Informazione

Varvarin: Keine Gerechtigkeit für serbische Bombenopfer

1) Varvarin-Prozeß: Deutschland muß keinen Schadenersatz wegen NATO-
Angriff 1999 zahlen (von Jürgen Elsässer)
2) Freibrief von Heinz Jürgen Schneider, Mitglied des Anwaltsteams
der Varvariner
3) Offizielle Mitteilung der Pressestelle:
Bundesgerichtshof verneint Ersatzansprüche der Geschädigten des NATO-
Angriffs auf die Brücke von Varvarin gegen die Bundesrepublik
Deutschland

SIEHE AUCH:

SCHARFES ZISCHEN
Haben zivile Kriegsopfer Anspruch auf Schadenersatz?
Der BGH koennte mit seinem Urteil zum NATO-Luftangriff auf Varvarin
Geschichte schreiben.
Von Dietmar Hipp - Der Spiegel 44/2006

https://www.cnj.it/24MARZO99/Spiegel44_06Varvarin.pdf


=== 1 ===

http://www.jungewelt.de/2006/11-03/053.php

03.11.2006 / Inland / Seite 1
Keine Gerechtigkeit für serbische Bombenopfer

Varvarin-Prozeß: Deutschland muß keinen Schadenersatz wegen NATO-
Angriff 1999 zahlen

Von Jürgen Elsässer

Die ganze Republik empört sich, wenn Bundeswehrsoldaten mit alten
Knochen spielen. Doch wenn mit deutscher Hilfe Zivilisten totgebombt
werden, hat das keine Folgen. Wie die Vorinstanzen wies am Donnerstag
auch der Bundesgerichtshof (BGH) in Karlsruhe eine Schadenersatzklage
von 35 serbischen Opfern und Hinterbliebenen gegen den Bund ab. In
dem Revisionsverfahren ging es um den Luftangriff auf die Brücke von
Varvarin vom 30. Mai 1999. Dabei waren zehn Zivilisten getötet und 17
schwer verletzt werden. Historisch bedeutend ist das Verfahren, weil
es die erste Klage wegen einer Kriegsbeteiligung der Bundesrepublik ist.

Varvarin ist ein Symbol für die Grausamkeit des NATO-Bombenkrieges:
Das Städtchen hatte keinerlei militärische Bedeutung, die
altersschwache Brücke über den Fluß Morava war für Armeetransporte
ungeeignet. Als zwei Kampfbomber diese angriffen, fand direkt daneben
ein Kirchenfest mit über 3000 Besuchern statt. Ein Versehen kann
ausgeschlossen werden: Die Flugzeuge kehrten nach dem ersten Beschuß
zurück und nahmen das Ziel erneut ins Visier ihrer Laserbomben. So
starben auch die Retter, die den Überlebenden hatten zu Hilfe kommen
wollen. Auf ähnliche Weise verloren während des 78tägigen Krieges
2000 jugoslawische Zivilisten ihr Leben.

Die Kläger warfen der Bundesregierung vor, innerhalb der NATO-Gremien
ihr mögliches Vetorecht gegen die Aufnahme der Brücke in die
militärische Zielliste nicht ausgeübt zu haben. Zudem seien deutsche
Tornados durch rückwärtigen Luftraumschutz indirekt beteiligt
gewesen. Der BGH begründete seine Ablehnung damit, daß nicht
einzelnen Personen, sondern nur deren Heimatstaat eine Entschädigung
zustünde. Außerdem habe die Bundeswehr keine konkrete Kenntnis von
der Attacke gehabt. Was die Zielliste für die Bombenflüge angeht,
vertraten die Richter die Auffassung, daß Infrastruktur wie Straßen
oder Brücken nun einmal traditionell dazuzählten. Pech für die
Menschen, die das nicht wußten.


=== 2 ===

http://www.jungewelt.de/2006/11-03/041.php

03.11.2006 / Ansichten / Seite 8
Zum Inhalt dieser Ausgabe |

Gastkommentar: Freibrief

Von Heinz Jürgen Schneider, Mitglied des Anwaltsteams der Varvariner


Am 30. Mai 1999 haben Bundeswehrangehörige sich nicht mit Totenköpfen
fotografieren lassen. Beim Angriff auf die Brücke von Varvarin im
Kosovo-Krieg waren sie Teil der NATO-Angreifer und produzierten Leichen.

Über Jahre klagten die serbischen Opfer vor deutschen Gerichten auf
Entschädigung und klagten damit auch die BRD an. Am Donnerstag hat
der Bundesgerichtshof(BGH) in letzter Instanz die Ansprüche
abgewiesen. Eine Verfassungsbeschwerde bleibt aber möglich. Schon
1999 waren Strafanzeigen gegen die Berliner Spitzenpolitiker wegen
Führung eines Angriffskrieges erfolglos. Sieben Jahre danach soll
auch an der zivilrechtlichen Front Ruhe einkehren.

Der BGH hat nicht – wie im Spiegel spekuliert wurde – generell für
Opfer von Kriegsverbrechen unter Bundeswehrbeteiligung den Rechtsweg
zu deutschen Gerichten geöffnet. Diese Möglichkeit zu
Staatshaftungsklagen wurde vielmehr ausdrücklich offengelassen.
Kommandeure robuster Militärmissionen und die Juristen des
Bundesverteidigungsministeriums wird es freuen.

Die konkrete Klageabweisung hat mit der Realität des Krieges von 1999
wenig zu tun. Ohne eine einzige Beweisaufnahme in drei
Gerichtsinstanzen bauen die Karlsruher Richter ihre eigene
militärische Welt. In diesem Krieg ist die Bundeswehr nur wenig
informiert, kaum beteiligt und deshalb auch für die Toten von
Varvarin nicht haftbar.

Die Wahrheit war anders und ist in den Schriftsätzen der Kläger auch
unter Beweis gestellt. Berlin war ein aktiver politisch-
diplomatischer Kriegstreiber. Ein mögliches Veto gegen Ziele war
möglich, unterblieb aber. Angriffskoordination und Zielauswahl fanden
mit Beteiligung deutscher Offiziere statt. Am Angriffstag waren
Tornados im Luftraum nahe Varvarin. Während des Krieges flogen sie
über 500 Angriffe und verschossen 236 Raketen.

Die Bundeswehr war ein wichtiges Rad in dieser Kriegsmaschine.
Deshalb ist sie haftbar, egal, welche NATO-Piloten die Raketen
konkret ausgeklinkt haben. Juristisch nennt man dies eine
»gesamtschuldnerische Haftung«. Der BGH aber sagt,
»Amtspflichtverletzungen deutscher Soldaten oder Dienststellen«
liegen nicht vor.

Wie ein Freibrief des Gerichts für die Zukunft lesen sich Passagen
über einen umfangreichen und gerichtlich nicht nachprüfbaren
Beurteilungsspielraum der Militärs bei der Zielauswahl von
Angriffsobjekten. Zu diesen sollen »traditionell« auch Straßen,
Brücken und Eisenbahnen gehören. Im vor fast 30 Jahren
verabschiedeten Zusatzprotokoll zur Genfer Konvention ist die Wertung
anders: Über 30 Artikel schützen Zivilisten und unverteidigte Orte,
Kriegshandlungen dürfen sich nur gegen militärische Ziele richten.
Varvarin war unverteidigt, die Brücke unbedeutend, alle Toten
Zivilisten.


=== 3 ===

Bundesgerichtshof
Mitteilung der Pressestelle

Nr. 151/2006

Bundesgerichtshof verneint Ersatzansprüche der Geschädigten
des NATO-Angriffs auf die Brücke von Varvarin gegen die
Bundesrepublik Deutschland

Aufgrund eines entsprechenden Beschlusses der Mitgliedstaaten
der NATO führte diese ab dem 24. März 1999 mit dem erklärten Ziel, in
dem damaligen Jugoslawien eine drohende humanitäre Katastrophe
infolge des Kosovo-Konflikts zu verhindern, Luftoperationen gegen die
Bundesrepublik Jugoslawien durch. An diesen Operationen beteiligten
sich mit Zustimmung des Deutschen Bundestages auch deutsche
Luftstreitkräfte. Am 30. Mai 1999 griffen Kampfflugzeuge der NATO die
am Ortsausgang der serbischen Kleinstadt Varvarin etwa 180 km
südöstlich von Belgrad - über den Fluss Morava führende Brücke mit
Raketen an und zerstörten sie. Hierbei wurden zehn Menschen getötet
und 30 verletzt, davon 17 schwer; bei sämtlichen Opfern handelt es
sich um Zivilpersonen. Kampfflugzeuge der Bundesrepublik Deutschland
waren an dem Beschuss der Brücke nicht unmittelbar beteiligt. Ob und
inwieweit die deutschen Luftstreitkräfte Unterstützungsleistungen
erbracht haben, ist streitig, ebenso, in wel
cher Form deutsche Dienststellen an der vorausgegangenen Auswahl der
Ziele der Luftangriffe beteiligt waren.

Die insgesamt 35, teilweise in Erbengemeinschaften
verbundenen - Kläger, Staatsangehörige des früheren Jugoslawiens,
haben die beklagte Bundesrepublik Deutschland auf Schadensersatz in
zweiter Instanz begrenzt auf billige Entschädigung in Geld für
immaterielle Schäden (Schmerzensgeld) - wegen der Tötung von
Angehörigen und eigener erlittener Verletzungen in Anspruch genommen.
Sie haben geltend gemacht, die Beklagte hafte für die Folgen des von
NATO-Streitkräften durchgeführten Angriffs auf die Brücke aufgrund
der Verletzung humanitären Völkerrechts und auch nach den Grundsätzen
des deutschen Amtshaftungsrechts. Sie haben der Beklagten
vorgeworfen, im Rahmen der NATO das ihr mögliche Vetorecht gegen die
Auswahl der Brücke von Varvarin als militärisches Ziel nicht ausgeübt
und zudem den Angriff selbst durch grundsätzliche Zusage und
Übernahme von Aufklärung, Begleitschutz und Luftraumschutz
unterstützt zu haben.

Das Landgericht hat die Klage abgewiesen und das
Oberlandesgericht die hiergegen gerichtete Berufung der Kläger
zurückgewiesen. Dieses Urteil haben die Kläger mit ihrer vom
Oberlandesgericht zugelassenen - Revision angegriffen.

Der unter anderem für das Amtshaftungsrecht zuständige III.
Zivilsenat des Bundesgerichtshofs hat die Revision der Kläger
zurückgewiesen.

Ein Schadensersatzanspruch der Kläger gegen die Bundesrepublik
Deutschland auf einer völkerrechtlichen Grundlage scheidet schon
deshalb aus, weil im Falle von Verletzungen des Kriegsvölkerrechts
etwaige völkerrechtliche Wiedergutmachungsansprüche gegen den
verantwortlichen fremden Staat nicht einzelnen geschädigten Personen,
sondern nur deren Heimatstaat zustehen. Diese völkerrechtliche Lage,
von der der Bundesgerichtshof für die Zeit bis zum Ende des Zweiten
Weltkriegs bereits in einem früheren Urteil (Distomo-Entscheidung)
ausgegangen ist, besteht auch heute noch insbesondere im Hinblick
auf Art. 91 des ersten Zusatzprotokolls vom 8. Juni 1977 zu dem
Genfer Abkommen vom 12. August 1949 - weiter. Mangels einer
völkerrechtlichen Anspruchsberechtigung der Kläger stellt sich auch
nicht die Frage, ob und gegebenenfalls unter welchen Voraussetzungen
eine (Mit)Verantwortlichkeit der Bundesrepublik Deutschland für ein
etwaiges völkerrechtliches Delikt, unabhängig von u
nerlaubten Handlungen oder Unterlassungen der eigenen Bediensteten,
schon allein aus der Beteiligung an der NATO-Operation im Kosovo-
Konflikt in Betracht kommt.

Auch einen Schadensersatzanspruch der Kläger gegen die
Beklagte aus nationalem (deutschem) Recht hat der Bundesgerichtshof
verneint. Als Anspruchsgrundlage für einen solchen Anspruch kommt
allein das Institut der Amtshaftung (§ 839 BGB i.V.m. Art. 34 GG) in
Betracht. In der Distomo-Entscheidung hatte der Bundesgerichtshof
ausgesprochen, dass nach dem Verständnis des Amtshaftungsrechts bis
zum Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs militärische Kriegshandlungen im
Ausland vom Amtshaftungstatbestand ausgenommen waren. Ob hieran auch
nach Inkrafttreten des Grundgesetzes festzuhalten ist, hat der
Bundesgerichtshof in dem vorliegenden Urteil offen gelassen.

