Roma from Kosovo; the ethnical Turks had to
go, and the
catholic Albanians report acts of violence against them. Even Albanian
intellectuals are
leaving Kosovo and apparently flee to Belgrade." From these
observations the
conservative representative Willy Wimmer draws the only logical
conclusion, that
Belgrade remains "the only large multi-ethnical state in the Balkans."
He considers that
Kosovo is "on the eve of another civil war between rival albanian
groups, which are
supported by competing drug barons. What will NATO do then? – An
undignified
withdrawal or the provocation of a new war?"
He sternly warns against a new war against Serbia and ridicules NATO's
grand claims.
"What is left of NATO's big mouth announcements of a year ago, that it
would cut the
Yugoslav army into pieces?" he asked. "After 78 days of war and
approximately 36,000
bombing missions the Yugoslav Army left (Kosovo) with polished tanks!"
Next time, Mr.
Wimmer expects, that NATO might not get away so easily: "It is highly
questionable if a
future conflict in Kosovo would follow the old pattern, or if a
President Putin would again
refuse the S-300 air defence systems to the Serbs, as happened in
October 1998. In the
actual air duels the most modern US technology confronted Soviet
technology of the
70ies. That might change. "
In conclusion Mr. Willy Wimmer addresses the increasing tensions
between Europe and
the USA and requests Europeans to think again before they get dragged
into the next
Balkan war: "Europeans should ask themselves, how they see their own
role against the
background of the official American defence planning guidelines? This
Pentagon
document states razor-sharp that all American efforts must be directed
against the
emergence of a rival power while upholding NATO as the substantial
channel for
American influence in Europe and as an instrument for participation in
European decision
making."
With reference to The Hague, Mr. Wimmer, the deputy chairman of the
OSCE's
parliamentary assembly does not see "much of a future" for the
International War Crimes
Tribunal. Quoting a high official in the German government he said:
"the tribunal would
quickly unravel once it started in earnest to pursue the complaints
that have been filed
against NATO."
If you would like to contact Mr. Willy Wimmer, you may call, fax or
e-mal his office in the
German Bundestag (Parliament) in Berlin;
Mr. Willy Wimmer
Platz der Republik 1,
11011 Berlin
Germany
Tel. 00 49 30 1227-75094
Fax: .........30 22746498
willy.wimmer@...
---
1100 VOLTE SUPERIORE ALLA NORMA LA RADIOATTIVITA'
IN JUGOSLAVIA A CAUSA DELL'USO "UMANITARIO" DI ARMI ATOMICHE
>POST-NATO-WAR YUGOSLAVIA HAS URANIUM LEVELS 1,000 TIMES ABOVE
>NORMAL
>
> BELGRADE, April 13 (Tanjug) - The Yugoslav government, at
>Thursday's session chaired by Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic, approved a
>report on the effects on the environment of NATO's air strikes on Yugoslavia
>last spring, a government statement said.
> Evidence collected and analyses made by local institutes have
>shown that the NATO aggressors used ammunition with depleted uranium, among
>others, which is a crime against humanity punishable under the international
>law of war.
> Analyses of individual samples showed contamination levels up to a
>thousand times above normal, the government said, noting that the use of
>ammunition with depleted uranium is in violation of the fundamental norms of
>international humanitarian and war law.
> The competent bodies and services have investigated and marked
>contaminated areas, and removed radioactive materials from all accessible
>locations, significantly lowering the threat of contamination.
> People in high-risk areas have been medically examined, while
>complete decontamination is yet to be done and necessitates huge financial
>outlays.
> However, no checks have been made at a hundred or so localities in
>the U.N.-ruled Serbian province of Kosovo-Metohija, where the number of
>depleted uranium warheads dropped was ten times higher than elsewhere.
> This puts the environment and the local population, including the
>international force and the U.N. civilian mission, particularly at risk from
>radioactive contamination, the statement said.
