From Michel Collon:
----------------------

For the last five years Kosovo has suffered an ethnic cleansing

Why does the US want to create
another Israel in the Balkans
"The current tension in Kosovo, carefully covered up, is going to blow
up once again," we wrote two months ago in the information that
accompanied our film The Damned of Kosovo (see below). Those who have
already seen the film will not be surprised.
_________________
MICHEL COLLON & VANESSA STOJILKOVIC
In reality, the war that 'ended' in June 1999, didn't end at all.
Because its real objectives are not yet reached.
The official version for public consumption was: The US--with
Europe--attacked Yugoslavia in order to stop a 'genocide'. They have
since recognised (however discreetly) that this was a media lie. The
creator? Alastair Campbell, the communications advisor to Tony Blair,
also the inventor of the Iraqi 'Weapons of Mass Destruction'.
In any case, the facts speak for themselves. Kosovo, occupied by
NATOhas been submitted for the last five years to a veritably permanent
ethnic cleansing that has killed 2500 persons, kidnapped 1200
"disappeared" and run off 230,000 non-Albanians: Serbs, Roma, Jews,
Turks, Muslims, Goran, etc., . . . With US complicity says a German
policemen stationed down there: "When you see how the worst mafia enjoy
the Americans' protection, you get very damned angry."
http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/0,1518,263670,00.html


The Balkans: Fighting for a strategic zone
What were the real goals of this war then?
1st To liquidate self-management and the social rights of Yugoslav
workers in order to bring about privatization. The crisis undergone by
the multinationals has forced them to conquer 'new lands' and new
markets. By bombing when necessary. After trampling Social Security and
the rights of workers, US Steel, for example, was able to buy, for
chump change, Sartid, the largest steel plant in the Balkans. Jobs look
to be heading out, and in Europe it's the same. The multinationals
thought they had won when they were able to impose an IMF government in
Belgrade, but this government was completely repudiated in recent
elections.
2nd To control the strategic routes through the Balkans. Berlin wants
oil to go via the Danube (therefore through Belgrade), on its way to
Hamburg and Rotterdam from the Caucases and the Middle East. (That also
goes for the products of factories relocated to the Balkans.) Looking
to weaken and control Europe, Washington wants the trail blazed further
to the south through its puppet states: Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania.
To this end, it has built an enormous military base in Kosovo: Camp
Bondsteel (shown in the film The Damned of Kosovo).

Why Washington uses terrorists
The instrument the US uses to realize this strategic plan ? The KLA, a
degenerate nationalist movement that has always wanted to create an
ethnically pure 'Greater Albania' (Albania + Kosovo + chunks of Serbia,
Macedonia, Montenegro and Greece). After having declared the KLA
'terrorists', Washington literally bought them and rechristened them
'freedom fighters'. The goal? To break up Yugoslavia, considered too
Leftist and independent, and create a new Israel in the Balkans.
Why? Look how well Israel serves the US in the Middle East! A puppet
state, a hyper-army financed by Washington, a cop that has already
attacked all its neighbors, a permanent center of tension to be excited
every time they want to weaken a people's resistance movement in the
region.
To create a new Israel in the Balkans, also based on policies of ethnic
cleansing and apartheid, is very useful for Washington. And a dependent
state will not call into question the need for its enormous strategic
military base. It will service all operations to destabilize the
European continent in this era of intense economic war. That's why,
according to Canadian expert Michel Chossudovsky, the US has engaged in
a 'marriage of convenience with the mafia in Kosovo'. Today, the KLA
wants to finish the cleansing by attacking Mitrovica, the only area
where Serbs still live. But incidents are jumping off all over the
place at the same time! "A planned and coordinated violence, directed
only against the Serbs. Nothing in Kosovo happens spontaneously,"
explains an official of the UN police.
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=312192004
"Pogroms", told another speaking about "Cristall Night". But the media
still present it as "inter-ethnic clashes". Covering the responsability
of Washington. Also, they spread the rumour of "three Albanian boys
thrown to the river by Serbs", suggesting "revenge", while Derek
Chappel, chief of UN police in Kosovo, declared from the beginning this
was not true at all.