Ein hierauf gestützter Schadensersatzanspruch der Kläger gegen
die Bundesrepublik Deutschland scheitert im Streitfall jedenfalls
daran, dass im Zusammenhang mit dem Angriff gegen die Brücke von
Varvarin keine Amtspflichtverletzungen deutscher Soldaten oder
Dienststellen im Sinne konkreter (schuldhafter) Verstöße gegen
Regeln des humanitären (Kriegs-)Völkerrechts zum Schutz der
Zivilbevölkerung - vorliegen. Da die deutschen Luftstreitkräfte an
dem Kampfeinsatz gegen die Brücke von Varvarin nicht unmittelbar
beteiligt waren, könnten ihnen etwaige Völkerrechtsverstöße bei
diesem Kampfeinsatz selbst wenn er in objektiver Hinsicht
Unterstützung durch von deutscher Seite gewährten Luftraumschutz
gefunden haben sollte - allenfalls dann unter dem Gesichtspunkt einer
Amtspflichtverletzung zugerechnet werden, wenn die deutschen
Dienststellen über das konkrete Angriffsziel und Einzelheiten des
betreffenden Luftangriffs informiert gewesen wären. Dafür gibt es
keine Anh
altspunkte. Dass die deutschen Dienststellen hierüber keine
Informationen hatten, kann ihnen ausgehend von dem nach dem
unwiderlegten Vortrag der Beklagte bei der gesamten NATO-Operation
praktizierten Grundsatz "need to know" nicht vorgeworfen werden;
danach verfügten die beteiligten Mitgliedsstaaten nur über diejenigen
Informationen, die sie für ihre eigene Beteiligung an der jeweiligen
konkreten Operation benötigten.

Eine Pflichtverletzung deutscher Dienststellen liegt auch
nicht darin, dass diese – legt man den Vortrag der Kläger zugrunde -
vorher daran mitgewirkt haben, dass die Brücke von Varvarin in eine
Zielliste der Luftoperationen der NATO aufgenommen worden war. Der
Bundesgerichtshof ist dem Berufungsgericht darin beigetreten, dass
den militärischen Dienststellen bei ihren Entscheidungen für eine
militärische Operation oder im Rahmen derselben ein umfangreicher,
gerichtlich nicht nachprüfbarer, Beurteilungsspielraum zusteht. Es
ist nicht zu beanstanden, dass das Berufungsgericht diesen
Beurteilungsspielraum erst bei völliger Unvertretbarkeit oder
eindeutiger Völkerrechtswidrigkeit der betreffenden militärischen
Entscheidung als überschritten ansieht. Das Berufungsgericht hat in
rechtsfehlerfreier tatrichterlicher Würdigung angenommen, dass diese
Schwelle im Zusammenhang mit der von den Klägern behaupteten -
Billigung der Aufnahme der Brücke von Varvarin in die Zielli
ste der NATO-Operationen durch die Beklagte nicht überschritten
worden ist. Diese tatrichterliche Würdigung lag schon deshalb nahe,
weil zu den militärischen Zielen traditionell unter anderem die
Infrastruktur wie Straßen, Eisenbahnen, Brücken,
Fernmeldeeinrichtungen gezählt wird. Das konnte für eine Aufnahme in
die Zielliste ausreichen, selbst wenn die Entscheidung zu einem
militärischen Angriff letztlich nur unter der Voraussetzung hätte
erfolgen dürfen, dass die Zerstörung der Brücke (zu diesem Zeitpunkt)
einen eindeutigen militärischen Vorteil mit sich brachte.
Rechtsfehlerfrei hat das Berufungsgericht ausgeführt, die Beklagte
habe bei ihrer Zustimmung zur Zielauswahl darauf vertrauen dürfen,
dass ein etwaiger Angriff unter Beachtung des Völkerrechts erfolgen
werde.

Urteil vom 2. November 2006 III ZR 190/05

OLG Köln, Urteil vom 28. Juli 2005 - 7 U 8/04

LG Bonn, Urteil vom 10. Dezember 2003 - 1 O 361/02

Karlsruhe, den 2. November 2006

Pressestelle des Bundesgerichtshof
76125 Karlsruhe
Telefon (0721) 159-5013
Telefax (0721) 159-5501

From: gilberto.vlaic
Subject: Nuovo camion di aiuti a Kragujevac e altre informazioni
Date: November 2, 2006 1:56:08 PM GMT+01:00


Care amiche, cari amici, siamo riusciti a preparare un nuovo camion di
aiuti con destinazione Kragujevac. Abbiamo consegnato tutti I documenti
allo spedizioniere martedi’ scorso 31 ottobre, e il camion partira’
presumibilmente la settimana prossima.

La spedizione e’ stata organizzata da:
Non bombe ma solo caramelle
Comunita’ serbo-ortodossa di Trieste
Fondazione Luchetta, Ota, D’Angelo, Hrovatin
Associazione Solidarieta’ Internazionale Triestina

Abbiamo ricevuto significativi aiuti dalla Provincia di Udine,dalla
Caritas di Trieste e dall’Ospedale Maggiore di Trieste

Ecco la lista del materiale spedito
.8 lampade operatorie per il presidio sanitario della Zastava
16 biclclette
2 passeggini per neonati
1 lettino per bambini
3 personal computers
201 scatoloni di vestiario, scarpe, biancheria per la casa, giocattoli
e pannoloni per adulti (circa 2500 pannoloni)

I computers saranno destinati all’associazione volontaria di genitori
Viaggio nella crescita felice
mentre i pannoloni saranno consegnati all’associazione malati di
sclerosi multipla.

Non conosciamo ancora l’entita’ delle spese per questo viaggio.


Colgo l’occasione per ricordarvi che
Venerdi’ 10 novembre alle ore 20 al teatro Miela di Trieste ci sara’ la
proiezione di due film di Milena Dravic
W.R. - Misterije organizma" del 1971
"Sjaj U Ocima" del 2003
entrambi in lingua serba con sottotitoli in Italiano
e che il giorno dopo 11 novembre sempre al Miela con inizio alle ore 20
verra’ proposto il monologo teatrale di Milos Radovic "Milena Dravic -
nel mondo degli uomini".
Entrambe le serate sono ad ingresso libero.

Ricordo inoltre che il prossimo viaggio a Kragujevac per la consegna
delle quote di affido si svolgera’ nel periodo 7-10 dicembre 2006. Vi
sollecito quindi di versare per tempo le vostre quote e di avvisarci con
celerita’ se dovete inviare pacchi.

Un carissimo saluto a tutte/I

Gilberto Vlaic

« Civilisation » ? Vous avez dit « civilisation » ?

L'enfer selon l'OTAN

William Bowles

29 octobre 2006
Tlaxcala

Civilisé (adjectif) : cultivé, instruit, raffiné, éclairé, poli,
élégant, sophistiqué, courtois
Civiliser (verbe) : éclairer, instruire, cultiver, améliorer,
avancer, développer, raffiner

Pauvre vieux Dante Alighieri, s'il était des nôtres aujourd'hui, je
suis sûr qu'il trouverait difficile de dénicher les mots pour décrire
les maux répandus par les soi-disant nations civilisées aux sans-
défense de la planète, et en supposant qu'il serait entièrement au
courant de ce qui se passe.

Je sais que je ne devrais pas être étonné mais néanmoins je le suis.
Étonné premièrement de vivre dans une culture barbare qui a été
capable de se faire passer pour civilisée et deuxièmement, qu'elle
ait pu persuader le monde qu'elle possède des lettres de créances de
civilisation de premier choix. Et troisièmement, qu'elle ait été
capable d'entretenir cette illusion depuis au moins cinq cents ans.

La plupart d'entre nous associons l'idée de civilisation à la
connaissance et au respect pour la culture, cependant la racine du
mot est celle du citadin.

« Les missiles ont frappé des réservoirs de stockage du complexe
pétrochimique [à Panchevo, au nord-est de Belgrade], envoyant plus de
900 tonnes de monomère hautement cancérogène de chlorure de vinyle
(VCM) se répandre dans les airs. Au lever du soleil, les nuages de
VCM ruisselaient au-dessus de toute la ville, enregistrant pas moins
de 10.600 fois la limite permise pour la sécurité humaine, et les
nuages se levant de l'usine étaient si épais que les résidants ne
pouvaient voir le soleil. Le VCM est déjà dangereux en soi, mais
quand il brûle, il libère en sous-produit du gaz phosgène, une
substance si nocive qu'elle a servi comme gaz toxique pendant la
Première Guerre mondiale. Le feu faisant rage libère du chlore, une
autre substance qui a été utilisée comme gaz toxique pendant la
Première Guerre Mondiale, avec une foule d'autres produits chimiques
nocifs, tels que la naphte, le dichlorure d'éthylène et l'acide
chlorhydrique. Plus de 2.000 tonnes de PVC dichloroéthane fortement
toxique ont lavé la terre, nécessitant l'interdiction à long terme de
manger des racines alimentaires poussées dans la ville. Une pluie de
poison a éclaboussé la région, et des centaines de tonnes de pétrole
et de produits chimiques ont imbibé le sol et se sont déversés dans
le Danube. Après qu'un missile eut manqué de peu de frapper un
réservoir d'ammoniaque liquide, les ouvriers ont paniqué devant les
conséquences effrayantes qu'aurait une explosion sur le réservoir, et
du déversement de l'ammoniaque liquide dans le Danube. » 1

Comme si l'utilisation de puissants explosifs lors de bombardements «
ordinaires » d'hommes, de femmes et d'enfants, qui ne font que vous
mettre en pièces n'était pas assez mauvaise, ce que j'appelle une
guerre écocide n'est pas immédiatement évidente dans ses effets
dévastateurs non seulement sur les gens mais sur les générations, sur
des écologies entières, des effets à long terme dont nous avons
seulement une compréhension des plus vagues, excepté qu'ils ne
peuvent qu'être désastreux pour nos descendants.

La gamme d'armes écologiques employées par de soi-disant nations
civilisées est déjà dévastatrice en soi, mais comme en plus les
cibles elles-mêmes contiennent assez souvent des substances toxiques
et cancérigènes, les effets des armes écologiques sont multipliés par
les produits chimiques déversés dans l'environnement.

Il est inconcevable que les planificateurs de guerres ne se rendent
pas compte des conséquences qu'il y a à cibler des usines
industrielles modernes, dont le contenu une fois libéré rend en fait
l'environnement inhabitable, peut-être pour des générations. Quand
des accidents se produisent dans les usines équivalentes des pays
occidentaux, ça provoque un boucan d'enfer, des plans d'urgence sont
mis en action, des communautés entières sont évacuées ; des zones
d'exclusion sont établies, le nettoyage exige l'intervention
d'équipes utilisant les dernières techniques pour réduire au minimum
les dommages à l'environnement.

Il n'en va pas de même pour les malheureux habitants de Yougoslavie,
d'Iraq et du Liban, où le ciblage des industries électriques et
chimiques et des lieux de stockage fait partie intégrante d'une
politique délibérée de terreur, parce que non seulement elle affecte
les gens qui vivent et travaillent en ces lieux, mais elle met aussi
en danger la population entière par la destruction des systèmes de
traitement et de distribution d'eau, la perte du courant électrique
pour les hôpitaux. C'est en fait tout le tissu de la société moderne
qui est paralysé.

Tout aussi dévastateur est le silence presque total de tous les
médias occidentaux qui constamment et a dessein retiennent
l'information du public au sujet des effets horribles de ces armes de
cauchemar sur littéralement des millions de gens. « Mettre le feu et
oublier » prend une sens tout nouveau.

L'utilisation de ces armes sur des cibles industrielles constitue un
crime de guerre d'une telle dimensions absolument dévastatrices qu'il
est imaginable que nos populations nationales, si elles étaient
vraiment averties de l'échelle et de l'impact de ces armes de
destruction massive, réagiraient avec horreur et répugnance au fait
que de tels ravages soient commis non seulement en leur nom mais par
des sociétés qui prétendent être civilisées. Pas étonnant que les
principaux médias nous aient caché la réalité.

« La demi-vie de l'uranium appauvri (UA) est de 4,5 milliards
d'années, assurant essentiellement la contamination permanente des
zones affectées. Pour comprendre exactement ce que cela signifie en
termes de temps, considérez que l'âge du système solaire est
légèrement plus long. Les armes à l'UA ont le côté avantageux
supplémentaire d'être un moyen efficace de se débarrasser des déchets
nucléaires. Avant la guerre de l'OTAN [en Yougoslavie], les USA ont
stocké plus de 450 000 tonnes (un milliard de livres anglo-saxonnes)
de déchets de la production d'armes nucléaires, et le Pentagone a
fourni le matériau sans coût aux fabricants d'armes. Une seule
particule d'UA logée dans les poumons équivaut à une radiographie de
la poitrine à l'heure pendant toute une vie. » 2

Les médias occidentaux, utilisant les fausses déclarations de l'OTAN
selon lesquelles l'UA n'a pas eu comme conséquence l'accroissement
des radiations, des déclarations basées sur l'utilisation de
compteurs Geiger qui en fait ne mesurent pas les rayons alpha dégagés
par l'UA, ont permis de rejeter l'accusation de dangerosité à vie de
l'UA.

Il a été fait grand cas de l'utilisation des bombes à fragmentation
mais une variante bien plus mortelle est la bombe au graphite
utilisée contre les stations de transformateurs électriques, conçues
pour détruire l'approvisionnement électrique d'une nation.

« Ce sont de petits récipients remplis de petits rouleaux, enveloppés
avec des fils de silicium. Les fils de silicium sont recouverts
d'aluminium, pour être conducteurs électriquement. quand cette bombe
à fragmentation éclate au-dessus d'une usine de transformateurs, un
genre de toile d'araignée tombe sur l'usine. C'est une sorte d'eau
solide. L'effet est le même que si vous jetiez d'énormes quantités
d'eau sur ces usines de distribution. Cela causerait des courts-
circuits, etc., et toutes ces usines seraient mises hors service.
Mais une plus grande quantité de ces matériaux ont été répandus dans
un brouillard de minuscules particules de silicium. Comme vous le
savez, le verre est fait de silicium. La laine de verre est aussi
faite de silicium. On a interdit la laine de verre il y a vingt ans.
Elle est très cancérigène. Je parle des personnes vivant dans les
secteurs où ces bombes ont été lâchées. Un brouillard épais a plané
là-bas pendant des heures. Les gens ont inhalé ces particules de
silicium. » 3

Les humains ne sont-ils pas ingénieux quand il s'agit de concevoir
des méthodes pour nous exterminer ? Que des millions de gens
hautement habiles soient occupés à inventer ces moyens terrifiants de
meurtre devrait nous mettre en révolte ouverte contre nos
gouvernements commettant de tels actes de pure malfaisance contre nos
frères humains et tou cela dans la quête de profit privé.