> The government defined specific measures for alleviating the
>consequences as much as possible.
> The government also reviewed a report on efforts to prevent
>flooding of the River Tamis.
> It noted that, in cooperation with the competent Romanian bodies,
>adequate measures have been taken to reduce the water levels and flow in the
>Romanian sector of the river and to consolidate the dikes and protect the
>people and industry on the Yugoslav side.
> The high-risk Secanj municipality has been granted two million
>dinars (1 U.S. dollar fetches roughly 11 dinars) in aid to finance the
>necessary anti-flood operations, the statement said.
---
LA FYROM CONTRO IL TERRORISMO UCK CHIEDE AIUTO AGLI USA (!)
"NON VOGLIAMO ENTRARE IN CONFLITTO CON I TERRORISTI MA
ALMENO RISPETTINO I NOSTRI CONFINI" (!!!)
Macedonia Appeals to U.S. for Aid Against Terrorists
SKOPJE, Apr 15, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) Macedonian President
Boris Trajkovski on Friday asked US Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright for extra security along Macedonia's border with Kosovo.
During the telephone conversation, Trajkovski also asked for "total
support" in Macedonia's fight against "terrorist groups" and said "the
principal preoccupation for Macedonia was security along the border with
Kosovo", presidential aids revealed Friday.
Security in southern Kosovo, along the province's border with Macedonia,
is the responsibility of the US contingent of the NATO-led peacekeeping
force KFOR.
Trajkovski drew Albright's attention to the recent kidnap on the border
of four Macedonian soldiers who were later released.
"We do not wish to enter into conflict with terrorist groups but if they
do not respect our country and its territorial sovereignty ... and if
they represent a threat to our soldiers, then we shall deal with them
firmly," Trajkovski reportedly said.
The terrorist groups concerned were not identified.
Macedonia has a large ethnic-Albanian minority and fears that the
separatist violence that erupted last year in Serbia could spread across
its frontier.
Around 30 US troops, allegedly drunk, were detained on Tuesday following
a street fight with Macedonian civilians in Skopje that left one person
injured.
Macedonia is a logistical base for NATO's operations in Kosovo. Tensions
between KFOR and the local population rose last year after a series of
road accidents were blamed on NATO vehicles. ((c) 2000 Agence France
Presse)
---
RELAZIONI BILATERALI RFJ-IRAK
Yugoslav Statement on Iraq - from Radio Yugoslavia, 4-15
FR Yugoslavia is against any interference of the air traffic over Iraq,
and
sharply condemns the establishment of so-called restricted flight zones,
which is contrary to the international law and the UN Charter, Yugoslav
Foreign Ministry has stated, on the occasion of the flight of an Italian
plane carrying humanitarian relief to Iraq.
The limitation of the freedom of air traffic is a manifestation of force
and
hegemonic behaviour in international relations. FR Yugoslavia resolutely
opposes the punishing of sovereign states and nations and the policy of
sanctions as a flagrant and most mass form of human rights violation.
The
sanctions, as an inhumane and uncivilized instrument of bare force, are
causing death and hunger in Iraq, killing children, women, the elderly
and
the most vulnerable population categories. The Yugoslav Foreign Ministry
seeks that the policy of violation of human right to a dignified life
should
cease immediately, the statement says.
---
CACCIA F-16 DAGLI USA ALLA "CROAZIA DAL VOLTO NUOVO"
Eternera Mailing List - http://get.to/eternera
Stratfor: Croatia Preps For Nato / Cheap Planes In The Works
Stratfor - Global Inteligence Center [www.stratfor.com]
Apr. 14, 2000
Croatia Preps For Nato: Cheap Planes In The Works
During U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's visit to Croatia's
capital of Zagreb last month, a member of her delegation was rumored to
have made an offer on behalf of the United States to donate several
F-16 fighters to Croatia. Such a deal would certainly help pave the way
for a rapid Croatian integration into NATO. It would also dovetail
nicely with the increased respect that Croatia and NATO have recently
granted each other.