Why now? Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, the Balkans = all one global war.
This European/US rivalry is key to the current drama. French soldiers
are the targets. The fire comes from Washington. In Iraq, Bush is
jammed and neither Chirac nor Schroeder wish to pull him out of it.
What's more, the bombing in Madrid has fragilized the US alliances in
Europe. So here comes the White House 'pay-back'. A green light to the
KLA terrorists.
But the local factor is also significant. The new Kostunica government
has replaced the previous government of national capitulation. The Serb
people continue to express their resistance through elections, although
confused by the lack of alternative on the Left. But this latest attack
is meant by Washington to destabilize the Kostunica government and
bring it to heel.
By protecting and arming the KLA terrorists, Washington reenforces the
hatred between Serbs and Albanians. As in Afghanistan (that other
pipeline route!) and Iraq, it's 'divide and conquer'. Success? The KLA
burns Othodox monastaries, and racist Serbs respond by burning down a
mosque. Idiotic, because the Kosovars aren't even Muslims. Idiotic,
because Washington is not the Muslims' friend, but their enemy. A
Muslim minister in the Serbian government has condemned this attack
against the mosque, but added that 'the greatest responsibility lies
with the international community.'
As we have never stopping saying, it is time to reopen the debate on
Yugoslavia. The support of the European and US Left for NATO was a
tragedy. The results of five years remove all doubts: privatization,
social misery, ethnic cleansing and the mafia in Kosovo: was this what
we were supposed to be supporting? US wars have NEVER been
'humanitarian'.


The Damned of Kosovo

A video to help discuss with your friends

The film The Damned of Kosovo, a documentary by Vanessa Stojilkovic &
Michel Collon, VHS 78', gives those forgotten by the media a chance to
speak out : 20 exclusive testimonies from Serbs, Roma, Jews, Muslims,
Turks, Goran, Albanians . . . describe the terror of daily life today
in Kosovo. And the complicity of the US. Exclusive documentation. In
French, Dutch, English, Spanish, Serb, Italian. PAL. NTSC coming soon.
10 euros + handling : 2 euros in Belgium, 3 euros in the rest of Europe.
Orders to : michel.collon@... (or through Solidaire)

The true history of Yugoslavia

How have you informed yourself? With this film, you receive the dossier
A Post Mortem on Yugoslavia (better to understand the coming wars for
globalization). With two surprising 'Media Quizes'.

Peace Inspectors

Belgian progressives and trade unionists have launched an appeal to
send a 'mission of Peace Inspectors' to Kosovo this Summer. Objective:
to understand the situation and verify the real actions of NATO. To
meet the 'privatized' trade unionists of Serbia and clarify what's
really behind this war.
Information: mplahaye@...

Screenings & Discussions

Film: The Damned of Kosovo
Liège (cinéma Le Parc): 27 May at 8 pm.
Screenings also planned for Brussels, Gembloux, Louvain-la-Neuve, Mons,
Waremme, Verviers.
Information: nessa.kovic@...


I want :

O ........... copies in English of The Damned of Kosovo

O ........... copies in French

O ........... copies in Serb

O ........... copies in Dutch

O ........... copies in Spanish

O ........... copies in Italian


PRICE : 10 Euros (12 dollars) + 3 Euros for postage Europe (other
continents, 4 Euros or 4 dollars).
NTSC version coming soon.


HOW TO PAY :
Send (through post or bank) to this account : 979-1390659-72
of Michel Collon, 37 rue Renard, 4430 Ans, Belgium. NO CHECKS PLEASE.

If you paid from abroad, you have to mention :

CODE IBAN : BE38 9791 3906 5972

CODE SWIFT ARGENTA : AR SPBE22

Banque Argenta, 188 chaussée de Tongres, 4000 Rocourt, Belgium


http://lesdamnesdukosovo.chiffonrouge.org



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