Tel est le degré d'aliénation provoqué non seulement parce que des
scientifiques et des ingénieurs dans des bureaux reculés sont
totalement déconnectés des effets de leur ingéniosité, mais parce que
nous tous habitons une culture qui est dans la désinformation depuis
des générations et qui accepte l'idée que nous occupons quelque niche
plus haute dans l'arbre de l'évolution, tant est pernicieuse notre
conception de la « civilisation ».

Pour combien de temps encore pourrons-nous continuer à nous
soustraire à notre complicité tacite dans le meurtre de masse en
vertu de l'idée que nous avons une sorte d'autorisation « d'en haut
», d'un Dieu qui peut parler pitié et compassion et, dans le même
souffle, trouver des excuses à l'usage de la terreur comme moyen de
propager la « civilisation », de style occidental ?

En dernière analyse, les vraies raisons, cachées aux yeux du public,
sont économiques. La Yougoslavie, le dernier bastion de la propriété
sociale en Europe de l'Est, devait voir son économie intérieure
réduite en ruines. Ainsi sous les dehors de cibles « militaires » à
détruire, chaque usine et entrepôt de quelque importance, toutes les
infrastructure, électriques, eau, traitement des eaux usées,
communications et transports, ont été bombardées, souvent à de
nombreuses reprises, sans se soucier des conséquences. Et ne vous y
trompez pas, les plans de l'OTAN mettent en évidence que l'économie
yougoslave devait être bradée au capital occidental.

« Le Pacte de Stabilité sponsorisé par l'Occident pour l'Europe du
sud-est a exigé des privatisations étendues et des investissements
occidentaux.. Le Nouveau Forum de la Serbie, financé par le Foreign
Office britannique. a amené les professionnels et les universitaires
serbes régulièrement en Hongrie pour des discussions avec les «
experts » britanniques et d'Europe Centrale. .. Le Forum a préconisé
une « réintégration de la Yougoslavie dans la famille européenne »,
un euphémisme pour désigner le démantèlement de l'économie
d'orientation socialiste et la mise en ouvre d'une campagne de
privatisation au profit des entreprises occidentales. » 4

En réalité, le mot « civilisation » est en fait un mot de code pour
capitalisme, de style occidental, qui justifie l'extermination de
masse et la terreur contre tout pays qui résiste à ses demandes.


Notes

1. George Monbiot, « Consigning Their Future to Death » (Confiant
leur futur à la mort), The Guardian (Londres), 22 avril 1999.
Tom Walker, « Poison Cloud Engulfs Belgrade » (Le nuage toxique
engloutit Belgrade), The Times (Londres), 19 avril 1999.
Mark Fineman, « Yugoslav City Battling Toxic Enemies » (La ville
yougoslave se bat contre des ennemis toxiques), Los Angeles Times, 6
juillet 1999.
2. Scott Peterson, « Depleted Uranium Bullets Leave Trail in Serbia
» (L'uranium appauvri laisse des traces en Serbie), Nando Medias, 5
octobre 1999.
« Use of Depleted Uranium (DU) Weapons by NATO Forces in Yugoslavia
» (Usage d'armes à l'uranium appauvri par les forces de l'OTAN en
Yougoslavie), Coghill Research Laboratories (UK), avril 1999.
3. Interview de Dushan Vasiljevich par délégation, Belgrade, 7 août
1999.
4. « Britain Trains New Elite for Post-Milosevic Era » (La Grande-
Bretagne forme la nouvelle élite pour l'ère post-Milosevic), The
Independent (Londres), 3 mai 2000.

Toutes les citations et références sont extraites de Stranges
Liberators -- Militarism, Mayhem and the Pursuit of Profit (Étranges
libérateurs -- Militarisme, pagaille et recherche du profit) par
Gregory Elich. Llumina Press, 2006.

Traduit par Pétrus Lombard, membre associé, et révisé par Fausto
Giudice, membre de Tlaxcala, le réseau de traducteurs pour la
diversité linguistique. Cette traduction est en Copyleft pour tout
usage non-commercial : elle est libre d'être reproduite, à condition
d'en respecter l'intégrité et d'en mentionner sources et auteurs.

URL de cet article : http://www.tlaxcala.es/pp.asp?reference=1417&lg=fr

SOURCE : http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/alerte_otan/

German Supreme Court guarantees impunity to NATO butchers

(LA CORTE SUPREMA FEDERALE TEDESCA HA GARANTITO L'IMPUNITÀ AGLI
ASSASSINI DELLA NATO DENUNCIATI DAI PARENTI DEI CIVILI MASSACRATI SUL
PONTE DI VARVARIN)



1) 19.10.06: Serbs take Germany to court over NATO attack during
Kosovo war

2) 02.11.06: German Court Rejects Civilian War Damages Claim

3) TRAGIC BOMBING OF VARVARIN BRIDGE RECALLED IN "THE BOMBER'S DREAM"



=== 1 ===

http://rawstory.com/news/2006/
Serbs_take_Germany_to_court_over_NA_10192006.html

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
October 19, 2006

Serbs take Germany to court over NATO attack during
Kosovo war

Karlsruhe, Germany - The families of civilians killed
and wounded in a NATO airstrike on a Serbian village
17 years ago sought compensation from a German court
on Thursday.

Ten people died and 30 were injured in the May 1999
attack on a bridge in Varvarin at the height of the
Kosovo war.

Although no German planes took part in the raid, the
plaintiffs are seeking 3.5 million euros (4.1 million
dollars) in damages from the German government.

They claim German troops serving with NATO helped
select the target and Germany therefore shared
responsibility for the NATO action.

Three of the 35 plaintiffs appeared before the High
Court to present their case on Thursday.

Vavarian a town of 4,000, is located 200 kilometres
from the province of Kosovo where Slobodon Milosevic's
Serbian army was suppressing ethnic Albanians.

Lawyers for the German government called the attack a
"tragedy," but said they could not see why damages
should be paid because the bridge was a military
target.

NATO has defended the bombing and said the bridge was
a "legitimate" target that served as infrastructure
for the Serbian army fighting in Kosovo.

Varvarin Mayor Zoran Milenkovic, who lost his daughter
Sanja in the air strike, said before the hearing that
"the town was not defended and could not defend itself
against a NATO strike."

Two lower courts had previously rejected claims for
compensation.



=== 2 ===

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2223146,00.html

Deutsche Welle
November 2, 2006

German Court Rejects Civilian War Damages Claim

A German federal court decided Thursday that families
of civilians killed in a 1999 NATO air strike on a
Serbian town cannot seek compensation from Germany,
affirming that civilians may not sue countries for war
damages.

Thirty-five survivors and victims' family members from
the Serbian village of Varvarian had been seeking
about 500,000 euros ($638,200) from the German
government until the German Federal Supreme Court in
Karlsruhe, Germany's highest court of appeals, ruled
Thursday that civilian victims of war cannot claim
such damages.

The incident dates back to 1999 when a surprise NATO
air strike in the town of Varvarian at the height of
the Kosovo war killed 10 civilians and injured another
30.

Although no German planes took direct part in the
raid, the plaintiffs claimed that German troops
serving with NATO helped select the target and that
Germany therefore shared responsibility for the NATO
action.

Potentially wide ramifications

With its ruling against paying out war damages to
civilians, the court countered the advice of an
earlier hearing in Cologne. Though the regional court
there rejected the concrete claim of the Varvarian
survivors and relatives, it had ruled that in
principle civilian victims of war could claim damages.

"Traditionally military operations are not subject to
scrutiny in a court of law," Frankfurt civil advocate
Michael Bothe told Der Spiegel magazine before the
ruling was issued. A ruling in favor of the victims
would have been a "landmark on the way to the
civilization of war," he added.

NATO attack on party went unpunished

Whether a pay-out from NATO would have been described
as civilized by the survivors of the attack is another
question, especially considering the horror of the
event over seven years ago.

In May 1999 two NATO warplanes swooped from a
cloudless sky to bomb a celebration of the Festival of
the Holy Trinity in the Serbian village of
Vavarian....

For the people of Varvarin, NATO's war against the
former Yugoslavia was something that had been
happening far away. The provincial Serbian town had
been spared the bombs of the Kosovo campaign until
that day.

While children rushed across a bridge to join the
festivities in the town, the alliance jets launched
their attacks. One missile obliterated the bridge and
as the townsfolk were rushing to the aid of the
wounded, a second missile struck, claiming additional
lives.

Why the bridge and the people of Varvarin were
targeted remains a mystery, as does whether the pilots
knowingly attacked the party. NATO has not revealed
the nationality of the planes, though many believe
they were F-16 fighters from the United States Air
Force.

The alliance spoke only of "collateral damage" at the
time and stated that the target had been a major
motorway bridge though the town was only made up of
small roads and side streets.

Demanding accountability

The survivors question why those who commit crimes or
fatal mistakes in war should not be made to face up to
the consequences.

"One cannot kill somebody and then say that no-one is
responsible," said Vesna Milenkovic, the mother of a
15-year-old victim of the attack.

Some countries have taken responsibility for similar
attacks in the past, mainly due to potential political
pressures. When the United States admitted to the
bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade during the
war, the furor was enough to prompt a payout of $28
million to the People's Republic of China and $4.5
million to the survivors and relatives of the dead.

Those countries who have been accused of fatal
mistakes by civilian victims have usually escaped
paying compensation by maintaining that individuals
cannot sue a state.

In 2002, when the Canadian Court of Appeal threw out a
case against Canada for what Yugoslavian victims of
the war called its "political decision to take part in
the bombardment by NATO," the Canadian government was
accused of enjoying a self-imposed immunity.

Germany has also rejected similar claims in the past.
The Federal Supreme Court recently rejected a claim
for damages from the inhabitants of the Greek village
of Distomo, which was the scene of a Nazi SS massacre
in 1944.

Call for civil cases gathering strength

Since the end of World War II, however, calls for
individual claims against nations have gotten
stronger. In May 2005 the UN human rights commission
asked states to pave the way for individual damage
claims in cases where international law had been
breached.

Germany, however, has not ratified that resolution.
The Varvarin case landed in German courts because the
Serb claimants were only able find financial support
for their case in Germany.



=== 3 ===


From: petar
Subject: "THE BOMBER'S DREAM" - Documentary on HISTORY TV, Canada
Monday August 7, 8pm ET/5 pm PT with a repeat at 12am ET/9 pm PT
Date: August 4, 2006 1:58:37 AM GMT+02:00


TRAGIC BOMBING OF VARVARIN BRIDGE RECALLED IN
"THE BOMBER'S DREAM"

MONDAY, AUGUST 7 ON HISTORY TELEVISION - Canada
Monday, August 7, 8pm ET/5 pm PT with a repeat at 12am ET/9 pm PT

[ALSO: An interview with filmmaker Barry Stevens -- on "Monday's
Encounter" on CKCU 93.1 FM in Ottawa on the same day, Monday, August
7, at 6 P.M. --To hear the show after the airing, click to:
http://f2.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/pertep (go to CKCU and pick the show)]

The 1999 NATO air strike on a bridge in the small Serbian town of
Varvarin is an important topic covered in THE BOMBER'S DREAM.

The documentary is a landmark, feature-length film that takes a hard
look at the hidden history of the most significant military
innovation of the past century. It airs the day after Hiroshima
Day, on Monday, August 7, 8pm ET/5 pm PT (repeat at 12 midnight ET/9
pm PT).

Directed by award-winning Canadian filmmaker Barry Stevens, the film
addresses the heated moral controversy of aerial bombing and looks at
a recent high-tech air strike that went tragically wrong, resulting
in the first-ever lawsuit by the victims against those who bombed
them. It tells the story of Vesna Milenkovich, who lost her
daughter Sanya when the bridge in Varvarin was bombed in a NATO air
strike. Milenkovich joins other injured townspeople to seek justice
in a foreign court.

CAUGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS: HISTORY TELEVISION'S THE BOMBER'S DREAM
TARGETS THE ISSUES AND ETHICS OF BOMBING CIVILIANS

Nothing epitomizes the brutality of modern warfare like aerial
bombing. By the end of World War II, bombing had erased the old
distinction between soldiers and civilians. Air power has given the
USA and the West their unprecedented dominance. Yet rarely has
television told this story.

Award-winning Canadian filmmaker Barry Stevens weaves history and a
present-day detective story into a visually arresting and personal
journey into the heart of desire for ultimate military power.

A writer, director, and producer of many documentaries, Barry Stevens
is perhaps best known for " Offspring " (2001). It was sold to about
40 countries and nominated for an International Emmy, and received
the Donald Brittain Gemini for best social documentary, and other
honors. His writing awards include Geminis for Gerrie & Louise,
(1997 International Emmy for Best Documentary) and The Diary of
Evelyn Lau (featuring the screen debut of Sandra Oh).