Ever since the formation of Croatia's new government under the joint
leadership of President Stipe Mesic and Prime Minister Ivica Racan a few
weeks ago, the Croatian government has grown exceedingly pro-Western.
Croatia is cooperating with the United
Nations in investigating war crimes from the Yugoslav war. Mesic is
working with other former Yugoslav states to knit some sort of southeast
European regional fabric. But most importantly, last month the Croatian
government decided not to upgrade its aging MiG-21s. This indicates that
it will hold out for more expensive Western military equipment. Such a
firm - and expensive - commitment to Western weapons systems
demonstrates the seriousness of the new Croatian government's desire to
pull itself into the Western camp.
But integrating with the West - especially joining NATO - will not be a
cheap process, especially if Mesic is serious about joining as soon as
2002. The three states that were admitted into the alliance in 1999 -
the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland - are still struggling with the
costs of integration. These three states had almost a decade to prepare
for NATO membership. Croatia is aiming for membership in less than
three; thus, the cost will be higher. But Croatia has two advantages its
predecessors lacked. Having recently emerged from a war, Croatia allots
proportionally twice as much on its military as its northern neighbors.
While defense spending cannot stay at this level forever, it will make
it easier for Croatia to meet its ambitious NATO integration goals. This
factor is certainly noticed by Western leaders disappointed by NATO's
newest members' reluctance
[http://www.stratfor.com/SERVICES/GIU/112599.ASP] toward investing in
their own militaries. Once in NATO, Croatia reasons that European Union
(EU) membership - with all of its long-term economic perks - will only
be a short skip away, and that military outlays can then decrease.
TABLE:
Population (mill.) GDP (bill.) GDP per capita Defense Budget (bill.)
Defense as % of
GDP
Czech Republic 10.3 $51.9 $5040 $1.1 1.8%
Hungary 10.1 $45.6 $4510 $0.645 1.4%
Poland 38.7 $150.9 $3900 $3.3 2.2%
Croatia 4.6 $20.7 $4520 $0.950 5.0%
Source: The World Bank, CIA World Factbook
Currently, the EU and NATO are both fixated on the Balkans. The outcome
of the Stability Pact's recent donor meeting
[http://www.stratfor.com/CIS/specialreports/special29.htm] indicates the
EU is willing to put up the cash - $1.8 billion to be exact - needed to
bring a measure of prosperity to the region.
Croatia is the region's gatekeeper. This sudden attention emerges in
stark contrast to the multi-year delays that the states of Central
Europe faced in garnering EU investment; Croatia's pro-Western
government took the helm just early this year. The two major highway
projects currently targeted by the EU will more firmly connect Croatia
to Hungary - already a NATO member - and Slovenia - one of NATO's
leading candidates.
This indicates that the American offer of F-16s was more than mere
rumor. And a fighter deal is certainly feasible. There are several
hundred surplus F-16s at the Davis-Mothan Air Force base in Arizona. To
maintain the same air force capability it currently possesses, Croatia
would only need 12 to 16 F-16s to replace its 30 aging MiG-21s - the
same number that Albright's delegation was rumored to offer. Croatia
originally allotted $110 million to upgrade its MiGs; this money will
now likely be spent on purchasing U.S. planes at a discounted rate. If
this deal materializes, it could also trigger additional donations or
cut-rate sales of aircraft to the Czech Republic, Hungary or Poland.
The West certainly would like to include Croatia among its ranks.
Croatian membership in the EU and NATO would be a large step toward
stabilizing the Balkans and providing more strategic depth to NATO while
supplying another pressure point on Yugoslavia
[http://www.stratfor.com/CIS/commentary/0004110023.htm]. Croatian
membership in NATO would not raise the same Russian ire that Baltic
membership would [http://www.stratfor.com/CIS/commentary/0003030232.htm]
, as the Soviet Union never controlled Yugoslavia. Swallowing the cost
of a few outdated planes would be a low-cost, but high-benefit deal for
the military alliance.