- 30 -

Contact: Linda Litwack at (416) 782-7837/ lalitwack@....
History Television is an Alliance Atlantis Network. For more
information on
History Television programming, please visit
www.aacmedia.allianceatlantis.com

(francais / english / deutsch / italiano)

Uranium appauvri


1) Torino 2/11: Presentazione della campagna internazionale per la messa al bando delle armi all'uranio impoverito

2) Uranio impoverito, una nuova inchiesta (Gigi Malabarba)

3) Serbie : long silence sur les conséquences des bombardements à l’uranium appauvri (CdB)

4) ATOMKRIEG OHNE ATOMPILZ. Von Sabine Schiffer

... Auch der Truppenübungsplatz im fränkischen Grafenwöhr ist im Verdacht für gesteigerte Krebsraten in der Umgebung verantwortlich zu sein...
... Anche la base per le esercitazioni delle truppe a Grafenwoehr (Germania meridionale) è sospettata di essere responsabile per gli tassi di insorgenza tumorale nei dintorni ...

5) Israel using US-supplied depleted uranium in Lebanon (LINKS)

6) La position de la Fédération Syndicale Mondiale sur le nucléaire.

7) Scienziati sospettano che le armi usate da Israele nel Sud Libano contengano materiale radioattivo / Israele ha usato in Libano bombe all’uranio arricchito (R. Fisk)

8) MORE LINKS AND VIDEOS 
- on DU in Iraq, Afghahistan, USA... 
- L’uranium appauvri, désastre sanitaire pour les Irakiens et les Afghans


=== 1 ===

Presentazione della campagna internazionale
per la messa al bando delle armi all'uranio impoverito
 
Parteciperanno:

 

Hitoshi Shimizu, regista di documentari

 

Naomi Toyoda, foto-reporter

 

Massimo Zucchetti, docente di impianti nucleari al Politecnico di Torino 

 

Nel corso dell'incontro verrà proiettato il video-inchiesta Unknown Terror of DU di Hitoshi Shimizu e Naomi Toyoda, realizzato a Nassiriya, già diffuso da RAINEWS24 e sarà inoltre allestita una mostra fotografica con immagini scattate in Irak da Naomi Toyoda.

Salone Gandhi – Centro Studi Sereno Regis – Via Garibaldi 13 – TORINO

Giovedì, 2 novembre 2006 - Ore 18,00

 


=== 2 ===

il manifesto
29 Ottobre 2006

il commento

Uranio impoverito, una nuova inchiesta

Gigi Malabarba

Aniello D'Alessandro, paracadutista di 27 anni di Casalvelino, è l'ultima vittima accertata dall'Osservatorio militare. Con il giovane napoletano salgono a 49 le morti di reduci dalle missioni all'estero, che hanno subito una probabile contaminazione con polveri prodotte dalle esplosioni di materiale bellico, che vede tra i principali imputati l'uranio killer.
La possibilità di far emergere la verità su una vicenda che ha visto omertà istituzionali bipartisan e boicottaggi sistematici e persino ricatti sugli ammalati e i loro familiari da parte delle gerarchie militari è in gran parte legata oggi all'iniziativa parlamentare.
Con un voto all'unanimità in sede deliberante, la Commissione difesa del Senato ha nuovamente istituito una Commissione d'inchiesta sull'uranio impoverito, consentendo così di portare a compimento il lavoro iniziato nel corso dell'ultimo anno della precedente legislatura. La principale novità risiede nella possibilità di indagare non solo sui militari colpiti ma anche «sulle popolazioni civili nei teatri di conflitto e nelle zone adiacenti le basi militari sul territorio nazionale».
Si tratta di un potenziale salto di qualità nel monitoraggio degli effetti delle azioni belliche, che potrebbe avere conseguenze dirompenti sull'uso disinvolto di armamenti micidiali nei conflitti, come dimostrato dal massiccio impiego di armi di sterminio in Iraq e in Afghanistan, ma anche - recentemente - nei bombardamenti israeliani in Libano.
La tutela della salute dei militari italiani, infatti, è stato ed è il motore dell'iniziativa parlamentare che, in qualità di segretario della precedente Commissine, mi ha trovato particolarmente favorevole: nei Balcani migliaia di giovani sono stati mandati letteralmente allo sbaraglio, ossia senza protezioni, in un teatro di guerra in cui sono stati sparati dalla Nato numerosi proiettili all'uranio impoverito: sono centinaia gli ammalati con patologie tumorali. Da anni erano noti i rischi sull'impiego di tali armamenti, ma forse si è voluto tenere irresponsabilmente all'oscuro i militari per non riconoscerne gli effetti devastanti sulle popolazioni civili, che la cosiddetta guerra umanitaria contro la Jugoslavia avrebbe dovuto aiutare.
La Commissione d'inchiesta non è stata in condizione di definire un preciso nesso di causalità tra uranio impoverito e insorgenza di patologie sia per lo scarso tempo a disposizione sia per il continuo depistaggio dei vertici militari e del Ministero della difesa, che ha impedito la raccolta di dati statistici per una corretta analisi epidemiologica.
Quel che appare certo è che «la dispersione nell'ambiente di nanoparticelle di minerali pesanti prodotte dall'esplosione di materiale bellico» queste malattie e questi decessi li provoca.
La nuova iniziativa parlamentare può favorire la nascita di un centro di eccellenza tra l'Università di Modena e l'Ospedale militare di Padova, da cui passano gran parte dei militari in missione, per sviluppare un lavoro serio: i militari colpiti e i loro familiari, le popolazioni civili che vivono attorno ai poligoni di tiro, in particolare in Sardegna, e tante vittime nei teatri di guerra aspettano con ansia che la politica cominci a porre rimedio a questo dramma.
Lo stanziamento da parte del governo dell'Unione di 300 mila euro a sostegno del fallito progetto Signum, istituito dal Ministro della difesa Antonio Martino proprio per gettare fumo negli occhi ed evitare indagini più serie (e per favorire il giro di amici), speriamo sia solo l'ultima pagina di un libro della vergogna che vorremmo fosse definitivamente chiuso.

Gigi Malabarba già segretario della Commissione d'inchiesta del Senato



=== 3 ===


DANAS

Serbie : long silence sur les conséquences des bombardements à l’uranium appauvri

TRADUIT PAR PERSA ALIGRUDIC
Publié dans la presse : 27 septembre 2006
Mise en ligne : lundi 2 octobre 2006


Pourquoi garde-t-on le silence sur les conséquences des bombardements à l’uranium appauvri effectués par l’OTAN en 1999 ? 15 tonnes d’uranium appauvri ont été projetées sur la Serbie et 20 tonnes sur le Kosovo. Même si les données fiables et complètes font toujours défaut, on observe déjà une recrudescence anormale des tumeurs malignes et de la mortalité...


Les experts écologiques et médicaux ont récemment annoncé qu’il fallait s’attendre d’ici à 2020 à une « explosion » de maladies malignes chez les citoyens de Serbie (et du Kosovo-Metohija), en conséquence de l’utilisation de munitions à l’uranium appauvri pendant les bombardements de l’OTAN sur la Yougoslavie en 1999. Bien que les informations sur l’accroissement des maladies malignes ne soient pas encore fiables, les statistiques médicales montrent d’ores et déjà une augmentation de la mortalité due au carcinome.

D’après les informations accessibles, au cours des 78 jours de l’opération « Ange de la charité », quinze tonnes d’uranium appauvri ont été jeté sur sept endroits du sud de la Serbie, surtout autour de Vranje et Bujanovac, et près de 20 tonnes sur 105 endroits au Kosovo, en particulier autour de Prizren et de Pec.

La Serbie garde toujours le silence sur les effets de l’utilisation de munitions à l’uranium appauvri, et de plus aucune mesure systématique de contrôle et de protection sanitaire de la population n’a été prise, pas plus pour les participants à la guerre que pour les civils. Cependant, les experts de la Faculté pour la protection du travail de Nis, ainsi que les reponsables et les épidémiologues de la Clinique d’oncologie du Centre clinique de Nis ont fait récemment état de ce problème, lors d’une conférence sur les conséquences écologiques et sanitaires de la contamination par l’uranium appauvri, un « composant » fatal du résidu nucléaire.

Cette conférence a été organisée par l’organisation non-gouvernementale Eko-Land, dans le cadre d’un projet ayant pour but « d’éveiller la conscience écologique des citoyens et de les impliquer activement dans le règlement du problème ».

« Étant donné que la science médicale montre que l’évolution de la malignité provoquée par l’irradiation à l’uranium appauvri demande dix à vingt ans, il est plus que certain que nous aurons en Serbie en l’an 2020 un énorme accroissement de maladies malignes, ainsi que l’apparition de modifications génétiques chez les humains et les animaux. Ce n’est pas seulement la Serbie qui est contaminée, mais un espace beaucoup plus vaste, car ce métal radioactif se propage facilement. J’espère que 1999 sera la dernière année au cours de laquelle le monde aura utilisé ce type de munitions », avertit Velimir Nedeljkovic, professeur à la Faculté de Nis. Il ajoute que ses estimations ne relèvent pas « d’un discours contre l’américanisme et l’européanisation, bien au contraire ». Il tient à cœur à la Serbie d’appartenir au monde développé qui insiste sur de meilleures conditions de vie et sur les droits de l’homme. Et le droit le plus fondamental est celui d’avoir un environnement sain, qui garantiti le droit à la vie et à la santé de tous les êtres humains.


Un très étrange silence

Après 1999, on a quelque peu évoqué en Serbie des bombardements à l’uranium appauvri, mais il y a eu aussi beaucoup de mensonges. Par la suite, on en a moins parlé. Et tandis que les médias étrangers parlaient des militaires italiens et allemands atteints de maladies, de notre côté nous n’en parlions pas et le cachions, comme si nos soldats et nos civils n’étaient pas touchés par la maladie.

Nous agissions ainsi probablement parce qu’il s’agit d’un sujet propre à inquiéter l’opinion publique. Or, il est très important que les citoyens de notre pays sachent ce qui nous est arrivé en 1999, et quelles sont les mesures pouvant être prises pour amoindrir les conséquences. « Nous ne devons pas oublier ce qui s’est passé, et c’est aux reponsables politiques de dire si nous pourrons le pardonner », estime Velimir Nedeljkovic.

Il indique qu’après les bombardements à l’uranium appauvri sur sept endroits du sud de la Serbie, un autre problème s’est ajouté, celui de la négligence de l’État. Après les bombardements, les autorités n’ont fait que marquer ces endroits « en les protégeant de manière primitive d’une simple clôture de fil barbelé ». À certains endroits, la clôture a vite fait de disparaître et les paysans faisaient paître leurs troupeaux sur le sol contaminé par l’uranium appauvri.

« Ce n’est que l’année dernière que ces lieux contaminés ont été nettoyés. Ce retard de six ans après représente un grand danger pour la population de Serbie. Pendant ce laps de temps, l’uranium appauvri s’est propagé sur notre territoire par le bétail, la chaîne alimentaire, les cours d’eau et l’air ». Velimir Nedeljkovic ajoute qu’un grand problème tient aussi au fait que l’État ne s’est pas soucié de procéder correctement au traitement des métaux des chars et des autres matériels du sud de la Serbie et du Kosovo touchés par l’uranium appauvri. Les munitions à l’uranium appauvri sont en fait utilisées précisément pour bombarder le matériel blindé, les forts et les blockhaus en raison de leur grande capacité de pénétration pouvant développer des températures élevées. L’uranium appauvri, placé dans l’élément pénétrateur, peut détruire « facilement » la surface la plus solide.

« On ne connaît pas les lieux et les routes où ont été acheminés les métaux des chars radioactifs. Nous avons appris il y a peu de temps que plusieurs wagons de résidus métalliques avaient été bloqués près de la frontière macédonienne car on avait constaté leur radioactivité. À Medurovo, près de Nis, la ferraille provenant de la découpe des chars radioactifs est longtemps restée entassée, de sorte que « l’ange de la charité » revient à nous de nouveau, le plus souvent sous forme de résidus métalliques », affirme Velimir Nedeljkovic.


Le précédent de la Bosnie-Herzégovine

Il rappelle qu’avant les bombardements en Serbie et au Kosovo, l’uranium appauvri avait aussi été utilisé en Bosnie-Herzégovine. Ses conséquences, dit-il, sont dévastatrices car à certains endroits, par exemple à Hadzic, qui a « quasiment perdu toute sa population suite à une explosion de maladies cancéreuses sept ans seulement après les bombardements ». Les mêmes conséquences ont été observées dans d’autres parties du monde où ces munitions radioactives ont été utilisées. L’uranium appauvri a d’abord été utilisé en Somalie, et pendant la guerre du Golfe persique.

« L’argument ‘défensif’ des pays qui utilisent les armes à l’uranium appauvri, affirmant que la Convention de Genève n’est pas enfreinte, est absolument inadmissible. Il est vrai que lors des bombardements de l’OTAN, les armes nucléaires n’ont pas été utilisées, car les munitions fabriquées avec l’uranium appauvri ne sont pas considérés comme des armes nucléaires car elles ne provoquent pas de réaction nucléaire. Mais la Convention de Genève interdit également les projectiles à l’uranium appauvri, qui sont des armes radioactives, chimiques et toxiques. De plus, ces projectiles contenant de l’uranium appauvri sont des armes qui tuent de manière non sélective et apportent des souffrances excessives, ce qui est également interdit par la Convention. De toute façon, si le monde avait fait preuve de bon sens, l’utilisation de telles armes aurait pu être sanctionnée précisément selon la convention de Genève », estime Velimir Nedeljkovic.


Recyclage

Il pense que la réponse à la question de savoir pourquoi le monde développé utilise ces munitions est assez simple. Les résidus nucléaires sont l’un des plus grands cauchemars de l’humanité contemporaine. Il y en a des quantités énormes (cent millions de tonnes en Amérique et autant dans le reste du monde), et « personne, pas même la science, ne sait qu’en faire ». Il y a eu des tentatives de les déposer au fond des océans et des mers, mais on y a heureusement renoncé, car les conséquences auraient été désastreuses. Dans un passé récent, on a même pensé envoyer ces résidus dans le cosmos.

« La seule manière qui reste est le recyclage, comme on le fait au Japon (le procédé mené dans les réacteurs nucléaires ne se fait pas jusqu’au bout mais on l’interrompt, et le reste des barres d’uranium est recyclé, enrichi et réutilisé comme combustible dans ces réacteurs nucléaires). Les États-Unis et la Russie, ayant de grands espaces, stockent leurs résidus nucléaires dans des régions reculées en attendant que la science donne une réponse dans les temps futurs. Mais comme les quantités sont devenues énormes, « quelqu’un au Pentagone a eu l’idée d’empaqueter les résidus dans des bombes en les envoyant chez les autres ».


Preuves expérimentales...

Velimir Nedeljkovic ajoute que pour l’instant, il n’y a pas d’accord entre les USA et les pays membres de l’OTAN, d’une part, et les pays dans les territoires desquels ont été utilisées les munitions à uranium appauvri sur les conséquences nocives que celui-ci provoque. Les pays qui l’utilise s’en tiennent à l’argument qu’il n’existe pas de preuves concrètes que la santé des hommes serait affectée seulement par l’uranium appauvri. Il est en effet difficile de le prouver, surtout dans les pays techniquement non développés. Car la science exige aussi des preuves expérimentales et « des preuves sur la population humaine ».

Et comment doivent se protéger les pays, parmi lesquels la Serbie, qui ne disposent pas de « preuves concrètes » ? Selon les propos de Velimir Nedeljkovic, la Serbie a pris au moins six ans de retard en ayant recueilli et déchargé le sol contaminé à Vinca, qui est « le meilleur moyen de protection ». Il lui reste à mener à bien l’assainissement des sols, surtout des plus grandes surfaces qui ont subi ces effets. Cela signifie qu’il faudrait planter sur ces lieux « suspects » des cultures qui extraient du sol les particules d’uranium appauvri et les déposent dans les racines, les arbres ou les fruits. L’avoine possède de grandes possibilités d’absorption mais évidemment elle ne doit pas être consommée dans l’alimentation humaine ou animale. Il reste néanmoins aux citoyens de rester « prudents » toute leur vie, quelle que soit cette signification, après tout ce qui les a « touchés ».


=== 4 ===

Quelle: aikor-info vom 26. August 2006 http://www.aikor.de

ATOMKRIEG OHNE ATOMPILZ
Willige Vollstrecker oder Aufstand der Anständigen?

Von Sabine Schiffer
( 15.08.2006 )

Über die Bezeichnung „Friedenskanzler“ für Gerhard Schröder“ kann man streiten. Über eine ähnliche Bezeichnung für Angela Merkel nicht. Seit ihrem Machtantritt in Deutschland weht ein anderer Wind, der sich im aktuellen Libanonkrieg direkt und vernichtend niederschlägt. Über die Solidaritätsgefühle zu Israel ist man plötzlich zum Befürworter für Krieg geworden.

Mit ein bisschen Protest hier und ein bisschen Friedensdemo dort ist es nun nicht mehr getan, um die Empörung über den Verrat an unserer Idee von einem friedlichen Zusammenleben zum Ausdruck zu bringen. Offensichtlich haben wir alle unserem Wunsch nach Frieden nicht wirklich Nachdruck verliehen – die letzten Jahre und Jahrzehnte nicht und aktuell schon gleich gar nicht, denn während wir mit Diskussionen über Werte (sic!) und kulturelle Differenzen abgelenkt werden, wurden und werden Waffen von der menschenverachtendsten und –vernichtendsten Art stetig weiter entwickelt. Während man uns - mit dem Blick auf Iran - vor noch nicht entwickelten Atomwaffen warnt, ist der Atomkrieg – angeblich in unserem Interesse geführt - seit Jahren bereits in vollem Gange.

Die Folge ist, dass die Verseuchung der Erde mit abgereichertem Uran zunimmt – in Ex-Jugoslawien, Irak und Afghanistan geben die Missbildungen an Säuglingen und der natürlich nicht vorkommende Mehrfachkrebs als zunehmende Diagnose bei Erwachsenen und Kindern sowie ehemaligen Soldaten einen Vorgeschmack auf das, was uns weltweit erwartet. Derlei Munition – einst in Deutschland entwickelt – nun im Libanon einzusetzen, zeugt von der Verblendung der Täter, die nicht kapieren wollen, dass sie nicht nur den Gegner, sondern sich selbst gleich mit ausrotten. Teile Jugoslawiens, Irak und Afghanistan gelten in Fachkreisen bereits jetzt als unbewohnbar  – die verbleibenden Menschen dort sterben wie die Fliegen. Auch der Truppenübungsplatz im fränkischen Grafenwöhr ist im Verdacht für gesteigerte Krebsraten in der Umgebung verantwortlich zu sein. Auch hier werden nach wie vor Informationen über die eingesetzte Munition zurückgehalten, die notwendige Bündelung von Daten verhindert. Prof. Siegwart-Horst Günther vom Gelben Kreuz International trägt derlei Beobachtungen seit Jahren zusammen. Dr. Doug Rokke, ehemaliger Zuständiger des U.S. Army Depleted Uranium Project kommt zu den gleichen Ergebnissen. Es gibt Aufrufe zur Ächtung dieser Waffen von Ärzte gegen Atomkraft und der Internationalen Koalition für ein Verbot von Atomwaffen (ICBUW) uvm.

Wie kommt es, dass wir angesichts der Bedrohung einfach zusehen? Ist es die bereits eingetretene Gewöhnung an den Krieg, die uns abstumpfen lässt? Vielleicht, weil wir ihn weit weg wähnen? Welch ein Irrtum. 2003 wurden in Großbritannien enorm erhöhte radioaktive Werte gemessen. In Irak hat man zu der Zeit tonnenweise Uranmunition ausgebracht. Ob als Blindgänger schlummernd in der Erde oder durch die Explosion beim „bunkerbrechenden“ Aufschlag zu Uranoxid verdampft, es verstrahlt die Erde wie die Menschen – Zivilbevölkerung wie Soldaten – und hat eine Halbwertzeit von 4 ½ Mrd. von Jahren. Die entstehenden Nanopartikel sind durch nichts filterbar, auch nicht durch Schutzanzüge oder Gasmasken. Einmal in die Atmosphäre ausgebracht, verändern sie Zellen von Pflanzen, Tieren und Menschen, schädigen das Erbgut auf immer – und überall. Diese Fakten kaum ertragen zu können, darf nicht zu einem Wegsehen führen. Dies kommt lediglich Desinformationskampagnen vonseiten neokonservativer Kreise in den USA und ihrer Verbündeten weltweit zu pass. Die Friedensbewegung in den USA fühlt sich von Europa im Stich gelassen und die Bundesregierung hat daran einen unrühmlichen Anteil. Der Schulterschluss mit George W. Bush bedeutet Krieg, und dieser wird schon seit Jahren mit unerlaubten Waffen geführt.

Massiven Interessen im Energie- und Politsektor werden Menschen geopfert – egal ob Israeli oder Palästinenser, amerikanischer Soldat oder iranischer Despot. Als lange trainiertes Medienpublikum haben wir uns auf das unbeteiligte Zusehen verlegt und treten nicht zum Schutz für uns und unsere Nachfahren ein. Nicht lange nach dem Schock über die nationalsozialistische Diktatur und das Mitläufertum in Deutschland müssen wir feststellen, dass wir zum großen Teil wieder schweigen. Wir brauchen die ältere Generation nicht mehr zu fragen: „Warum habt Ihr nichts dagegen getan?“ Wir können es hier und jetzt aktuell erfahren, wie es kommt, dass man durch Schweigen einer Entwicklung zustimmt, für die man schließlich mit verantwortlich ist im Informationszeitalter medialer Demokratie. Solange wir uns noch frei äußern können, haben wir die Pflicht, dieses zu tun und von unserer Regierung menschenwürdige Volksvertretung zu verlangen oder sie abzusetzen. Die demokratischen Möglichkeiten werden jedoch kontinuierlich eingeschränkt, und auch dies lassen wir geschehen. Welche Sicherheit vor zellzerstörenden radioaktiven Nanopartikeln soll uns aber der Einsatz der Bundeswehr im Inland oder der große Lauschangriff geben? Einsichten in die Wirkung von Dauerniedrigstrahlung haben wir mindestens seit den Atombombenversuchen in Polynesien.

Neben Mitläufern aus Unwissenheit scheint es auch einige Mittäter aus Gleichgültigkeit oder kurzsichtiger Profitgier zu geben – oder aus falsch verstandener Solidarität, der gerade wieder einige Israelis aufsitzen. Natürlich wird man zunächst und gerne die Übeltäter aus Überzeugung verurteilen – zur Entlastung seiner selbst. Aber auch Unwissenheit schützt vor Strafe nicht. Die Strafe wird für viele von uns die Todesstrafe sein – das Urteil lassen wir gerade sprechen, statt die wirklichen Verbrecher an der Menschheit vor Gericht zu zerren und diese alles vernichtende Kriegsführung mit Langzeiteffekt zu stoppen. Es herrscht eine Tendenz zum Global War vor – zur Macht- und Ressourcensicherung und als Ablenkungsstrategie vom wirtschaftlichen Weltmachtstreben, so kurzsichtig es auch ist – vorbei an nationalen, religiösen und ethnischen Grenzen. Bombennutzung sichert weiteren Absatz. Die Nationalität der Macher heißt „Profit“ und der Gott der gnadenlosen Kriegstreiber „Geld“. Sie sind international organisiert und kennen keine kulturellen Berührungsängste. Dies erklärt auch, warum sich Waffenverkäufe nicht auf den „Freund“ beschränken – auch beim „Feind“ macht man Geschäfte. Angesichts der Erkenntnis, dass die Opfer der perfiden Waffensysteme eh im gleichen Boot der nachhaltigen Verseuchung sitzen, erhält der Zynismus des Gegeneinanderaufhetzens noch eine ganz eigene Qualität. Business as usual: Militärausrüstung steigert den Umsatz – auch bei uns in Deutschland. Börsenkurse steigen und fallen und schütten für die kalkulierenden Macher ihre Gewinne aus. Übrigens, der Uranpreis steigt auf Grund der erhöhten Nachfrage.

Weitere Informationen zum Thema:

www.uni-kassel.de/fb5/frieden/themen/DU-Geschosse/reinecke.html
www.bandepleteduranium.org
www.ippnw.de/Frieden/Uranmunition/?swip=5f71cb37370bd4841c9859f66c80cddc
www.physik.uni-oldenburg.de/Docs/puma/radio/Uran_Munition.html,
www.urankonferenz.de


=== 5 ===

Israel using US-supplied depleted uranium in Lebanon
(Written by Israeli Committee for a Middle East Free from Atomic, Biological & Chemical Weapons)

The government of Israel has recently purchased from the United  States bunker-busting bombs (GBU-28), for use in its war in Lebanon.  These bombs contain depleted uranium - a carcinogenic substance  that spreads in the form of a toxic and radioactive dust, which  enters the lungs and bones and is especially harmful to babies  and young children. We call on the government of Israel not to make use of these  bombs. This call is of special significance on 6 August, the anniversary  of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima...
The Israeli Committee for a Middle East Free from Atomic, Biological Chemical Weapons, P.O.Box 16202 Tel Aviv 61161, Israel (Gideon Spiro Tel. +972-(0)3-5238584)



APPENDIX TO ILLEGAL WEAPONS IN LEBANON
(Sarah Meyer, INDEX RESEARCH)

The following is an update of source material for Index on Illegal US Weapons in Lebanon. (30.07.06.) (...) "Bush is now rushing depleted uranium (DU) bombs to Israel. … Laser guided GBU-28 bunker penetration bombs and much of the tank ammunition, such as M829 A1 shells, have DU penetrators built into them. What is even more galling is the likelihood that Rakon NZ probably manufactured the software to guide these obscene weapons… The silence of most of the media is deafening over this increasing menace to our global atmosphere."...


Blog Lull & Depleted Uranium
(UrShalim)

...Is any one in Beirut feeling a funny burning sensation on the face and in the eyes like me? Especially those who visit the suburbs? Could it just be the hot August weather? Al-Akhbar [Ar] reported yesterday that a bomb hole (3m deep 10m wide) in Khiam was tested for nuclear radiation by Dr. Ibrahim Rashidi of the Lebanese University and Mohammad Kobeisi of the National Council for Scientific Research. The radiation level was very high according to both. Depleted uranium is suspected. Samples were taken for further testing to determine the type of radiation. Bernard Koshner (ex minister, France) was present according to Al-Akhbar. The article, written by Kamel Jaber, mentions suspicions of Khiam being hit by Tomahawk rockets...