---
IN SCIOPERO DELLA FAME SERBI DETENUTI NELLA "CROAZIA DAL VOLTO NUOVO"
CROATIA - SERBS - PRISON
SERBS CAPTURED IN 1995 CROATIAN ARMY OPERATIONS GO ON HUNGER STRIKE
BELGRADE, April 19 (Tanjug) - Serbs from what was formerly the Republic
of
Serb Krajina who were captured during the Croatian army's operations in
1995 and are now in the prison in Lepoglava, have been on hunger strike
since April 17, according to the Veritas information and documentation
centre.
Thirty-nine Serbs, captured during the Croatian army's May 1999
Operation
Lightning and its August 1995 Operation Storm, have for years been in
the
Lepoglava prison. Only five of them have been charged with conventional
crimes characteristic of war times, while all others have been charged
with
war crimes.
The prison authorities have declined comment on the hunger strike.
The imprisoned Serbs told Veritas that they demanded either that their
cases be reviewed again by Croatian courts, or that they be taken over
by
the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague or that they be
exchanged
on the all-for-all principle in line with an agreement reached between
the
Yugoslav and Croatian Foreign Ministries in 1998.
Serbs charged with war-related crimes are serving sentences also in
other
Croatian prisons - in Split (16), Osijek (10), Pozega (4), Karlovac (3),
Sisak (2), Vukovar (1) and Zagreb (1).
---
INTERVISTA AL MINISTRO MACEDONE DEL COMMERCIO
http://www.globalbizgroup.com/pematopstory.shtm
No Tricks, Just Trade
Macedonian Privatization Eye caught up with then Trade Minister Nikola
Gruevski just days before he was appointed as Macedonia's new Finance
Minister. Although he turns only 30 this year, Gruevski has proved that
he's by no means in short supply of what leaders need most - vision.
Q: What is the big picture regarding the situation of Macedonia's
foreign
trade?
A: The volume of Macedonia's foreign trade has increased in almost every
year over the last decade, from less than $1 billion in 1990 to over
$1.4
billion in 1998. Nevertheless, the biggest problem that we are now
facing
is the country's large trade deficit. The deficit mainly stems from
Macedonia's separation from the former Yugoslavia, as before Macedonian
companies had a domestic market of 22 million people, whereas now it has
shrunk to 2 million. Many companies have had to cut output by 50%, or
even
more. We still have a lot of spare, unused production capacity, and
turning this unused capacity into export-oriented companies, and opening
new export businesses, would be one way to narrow the trade deficit.
Our main export market is the European Union, which absorbs 52% of our
exports, of which Germany alone absorbs in excess of 20% -- followed by
Yugoslavia, with 18%. The USA ranks third, while Greece comes in fourth.
In fact, in 1999 Greece became the largest investor in Macedonia, and it
is also becoming more and more important as a trade partner. After we
had
shelved the dispute over the name of the country, although this issue is
not yet settled, Greece is actually helping us in our relations with the
EU. Both governments have decided to untangle the name issue from
economic
ties. The situation is roughly similar for imports, and we have the
largest bilateral trade deficit with Slovenia - almost $100 million.
Q: How are you dealing with Macedonia's condition of being a small
market?
A: There are many solutions. For instance, we have finalized five free
trade agreements with Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Croatia, and in 1999 with
Bulgaria and Turkey. When the last two last agreements are enforced, our
market size would expand to some 100 million people. The free trade
agreement with Turkey is of particular importance to us, not just
because
Turkey is a large market, but because the agreement is very
disproportionate, leaning in our favor. There is a 10-year transition
period, and over the first five years Macedonia will export to Turkey
almost every industrial product, while Turkey will export to Macedonia
only products that we do not manufacture.
Furthermore, we are poised to start negotiations over free trade
agreements with Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Romania.
In March or April we will wrap up the talks with the EFTA countries.
Due to the name issue we are not yet WTO members. However, the
negotiations have been unlocked and I am confident that we will soon win
WTO membership. We also received an invitation from the European Union
to
start negotiations for associated membership. The negotiations will take
place throughout this year and I believe that we stand a good chance of
signing an association agreement by January 1, 2001.
Q: What are the main products that Macedonia exports?
A: The largest categories are steel and steel products, textiles,
agricultural products, food products, and chemicals. For instance, we
export mainly steel and textiles to the United States and according to
our
export quotas we are the fifth largest textile exporter to the United
States, ahead of countries like China. Textiles is a huge industry in
Macedonia: over the past four years alone, some 425 new textile
companies
have been established, and most of them are export-oriented.
Q: What are the country's largest exporters?
A: There are several large steel makers, like Balkan Steel, which saw
output rise threefold in 1999 and IT exports a lot to the United States.
There are also some pharmaceuticals producers and a couple of wine
producers, as well. We also hope that the negotiations currently
underway
with Taiwan will lead this year to the start-up of computer assembly in
Macedonia.
Q: What is the average custom duty in Macedonia?
A: The average import tax stands at 15.2%. However, there are large
variations depending on the actual products that are imported. For
instance, for raw materials that are not produced in Macedonia and there
are tax-free import quotas, with the government's approval. For
quantities
that exceed the quotas, the average import tax rate is about 8.5%.
Interview by Catalin DIMOFTE
Last updated :
Thu, Apr 20 2000
---
RELAZIONI BILATERALI RDP DI COREA - RF DI JUGOSLAVIA
DPRK News Apr 27
Greetings to Yugoslav President
Pyongyang, April 27 (KCNA) -- Kim Yong Nam, President of the
presidium
of the DPRK Supreme People's
Assembly, today sent a message of greetings to Slobodan Milosevic,
President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,
on the occasion of its day of constitution.
The message extends warm congratulations to the President, the
government and the people of Yugoslavia on its
day of constitution.
Expressing the belief that the friendly and cooperative relations
between the two countries will further expand and
develop, it wishes the President and the people of Yugoslavia great
success
in their efforts for the security,
development and territorial integrity of the country.
DPRK News May 18
Yugoslav embassy officials visit Sinchon Museum
Pyongyang, May 18 (KCNA) -- Milorad Kosovac, charge d'affaires ad
interim of Yugoslavia, and embassy
officials visited the Sinchon Museum yesterday on the occasion of the
Yugoslav day of constitution.
The guests looked round exhibits and visual aids of the museum which
show atrocities of the U.S. aggressors
who massacred innocent people most cruelly in Sinchon.
They went round a air-raid shelter of the former Sinchon county
committee of the Worker's Party of Korea and a
powder magazine in Wonam-ri which bears witness to the brutality,
viciousness and cruelty of the aggressors, and a
tomb of 5,605 patriots, a tomb of 400 mothers and a tomb of 102 children
killed by the U.S.
They laid bouquets before the tombs and observed a moments' silence.
---
40MILA IN PIAZZA A SKOPLJE CONTRO IL GOVERNO FILOOCCIDENTALE
FORMATO DALLE DESTRE NAZIONALISTE
Thousands demand government resignation in Macedonia
May 19, 2000
Web posted at: 6:54 AM EDT (1054 GMT)
SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) -- More than 40,000 people gathered at an
opposition rally Thursday to demand the Macedonian government resign and
hold early elections.
"Down with the government," "We want elections," read the banners
carried by the protesters at the rally held at the main city square in
the capital Skopje.
The Social Democrats and eight other opposition parties announced a
series of anti-government protests in a declaration read at the
gathering.
"The only thing this government can do to save Macedonia is to quit
power," Branko Crvenkovski, the leader of the Social Democrats told the
crowd.