Weapons Used and Targets Hit in Israeli Bombing Raids
(Leuren Moret, Globalresearch.ca)

...The following types of ammunition were used by Israeli forces: * cluster bombs * depleted uranium bombs - including an order during the war by Israel from the US for 100 more GBU-28 5000 lb. depleted uranium warhead bombs * depleted uranium 105mm and 120mm tank rounds [Info from Major Doug Rokke which he saw in the news] * missiles (probably DU) * white phosphorous weapons * Baccilus globigii - bioweapon which makes people vomit but does not result in death. (A military source said this was determined from color coding on the weapons)  This weapon was used in southern Lebanon and reported that it suddenly caused people to get sick. * Reports from MDs treating the wounded describing new kinds of wounds never seen before which may be laser weapons. The US has them (classified) on the ABRAMS tanks. There were certainly Directed Energy Weapons. (DEW) used by Israel because shrunken bodies and other types of indicators were reported by Lebanese MDs, descriptions exactly like wounds etc. reported in Baghdad at the airport in 2003 and since. * Toxic chemicals...



Scientists suspect Israeli arms used in South contain radioactive matter
(Mohammed Zaatari, Daily Star staff)

Mohammad Ali Qobeissi, a member of the National Council for Scientific Research, said on Sunday that a crater caused by an Israeli munition in Khiam contained "a high degree of unidentified radioactive materials." Qobeissi, along with Ibrahim Rashidi from the Faculty of Sciences at the Lebanese University, have inspected the crater - which is 3 meters deep and has a diameter of 10 meters - in the Jlahiyyeh quarter in Khiam, with a Geiger-Muller radioactivity counter and nuclear material detector. "A team from the council will test a sample from the crater in order to find out what kinds of radioactive materials it contains," Qobeisi told The Daily Star...



The Middle East : Lethal Legacy.
(Felicity Arbuthnot)

...Yet in Israel's invasion of Lebanon, bombardment of Palestine the depleted uranium (DU) weapons used, are so lethal, that Israel, as well as the region, now has the soil in which they plant, the water they drink, the air they breathe, poisoned for a potential four and a half billion years. With the use and release of other lethal toxins, so is genetic damage to haunt future generations : 'until the sun goes out.' Israel's actions have set the region's yet to be conceived, on potential self destruct. It is only needed to view pictures of Iraq's congenital birth deformities after the use of depleted uranium (DU) weaponry there in the 1991 war - and those of the children conceived by returning US and UK soldiers, to look humanity's annihilation in the face. The bombs rushed to Israel (via the UK) were also DU, designated unanimously, a weapon of mass destruction by three UN sub-committees. 'Depleted' uranium is a misnoma. Uranium weapons are a product of the nuclear fuel cycle, thus contain all the lethal radioisotopes which should be stored in a high level nuclear waste facility, not disposed of over populations. 'Nuclear waste with fins on', is how one expert describes DU missiles. Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction which Prime Minister Blair assured Britain: 'could be launched in forty five minutes', but Britain, the US and Israel do - and did...


---

A Search for Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Depleted Uranium (DU) Toxicity

Jalal Pourahmad, Monireh Ghashang, Hossein Ali Ettehadi, Ruhollah Ghalandari Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Research Center, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, P.O.Box 14155-6153, Iran

Inc. Environ Toxicol 21: 349–354, 2006.

Addition of U(VI) (uranyl acetate) to isolated rat hepatocytes results in rapid glutathione oxidation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, lipid peroxidation, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and lysosomal membrane rupture before hepatocyte lysis occurred. Cytotoxicity was prevented by ROS scavengers, antioxidants, and glutamine (ATP generator). Hepatocyte dichlorofluorescein oxidation was inhibited by mannitol (a hydroxyl radical scavenger) or butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene (antioxidants). Glutathione depleted hepatocytes were resistant to U(VI) toxicity and much less dichlorofluorescein oxidation occurred. Reduction of U(VI) by glutathione or cysteine in vitro was also accompanied by oxygen uptake and was inhibited by Ca(II) (a U(IV) or U(VI) reduction inhibitor). U(VI)-induced cytotoxicity and ROS formation was also inhibited by Ca(II), which suggests that U(IV) and U(IV) GSH mediate ROS formation in isolated hepatocytes. The U(VI) reductive mechanism required for toxicity has not been investigated. Cytotoxicity was also prevented by cytochrome P450 inhibitors, particularly CYP 2E1 inhibitors, but not inhibitors of DT diaphorase or glutathione reductase. This suggests that P450 reductase and reduced cytochrome P450 contributes to U(VI) reduction to U(IV). 

In conclusion, U(VI) cytotoxicity is associated with mitochondrial/lysosomal toxicity by the reduced biological metabolites and ROS.

Source: Mauro Cristaldi


=== 6 ===

FÉDÉRATION  SYNDICALE MONDIALE

Athènes le 24 Octobre, 2006

La position de la Fédération Syndicale Mondiale sur le nucléaire.


Dès sa fondation jusqu'à présent, la FSM et le mouvement syndicaliste de classe dans le monde entier sont pour la paix, le désarmement, la Sécurité Mondiale et la résolution de

(Message over 64 KB, truncated)

(english / italiano)

In vista un rapido deterioramento dei rapporti tra Russia e Stati Uniti

1) A proposito dell’assassinio di Politkovskaja (Movisol.org)
2) Who killed Anna Politkovskaya? (John Laughland)
3) In vista un rapido deterioramento dei rapporti tra Russia e Stati
Uniti (Mauro Gemma)
4) Putin al Consiglio europero di Lahti: "Pensate a quello che avete
combinato in Jugoslavia!"
5) Russia, Israel and Media Omissions (ALISON WEIR)
6) FLASHBACK 2004: Russia, sprofonda il colosso Yukos


<< Anna Politkovskaja, pur esaltata come martire della verità a
destra e sinistra, non era che una spia al servizio
dell'imperialismo. Intima di Eltsin e della sua banda di criminali
mafiosi, non ha mai denunciato il minimo malaffare di quei
distruttori dell'URSS e della Russia, nè dell'ubriacone venduto a
Washington, nè dei suoi oligarchi che si sono mangiati i russi vivi e
si sono venduti perfino i cimiteri. Regolare collaboratrice del
circuito radio "Liberty" (ricordate Radio B-92 e Otpor???) gestito
dalla Cia fin dal 1948 per destabilizzare i paesi socialisti, è stata
il megafono dei terroristi ceceni finanziati e armati dalla Cia e dal
Mossad per sottrarre il petrolio caucasico alle rotte e al controllo
dei russi. Pessima scrittrice, non è accettabile che una sinistra non
corrotta come quella di Bertinotti o di parte del manifesto si
allinei passiva e acritica agli sterotipi falsi della propaganda
imperialista gestita dai gangster di Washington, Tel Aviv e UE. La
Politkovskaja era la Fallaci o il Magdi Allam russo. Niente di più.
Una vera schifezza. >>
Fulvio Grimaldi

See also:

The Oligarchs
By Uri Avnery, 2 August, 2004, Gush-Shalom
http://www.countercurrents.org/avnery020804.htm


=== 1 ===

http://www.lernesto.it/index.aspx?m=77&f=2&IDArticolo=12160

http://www.movisol.org/znews195.htm

A proposito dell’assassinio di Politkovskaja

di Movisol.org

su stessa fonte del 17/10/2006

L’assassinio della giornalista russa dissidente Anna Politkobvskaya
va inquadrato nel contesto della serie di assassinii avvenuti nelle
ultime settimane, evidentemente miranti a ledere la stabilità
politica del presidente Vladimir Putin. Tutti gli assassini in
questione sono stati condotti da “professionisti”. E’ noto che il
crimine organizzato russo è collegato con i vari oligarchi latitanti
dalla giustizia russa. Il più famoso degli oligarchi è Boris
Berezovsky che ha ottenuto “asilo politico” in Inghilterra.
* Il 14 settembre è stato assassinato Andrei Kozlov, vice presidente
della banca centrale russa. Deciso sostenitore della politica del
governo, Kozlov era impegnato contro il riciclaggio del denaro ed
aveva ordinato il ritiro di alcune licenze bancarie.
* Il 30 settembre è stato assassinato Enver Zighashin, ingegnere capo
della TKN BP, la sussidiaria russa della British Petroleum. Si tratta
di un assassinio che certamente non ha risolto gli attriti tra Russia
e imprese petrolifere occidentali ma li ha piuttosto aggravati.
* Il 7 ottobre è stata assassinata Anna Politkovskaya.
* Il 10 ottobre è stato assassinato Alexander Plokhin, direttore
della branca moscovita della Vneshtorgbank, banca di stato che
riveste un ruolo importante nei rapporti economici che la Russia
intrattiene con Africa, Asia, America Latina ed Europa, in
particolare quelli promossi dallo stesso Putin. La Vneshtorgbank ha
recentemente acquistato il 5% del gigante aerospaziale europeo EADS,
proprietario di Airbus. L’acquisto ha suscitato una notevole
controversia, sia a motivo delle implicazioni economiche che quelle
di sicurezza.
* Il 16 ottobre è stato assassinato Anatoly Voronin, esperto
immobiliare della Itar-Tass.

Alexander Lebedev che è comproprietario, con Michail Gorbaciov di
Novaya Gazeta, il giornale su cui scriveva la Politkovskaya, ha
pubblicato un commento intitolato: “Chiunque abbia sparato alla
Politkovskaya mirava ai suoi avversari” — in altre parole mirava al
regime di Putin. La Politkovskaya era così nota come oppositrice del
regime, scrive Lebedev che è fin troppo facile sospettare coloro che
lei criticava. “Ma non dobbiamo considerare attentamente la
possibilità che chi ha ordinato l’assassinio voleva che noi facessimo
proprio questo? Forse un’ondata di rabbia contro coloro che la
giornalista criticava è proprio l’effetto su cui contavano i killer?
Così sparando alla giornalista miravano ai suoi avversari”.
Nel corso della sua visita in Germania, tra il 10 e l’11 ottobre, il
presidente Putin ha fatto due volte riferimento al grave episodio. A
Dresda il presidente ha detto, secondo quanto riferito dalla Pravda:
“Non molto tempo fa fu ucciso un altro giornalista, Paul Khlebnikov.
Dopo la pubblicazione del libro intitolato «Conversazioni con un
barbaro», in cui i personaggi principali sono posti in cattiva luce,
lui è stato ucciso. Non so chi l’abbia uccisa [Anna Politkovskaya],
ma è chiaro che chi si sta sottraendo alla giustizia ha valutato
l’opportunità di sacrificare qualcuno per incoraggiare i sentimenti
anti russi nel mondo”.
Nell’intervista concessa l’11 ottobre al Sueddeutsche Zeitung,
pubblicata integralmente solo sul sito Kremlin.ru, Putin ha detto:
“Saprete che diversi anni fa un giornalista americano di origini
russe, Paul Khlebnikov è stato ucciso in Russia. Si era occupato dei
problemi della Repubblica di Cecenia ed aveva scritto un libro
intitolato «Conversazioni con un barbaro». Stando alle indagini, i
protagonisti del libro non erano contenti di come Khlebnikov li ha
presentati e lo hanno distrutto”.
Il “barbaro” in questione è Khodj-Akhmed Nukhayev, il finanziatore
del separatismo del Caucaso Settentrionale: Oggi Nukhayev vive in
Israele, fa affari con il lord inglese McAlpine ed è sospettato di
collegamenti con Boris Berezovsky. Khlebnikov era il genero di John
Train, personaggio di Wall Street impegnato nelle operazioni contro
Lyndon LaRouche. Nel 2005 Anna Politkovskaya ha ricevuto il “Premio
per il coraggio civile” del Northcote Parkinson Fund di John Train.


=== 2 ===

http://cirqueminime.blogcollective.com/blog/_archives/
2006/10/21/2433746.html

http://www.sandersresearch.com/

Who killed Anna Politkovskaya?

By John Laughland

Oct/11/2006

In C. S. Lewis' science fiction dystopia, That Hideous Strength,
the secretive organization which controls the state has its agents
writing in newspapers on all sides of the political spectrum, in
order to disguise its power with the appearance of plurality. In
today's West, by contrast, even the appearance of plurality seems to
have been discarded.

The murder on 7th October of the Russian journalist, Anna
Politkovskaya, was greeted with the monolithic unanimity which has
now become the hallmark of the so-called free press in the West. The
right-wing Daily Telegraph devoted a leader to her murder on 9th
October, the first sentence of which was:

'People sometimes pay with their lives for saying out loud what
they think,' Anna Politkovskaya said last year of Vladimir Putin's
Russia.

The same day, the left-wing Guardian also published a leader about
her murder. Its first sentence read:

'People sometimes pay with their lives for saying out loud what
they think,' Anna Politkovskaya told a conference on press freedom
last December.

The whole of the British, American and West European press extolled
Politkovskaya as 'one of Russia's bravest and most brilliant
journalists' (The Guardian), 'one of the few voices that dared
contradict the party line' (The Daily Telegraph), 'a firebrand for
freedom' (The Independent), 'the most famous investigative journalist
in Russia' (The Times), 'one of the bravest journalists in
Russia' (The New York Times); 'a victim of rare courage' (The
Washington Post). All these quotes are from the leader articles which
each paper thought worth devoting to her death. In reality,
Politkovskaya was virtually unknown in Russia. The reaction of a
wealthy Russian businessman dining in Brussels on the night of her
murder was typical:

'Politkovskaya? Never heard of her.'