Crvenkovski's party, formerly the Communists, blame the center-right
government for the worsening economic situation in Macedonia, the only
former Yugoslav republic to secede peacefully.
Macedonia is believed to be dangerously close to bankruptcy. With more
than half the workforce unemployed and a foreign debt amounting to $1.45
billion, the impoverished Balkan nation is hoping to boost its economy
by bringing in foreign capital.
The opposition also accuses the government of giving in to the country's
ethnic Albanians, who make up one-fourth of the country's 2 million
people and have been demanding more rights.
Opposition calls for the government resignation have grown since an
incident earlier this year in which four Macedonian soldiers were
abducted by Kosovo Albanian extremists and reportedly exchanged for a
Kosovo Albanian facing trial in Macedonia.
The Social Democrats led Macedonia to independence from former
Yugoslavia in 1991 and ruled the country for seven years before losing
elections to the ruling center-right coalition, which includes
pro-Western politicians in the country.
---
INTERVISTA AL MOVIMENTO AUSTRIACO DI SOLIDARIETA' CON LA JUGOSLAVIA
www.serbia-info.com/news
Interview of Wilhelm Langtaler to Serbian Broadcasting Co.: "Resistance
to NATO aggression, support to FRY"
May 16, 2000
Belgrade, May 15th - President of Austro-Serbian movement "Solidarity",
which was founded in Vienna as a sign of resistance to NATO aggression
and support to our country, Wilhelm Langtaler, estimated yesterday
evening that NATO would try to create the conditions for new
intervention and new war by prompting opposition, secessionist
movements.
Langtaler said precisely in his interview to Serbian Broadcasting Co.
that the real cause for the aggression on FRY was "throwing a country
which dared confront the demands of new world order on its knees". That
was, according to his words, an obstacle for NATO's way to Russia.
Speaking about the recent visit to Kosovska Mitrovica, Langtaler
stressed that in the southern part of that town a "virtual occupation"
was under way.
"There are numerous evidence that the 1244 Resolution of the UN Security
Council is not being conducted at all", Langtaler said, adding that
Serbs are being systematically thrown out of Kosmet, controlled,
disarmed and that they are not permitted to defend themselves in any
way, which is not the case with the Albanians.
Langtaler reminded that "Solidarity" members were demonstrating for all
78 days of the aggression on FRY, and he pointed that the demonstrations
had out-of-party character i.e. members of different parties
participated in them as well as those who are not in favor of any party.
"One of our most significant actions was foundation of the Vienna
tribunal - directed against Austrian government and its helping NATO
aggression", Langtaler said, stressing that the Organization went to
Kosmet after the aggression and "showed its solidarity with Serbs,
especially with the confined in UNMIK prison in Kosovska Mitrovica".
Speaking about the new world order and the US attempt to dominate the
world, Langtaler estimated that the new world order presented a terrible
dictatorship of the rich over the poor, the minority over the majority,
and he expressed his hopes that "this dictatorship would be destroyed
soon, since majority of the world population would have to find ways of
confronting it".
"We wish to fight against the NATO and new world order with Serbs,
because NATO is the greatest criminal organization in the history",
Langtaler said, stressing that "there will come the time when every
nation would be able to free itself from such dictatorship".
---
DITTE STATUNITENSI ADDESTRANO I GOLPISTI MONTENEGRINI?
Date:
Tue, 23 May 2000 05:06:52 EDT
From:
Petokraka78@...
Reply-To:
"STOP NATO: NO PASARAN!" <STOPNATO@...>
To:
STOPNATO@...
STOP NATO: NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM
Dear all,
just thought I'd let you know that I know for a fact that private
security
firms are currently training the Montenegrhin "police" loyal to
Jukhanovich!
An article on this apparently appeared in the Independent (?) But I
learned
about this from a friend who heard it from the Mountainegrin Trade
Mission in
Vasington DC (sorry for the intentional misspeling!)
In a message dated 22/05/00 8:24:57 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
alakemerrittneighbor@... writes:
<< Subj: [STOPNATO] The privatization of war by the USA in
Yugoslavia
Date: 22/05/00 8:24:57 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: alakemerrittneighbor@... (Steve Wagner)
Reply-to: STOPNATO@... (STOP NATO: NO PASARAN!)
To: STOPNATO@...
STOP NATO: NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
>
> GENERALS FOR HIRE: CONFRONTED WITH ITS TRICKIEST
> TASK IN BOSNIA, THE USA
> HAS MADE PLANS TO PAY SOMEONE ELSE TO DO IT.
> Source: TIME magazine - By Mark Thompson, >>
---
IN KOSOVO LO SMINAMENTO NON VIENE EFFETTUATO - PERCHE'?
BBC News
Tuesday, 23 May, 2000, 21:07 GMT 22:07 UK
Kosovo mine expert criticises Nato
Soldiers on the ground support demining
By the BBC's Nicholas Wood in Pristina
The head of the UN's demining programme in Kosovo has blamed Nato for
the slow progress made to clear up unexploded bombs in the province.
The latest victim, a 10-year-old boy, was killed on Sunday when he
walked into an unmarked field of cluster bombs.
Sometimes the first time we knew there was an area [with unexploded
bombs] was when there was a casualty reported
John Flanagan
Mine Action Co-Ordination Centre
More than 100 people have now died from bomb and mine injuries since the
end of the war in Kosovo, in June last year.
John Flanagan, the head of the Mine Action Co-Ordination Centre in
Pristina, says essential information about the precise location of
cluster bomb sites was withheld from his group.
"It was definitely frustrating, 10 months later we are just getting to
grips with the information. It shouldn't be like that," he said.
Unexploded bombs
Almost 1,400 cluster bombs were dropped in Kosovo, mainly by British and
US planes.
The shells break up into dozens of smaller bomblets and scatter over an
area of one square kilometre.
About 10% fail to explode on impact, and remain on the ground.
Children are attracted by the bright colours of the bomblets
The Mine Action Centre first asked K-For for information about the
location of the bombs last in August.
But it was not until this April that the centre realised it did not have
the full details.
Mr Flanagan says his teams would have been able to mark out and demine
far more areas if Nato had co-operated earlier.
The UN had to lobby Nato officials in Brussels and Washington before the
information was handed over.
Since the arrival of spring there has been a steady increase in number
of casualties from mines and cluster bombs.
Rising toll
In April 15 people were injured compared with 13 in March, and six in
February.
The bombs are particularly attractive to children.
The American bomblets are plastic and coloured bright yellow.
However, they contain an incendiary device - shrapnel - and armour
pearcing explosive that can pearce steel 25 cm thick.
Unlike most mines they often kill or maim more than one person at a
time.
K-For has the responsibility to mark out "essential sites".
But the Mine Action Co-Ordination Centre says as much as 40% of risk
areas have yet to be cordoned off.
"It became apparent we didn't have the information, and areas were not
marked." said Mr Flanagan.
"Sometimes the first time we knew there was an area was when there was a
casualty reported," he said.
Responsibility
There is now increasing pressure on Nato and K-For to take
responsibility for the problem.
It is estimated that cluster bombs make up to 40% of mines and
unexploded bombs in the province.
Yet the vast majority of demining work is done by civilians.
Also Nato partners have a differing in their concern about the problem.
"Some of the information is considered as sensitive. The UK soldiers are
very supportive of the operation," said Mr Flanagan.
But he added some countries have yet to give their full support.
"The guys on the ground want to help out as much as possible. It's a
political decision. Cluster clearing is not beyond K-For's and Nato's
ability," he said.
[A 'political decision,' indeed. If it's not 'beyond K-For and NATO's
ability,'' then why has nothing been done?...RR]
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------