Politkovskaya in this respect resembles another murdered Russian-
speaking journalist with connections in the Caucasus, Georgiy
Gongadze, the Ukrainian citizen with a Georgian surname whose murder
in 2000 was instrumentalized by the United States in an attempt to
implicate the then Ukrainian president, Leonid Kuchma. Politkvskaya
was not quite as obscure as Gongadze: he ran a mere web site
(although this meant that when he traveled to Washington DC he was
received by the Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright) while the
newspaper where she worked, Novaya Gazeta, had a circulation of
250,000. Still, that is not much in a country of nearly 150 million
inhabitants and certainly not enough to merit the exaggerated praise
heaped posthumously upon her.

The media in Britain and America also competed with one another to
lay the blame for the murder squarely at President Putin's door. The
Financial Times announced that,

'In a broad sense, Mr. Putin bears responsibility for creating,
through the Kremlin's long-standing assault on the independent media,
an atmosphere in which such killings can happen.'

The Washington Post asserted pompously that,

'It is quite possible, without performing any detective work, to
say what is ultimately responsible for these deaths: It is the
climate of brutality that has flourished under Mr. Putin.'

All papers implied that Mrs. Politkovskaya had been killed by
allies of the Russian President for reporting the truth about the war
in Chechnya. According to them, Russia is a quasi-dictatorship in
which the government brooks no dissent, and they illustrated this by
referring back - albeit in strangely vague terms - to the number of
other journalists who have been victims of similar contract killings.

It is here that we can put our fingers firmly on the page and
shout, 'Liars!' Some of these articles contained glancing references
to the last journalist to have been killed in Moscow, the American
editor of Forbes magazine, Paul Klebnikov, but none of them bothered
to add the key rider that no one has ever suggested that the Russian
government had Klebnikov murdered. On the contrary:

whereas Politkovskaya was an anti-Putin militant, Klebnikov was an
anti-oligarch militant. He wrote a brilliant book about Boris
Berezovsky - one of the most informative books about Russia's
'transition' in the 1990s, in which he accused Berezovsky of murder
and of being hand in glove with Chechen drug lords and gangsters -
and he published a series of interviews with one of the Chechen
separatist leaders, which he undiplomatically entitled 'Conversations
with a barbarian'. He was rewarded for his efforts with a bullet in
the head. When he died, there were no paeans of praise for his
bravery or courage in the Western press, even though he was an
American, for Klebnikov had devoted his life to arguing that the
West's policy in Russia is based on an alliance with very serious
criminals, and that the 'businessmen' whom the West champions as
freedom fighters - Berezovsky has political asylum in Britain - are
in fact a bunch of ruthless murderers.

In contrast to both Klebnikov and Politkovskaya, the one murdered
Russian journalist whom all Russians had heard of when he died - and
whose name is virtually unknown in the West - was Vlad Listyev.

When he fell under the assassin's bullets on the night of 1st March
1995, Listyev was Russia's most popular talk show host and one of the
most trusted people in the country - a genuine TV superstar. He had
just become director of Russia's main TV channel, ORT (now First
Channel). In spite of Listyev's immense fame, the Western media never
cited his murder as an example of the lawlessness or intolerance of
the then president, Boris Yeltsin, in the way that they now attack
Putin.
This is doubtless because - to use the charming euphemisms of
Wikipedia - 'When Listyev put the middlemen advertising agencies out
of business, he deprived many corrupt businessmen of a source for
enormous profits.' In plain English, this means that most Russians
believe that Listyev was murdered either by Boris Berezovsky - who
took control of ORT immediately after Listyev's murder, and in large
measure because of it - or by Vladimir Guzinski, a rival TV magnate
who, like Berezovsky, is a Yeltsin-era oligarch now in exile. The
only journalist from the West who did discuss openly whether the
contract to kill Listyev had come from Berezovsky, Guzinsky or
Berezovsky's ally, the advertising mogul, Sergei Lisovsky, was, oddly
enough, Paul Klebnikov.

Politkovskaya's colleagues on Novaya Gazeta include notorious pro-
American commentators like the 'independent Moscow-based defense
analyst,' Pavel Felgenhauer, whose also works as a columnist for the
Jamestown Foundation: the Director of that body, Glen Howard, is
Executive Director of the American Committee for Peace in Chechnya, a
neo-con outfit which campaigns for a 'political settlement' with the
terrorists in that North Caucasus province of the Russian federation.
This may explain why you can find only one opinion about
Politkovskaya in the Western media. At the same time, by contrast,
there is a huge variety of opinions about her murder in supposedly
dictatorial Russia itself. The theories now circulating in Moscow
about Politkovskaya's murder include (apart from the claim that the
Russian government or the Chechen authorities were responsible):

revenge by corrupt police who found themselves wanted or in prison
as a result of her sensationalist journalism;

a conspiracy by opponents of the Russian president and the Chechen
Prime Minister, Ramzan Kadyrov, to discredit them;

revenge by former Chechen militants;

a murder carried out by Russian nationalist opponents of Putin (her
name was on the death-lists of various neo-Nazi groups);

a political provocation designed to discredit the Chechen
authorities or trigger some movement in that troublesome province;

or a conspiracy by opponents of Russia from the former Soviet
Republic of Georgia with which Moscow is currently engaged in a
fierce diplomatic row.

Take your pick - but the sheer variety of points of view gives the
lie to the claim that Politkovskaya was fighting a monolithic media
machine controlled by the government.

Among the many points of view expressed, few were pithier than this
one from a commentator for Lentacom.ru,

Politkovskaya's murder spells unambiguous benefits for the West.
The past month saw massive unofficial clampdown on Russia. Take the
attempts to pull Ukraine into NATO. Take the alliance's "intensive
dialogue" with Georgia. Take Saakashvili's behavior the President of
Georgia, very humiliating for Russia, which has been certainly agreed
with the West. Theoretically, Politkovskaya's murder diverts
attention from Georgia and builds up western pressures on Russia,
something today's Georgia can only benefit from. Yet, I believe that
those who had ordered the crime are more global. There is no
immediate evidence somebody in the West issued direct instructions.
It is beyond doubt, though, that the West is a direct beneficiary.

One does not have to believe this conspiracy theory, or any of the
others. But at least if one is Russian, the consumer of news has a
large number of different points of view to consider, all of which
are easily accessible to the ordinary Russian by buying the newspaper
or looking at the Internet. In the West, by contrast, even the most
assiduous conspiracy theorist will have great difficulty finding
anything other than the party line that Mr. Putin did it. Now, what
does that tell you about the state of political and media pluralism
in the West?


=== 3 ===

www.resistenze.org - popoli resistenti - russia - 27-10-06

In vista un rapido deterioramento dei rapporti tra Russia e Stati Uniti

Secondo un rapporto presentato al parlamento russo

Nota di Mauro Gemma*

Nei giorni scorsi è stato reso pubblico a Mosca un importante lavoro,
commissionato dalla Duma di Stato (la camera bassa della Federazione
Russa) e curato da due autorevoli esperti di politica internazionale
e di questioni della difesa e della sicurezza nazionale, Valentin
Falin, ex segretario del Comitato Centrale del Partito Comunista
dell’Unione Sovietica, e Ghennadij Jevstafiev, già tenente generale
dei servizi segreti.

Il documento, dal titolo “Probabile guida delle azioni degli Stati
Uniti nei confronti della Russia nel periodo 2006-2008”, verrà ora
sottoposto all’attenzione delle commissioni competenti del Parlamento
russo e, molto probabilmente, verrà discusso anche in sessione plenaria.
I due prestigiosi esperti fanno il punto sullo stato delle relazioni
tra le due grandi potenze e analizzano nei dettagli la politica USA
nei confronti della Russia, delineando, già per l’immediato futuro,
scenari a dir poco inquietanti.

I rapporti russo-americani, secondo il rapporto, dovrebbero subire un
brusco e accelerato deterioramento, a prescindere dal tipo di
amministrazione che, in futuro, fosse chiamata a gestire la Casa Bianca.

Il documento che, a parere della stampa russa (ne ha parlato in
particolare l’autorevole “Nezavisimaja Gazeta”), sembra essere una
risposta a un testo, pubblicato nel marzo scorso dal “Consiglio di
New York per le relazioni internazionali”, dal significativo titolo
“La strada sbagliata della Russia”, e mette in guardia il Cremlino e
le autorità russe rispetto alla pericolosità dei progetti messi in
campo da Washington per fronteggiare il crescente protagonismo di un
paese che ormai è considerato un pericoloso concorrente da
neutralizzare e ridimensionare.

Da un lato, Washington sembra intenzionata a produrre ogni sforzo per
intaccare la “sovranità energetica” della Russia, mediante la
sollecitazione di processi separatisti all’interno della stessa
Federazione Russa e gravi forme di ingerenza negli affari interni del
paese; dall’altro, l’amministrazione USA (con una sostanziale
comunanza di intenti di repubblicani e democratici) sicuramente darà
ulteriore impulso a tutte le iniziative tese a promuovere
l’allargamento della NATO ad est e la rapida integrazione
nell’alleanza nord-atlantica di alcune repubbliche dell’ex Unione
Sovietica, in particolare della Georgia e dell’Ucraina.

E’ così prevedibile che non cessino i tentativi di promuovere
rivolgimenti nelle strutture di potere dei paesi che fanno parte
della Confederazione degli Stati Indipendenti (CSI), e che venga
rafforzato il sostegno materiale e propagandistico (attraverso la
mobilitazione di tutti gli strumenti di comunicazione di massa a
disposizione) alle forze filo-occidentali fautrici di nuove
“rivoluzioni colorate”, puntando, in tal modo, direttamente alla
destabilizzazione della stessa Federazione Russa, mediante
l’isolamento dei suoi dirigenti e l’azione delle forze di opposizione
della destra neoliberista presenti nel paese.

Per quanto riguarda il programmato attacco alla cosiddetta “sovranità
energetica”, secondo gli estensori del documento, si dovrebbe
assistere ad un’intensificazione delle pressioni dell’amministrazione
USA allo scopo di ottenere la privatizzazione del settore
dell’energia, oggi in larga parte tornato sotto controllo statale,
pretendendo la partecipazione obbligatoria delle compagnie
multinazionali occidentali ai pacchetti azionari. Allo stesso tempo,
sempre in merito al settore strategico dell’energia, il lavoro
redatto da Falin e Jestafiev accenna a iniziative tendenti a favorire
l’interruzione dei piani di cooperazione tra Russia e Cina e
all’intensificazione delle pressioni su Azerbaigian, Kazakhstan,
Uzbekistan e Turkmenistan per coinvolgerli attivamente nei progetti
dell’amministrazione di Washington.

Non è privo di interesse il fatto che il documento presentato
all’attenzione del parlamento russo venga reso pubblico in
coincidenza con l’elaborazione da parte del Ministero della Difesa
russo di una nuova dottrina militare, in cui, nell’ordine, Stati
Uniti, NATO e “terrorismo internazionale” vengono indicati quali
“nemici potenziali della Russia” e che spiega che la maggior minaccia
alla sicurezza nazionale continua ad essere costituita dall’ingerenza
straniera negli affari interni del paese, attuata attraverso
l’appoggio a “strutture interne” (un riferimento esplicito a ONG e
“gruppi informali”, ispirati da istituzioni occidentali) animate da
intenti eversivi.

Di più. Il documento viene significativamente diffuso mentre in
Russia e in altri paesi della CSI si sta assistendo ad una fase di
particolare vivacità del vasto movimento di opinione (testimoniato da
tutti i sondaggi) che intende opporsi alle ingerenze e alle pressioni
degli USA e della Nato negli affari interni dell’ex URSS, pretendendo
dalle autorità locali una più energica politica di contrapposizione
ai piani delle potenze imperialiste.

Un seppur limitato risalto hanno ricevuto in Occidente le
manifestazioni di massa in Crimea e nel resto dell’Ucraina contro la
presenza delle truppe USA sul territorio nazionale, che hanno
certamente avuto un ruolo non secondario nella sconfitta della
“rivoluzione arancione”, nel mutamento degli assetti di governo a
Kiev (con l’ingresso di due ministri proposti dai comunisti
nell’esecutivo) e nel conseguente “congelamento” di una quasi
scontata (fino a pochi mesi fa) adesione alla NATO, annunciato dal
primo ministro Janukovic a Bruxelles.

Non ha avuto praticamente eco, invece, il rilevante movimento che si
è manifestato nelle scorse settimane in Russia contro l’effettuazione
di manovre militari congiunte russo-statunitensi nella regione di
Nizhegorod nel quadro degli accordi di partnership militare
realizzati nell’ultimo decennio, culminato in incisive manifestazioni
su tutto il territorio nazionale, con la partecipazione complessiva
di decine di migliaia di persone. Quasi a coincidere con gli umori
oggi prevalenti negli ambienti militari della Federazione, il
movimento (in cui ha giocato un ruolo rilevante il Partito Comunista
della Federazione Russa) sembra aver offerto ai vertici della difesa
l’opportunità per rinviare “sine die” lo svolgimento delle operazioni
previste, lanciando in tal modo un secco segnale al partner
statunitense.

*La nota sarà pubblicata nel prossimo numero della rivista comunista
“L’Ernesto”


=== 4 ===

http://www.repubblica.it/2006/10/sezioni/esteri/putin-italia-mafia/
putin-italia-mafia/putin-italia-mafia.html


Scatto d'ira del presidente russo al Consiglio europeo in Finlandia
di fronte alle critiche sulle violazioni dei diritti umani nel suo Paese

Putin: "Italia, culla della mafia" e i funzionari spagnoli "corrotti"


ROMA - L'Italia, "culla della mafia", non ha nulla da insegnare alla
Russia. Irritato dalle critiche dei leader europei sulle violazioni
dei diritti umani nel suo Paese, il presidente russo Vladimir Putin
ha reagito sparando a zero anche sulla Spagna, "i cui enti locali
sono pieni di funzionari corrotti". Lo scrive il quotidiano spagnolo
El Pais, al quale fonti diplomatiche hanno riferito dello scatto
d'ira del leader del Cremlino durante il Consiglio europeo di Lahti,
in Finlandia. Nell'auditorium Sibelius, sulle sponde del lago
Vesijarvi, dove venerdì scorso i leader europei e Putin hanno
partecipato a una cena per discutere delle forniture di gas russo
all'Unione, la serata non era cominciata sotto i migliori auspici.

Putin era reduce dalla clamorosa gaffe sul presidente israeliano, per
le cui prestazioni aveva espresso ammirazione e invidia. Il
presidente del Parlamento europeo, Josep Borrell, non lo aveva
accolto nel più caloroso dei modi, ricordandogli la preoccupazione
dell'Unione per il deterioramento dei dritti umani in Russia, poi il
minuto di silenzio osservato dai deputati per l'assassinio della
giornalista Anna Politkovskaya, e il cenno alle difficoltà sofferte
dalle Ong russe. "Facciamo affari con Paesi peggiori del suo - gli
aveva poi detto - ma con voi vogliamo unirci e per questo è
necessario che condividiate certi valori".

Putin, palesemente irritato, si è difeso con l'attacco. Il Cremlino,
ha detto - secondo quanto riferito dalle fonti citate da El Pais -
non può accettare lezioni di democrazia da Paesi come la Spagna, in
cui molti sindaci sono sotto inchiesta per corruzione, o dall'Italia,
"dove è nata una parola come 'mafia'". Il premier spagnolo Jose Luis
Zapatero, e quello italiano Romano Prodi, secondo le fonti, sono
rimasti senza parole, mentre Putin rispondeva anche alle
preoccupazioni europee per la situazione in Georgia e Cecenia:
pensate a quello che avete combinato in Jugoslavia, ha detto.

Ad allentare la tensione, ci ha pensato il premier finlandese e
padrone di casa Matti Vanhanen. In chiusura di cena, Putin ha ammesso
che anche in Russia c'è diffusa preoccupazione per l'aumento della
violenza, negando però ogni responsabilità nella morte della
Politkovskaya.

(22 ottobre 2006)


=== 5 ===

http://www.counterpunch.org/weir02172005.html

February 17, 2005

Do Americans Even Care?

Russia, Israel and Media Omissions

By ALISON WEIR

As is often the case with AP's coverage of news having to do with
Israel, there's a serious omission in its reporting on the Russia-
Israel connection even when it involves oil and the United States.

The day after the State of the Union Address, two Interpol fugitives
attended the "National Prayer Breakfast" held in Washington DC. The
day before that, these fugitives from the law were the guests of
honor at an hour-long meeting of the International Relations
Committee on Capitol Hill, invited by ranking Democrat Tom Lantos
(Calif.)

You would think it would be hot news when wanted men being hunted by
European police suddenly pop up in the US particularly on Capitol
Hill and at events attended by the US president.

Yet, there was not a single AP story in the US on any of this. [1]
Not a single national network television or radio news program even
mentioned these facts. In fact, Google and LexisNexis searches four
days after these events took place turned up only three newspaper
articles on them anywhere in the entire country. [2]

Who are these fugitives from the law, wanted by Interpol, who are
meeting at the highest levels of the US government? And why didn't we
learn of them?

Therein lies the story. These two men, it turns out, are just the
tips of a colossal iceberg. And this iceberg doesn't just have 90
percent of its mass hidden under water; this iceberg is almost
entirely submerged.

They are Mikhail Brudno and Vladimir Dubov, Israeli-Russian partners
in the giant Russian oil company Yukos. They, along with a number of
their cronies, are wanted by Interpol for allegedly bilking Russian
citizens out of billions of dollars. To elude Russian prosecution,
these men have taken up residence in Israel. [3]

As the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz explains: "In recent years Russian
authorities began investigating [Yukos], its managers and major
stockholders, many of whom are of Jewish origin. The probes caused
several of the managers to flee to Israel, and resulted in
Khodorkovski's [Yukos CEO] arrest and a Kremlin attack on Yukos."

The fact is that Israel is an important factor in the ongoing, nation-
shaking power struggle now going on in Russia. Yet AP virtually never
reports this connection. For example, a few months ago in a typical
AP story on this power struggle, "Report: Russia again charges
Berezovsky," [4] Moscow AP Bureau Chief Judith Ingram makes no
mention anywhere that Berezovsky is an Israeli citizen, or of his
many connections to Israel.

Such omissions by AP and large swaths of the American media leave
Americans seriously disadvantaged in deciphering what is going on in
Russia, and its profound significance for the world.

In order to make sense of this Russian power struggle, and to
understand its importance to the rest of us, it is necessary to
understand the usually omitted Israeli subtext. When this is
understood, the friendship of such pro-Israel Congressional leaders
as Rep. Lantos to fugitive Russian oil tycoons begins to make sense.

To explore this background it is often useful to turn to the Israeli
press. In July a major Israeli publication, the Jerusalem Post,
carried an article headlined: "Boris Berezovsky: Putin's Russia
dangerous for Israel." Before describing what this contained, let us
first go into a little of the background.


The Oligarchs

Boris Berezovsky is one of seven "oligarchs," as they are known both
inside and outside Russia: massively rich, powerful manipulators who
through violence, theft and corruption acquired a mammoth percentage
(reports range from 70 to 85 percent) of Russia's resources, from its
oil to the auto industry to mass media outlets.

At the same time, the group steadily gained control over much of the
country's political apparatus. Using extraordinary financial
resources and insider dealing, the oligarchs handpicked prime
ministers and governmental leaders and barely even bothered to do
this behind the scenes.

In 1997 Yukos founder Mikhail Khodorkovsky, one of the group and
Russia's sometimes richest man (several of the oligarchs trade the
top spot back and forth) told an interviewer before he was arrested
and imprisoned by Putin last year:

"If we rank all the fields of man's activity by profitability,
politics will be the most lucrative business. When we see a critical
situation in the government, we draw lots in order to pick out a
person from our milieu for work in power." [5]

Almost all of these oligarchs, it turns out, have significant ties to
Israel. In fact, Berezovsky himself has Israeli citizenship a fact
that caused a scandal of Watergate proportions in Russia in 1996 when
it was exposed by a Russian newspaper. [6]

Do Berezovsky's dual loyalties really matter? Yes. In the realm of
global dominance, Israel's interests and Russia's are considerably
divergent. It is in Israel's interests to bring to power a regime in
Russia friendly to Israel, rather than the current one under Putin,
which Israeli leaders feel is supportive of its enemies. Not long
ago, for example, Putin met with Syrian leaders an action highly
disturbing to Israel.

Having an Israeli citizen at the highest levels of the Russian
government is ideal, from Israel's point of view. In Berezovsky they
had such a man. The Jerusalem Post article mentioned above is
revealing. It describes Berezovsky as "the Godfather of the
Oligarchs' and Kingmaker of Russia's Politics'" and reports
Berezovsky's statement that "Putin's Russia is dangerous for Israel."
Berezovsky goes on to assert that Putin "supports terror" in the
Middle East through Russia's previous relations with Iraq and current
relations with Iran. [7]

While Israelis may have been delighted at Berezovsky's position in
Russia, It is not surprising that Russian citizens were somewhat less
so. Finding that a powerful leader and member of the Russian Security
Council was an Israeli citizen was disconcerting, at best.

As a result of the media uproar over Berezovsky's Israeli citizenship
and other events, the Oligarchs' connections to Israel are widely
known in Russia and elsewhere. In Israel they are covered frequently,
often with adulation, including a recent hit Israeli TV series called
"The Oligarchs."

"Some of its episodes," according to Israeli writer Uri Avnery, "are
simply unbelievable or would have been, if they had not come straight
from the horses' mouths: the heroes of the story, who gleefully boast
about their despicable exploits. The series was produced by Israeli
immigrants from Russia."

Avnery writes that the oligarchs used "cheating, bribery and murder,"
as they "exploited the disintegration of the Soviet system to loot
the treasures of the state and to amass plunder amounting to hundreds
of billions of dollars. In order to safeguard the perpetuation of
their business, they took control of the state. Six out of the seven
are Jews." [8]

According to a Washington Post story by David Hoffman, the group
bought and controlled Russian governmental officials at the highest
levels. After financing Yeltsin's election in 1996, Hoffman writes:
"The tycoons met and decided to insert one of their own into
government. They debated who and chose [Vladimir] Potanin, who became
deputy prime minister. One reason they chose Potanin was that he is
not Jewish, and most of the rest of them are, and feared a backlash
against the Jewish bankers." [9]

In Russia, the oligarchs are deeply loathed, considered villains who
worked to bleed the country dry; during their reign many Russian
citizens saw their life savings disappear overnight. A new term was
coined for their dominance, "semibankirshchina" (the rule of the
seven bankers), and they were widely known to have wielded small,
murderous armies. There are rumors that Berezovsky, subject of the
respectful AP article, was even responsible for the gunning down of
an American journalist, Forbes Moscow editor Paul Klebnikov.

While no one has been charged with the murder of Klebnikov, who had
written a book on Berezovsky, many suspect a Berezovsky connection.
As a friend of Klebnikov wrote: "Experienced expatriates in Russia
shared an essential rule: Don't cross these brutal billionaires,
ever, or you're likely to go home in a box." [10]


The Chechnya Connection

There is evidence that Berezovsky's responsibility for death and
tragedy may be vastly greater.

"Berezovsky boasts that he caused the war in Chechnya," Avnery
reports, "in which tens of thousands have been killed and a whole
country devastated. He was interested in the mineral resources and a
prospective pipeline there. In order to achieve this he put an end to
the peace agreement that gave the country some kind of independence.
The oligarchs dismissed and destroyed Alexander Lebed, the popular
general who engineered the agreement, and the war has been going on
since then.

"In the end," Avnery writes, "there was a reaction: Vladimir Putin,
the taciturn and tough ex-KGB operative, assumed power, took control
of the media, put one of the oligarchs (Mikhail Khodorkovsky) in
prison, caused the others to flee (Berezovsky is in England, Vladimir
Gusinsky is in Israel, another, Mikhail Chernoy, is assumed to be
hiding here.)"

Yet, apart from the Washington Post, American media report on almost
none of this. Instead, US coverage largely portrays Berezovsky and
his crowd as American-style entrepreneurs who are being hounded by a
Russian government whose actions are, to repeat the media's commonly
used phrase, "politically motivated."

US news stories, even when they occasionally do hint at questionable
practices, tend to use such phrases as "brash young capitalists" to
describe the oligarchs. [11] For example, a long series co-produced
by FRONTLINE and the New York Times referred to these men as "shrewd
businessmen," and asked "what it's like to be young, Russian and
newly affluent?" [12] Massive violence, dual loyalties, and control
of resources are rarely, if ever, part of the picture.

When AP Moscow bureau chief Ingram was asked for this article about
Berezovsky's Israeli citizenship, she claimed to know nothing about
it, a curious contention for someone who has been an AP news editor
in Moscow since 1999. When Ingram was queried further, she hung up
the phone.

An examination of Ingram's reporting on the Berezovsky story cited
above raises serious questions. Though she is located in Moscow,
Ingram interviewed only two people for her news story: Berezovsky,
who is in London, and Berezovsky associate Alex Goldfarb, in New
York. One wonders why she interviewed none of the Russians residing
around her.

Similarly, one wonders why not a single AP story has identified
Berezovsky's considerable connection to Israel.

Further, nowhere does Ingram's article convey the ruthlessness of the
oligarchs' actions, or the significance of their holdings, including
control of its media. Unnoted in Ingram's report is the fact that her
subject and fellow oligarch Vladimir Gusinsky have been two of
Russia's most powerful media tycoons.

Before Putin's crackdown, according to the Washington Post, oligarchs
had succeeded in seizing "the reins of Russia's print and broadcast
media, vital to the evolution of the country's fledgling democracy
and growth of its nascent civil society." Berezovsky crony Gusinsky,
who is close friends with Rupert Murdoch and was about the launch a
satellite network, fled to Israel when it appeared he would be
arrested." [13]

Somehow, AP's bureau chief seems to have missed all this.


Does this matter to Americans?

AP is the major news source for the thousands of news outlets around
the country who cannot afford to have their own foreign
correspondents. When AP chooses not to cover something, its omission
is felt throughout the nation. When national news networks and others
leave out the same facts, the cover-up is almost total.

Russia, despite its current turmoil, contains enormous power. Its
natural resources are gargantuan: it possesses the world's largest
natural gas reserves, the second largest coal reserves, and the
eighth largest oil reserves. It is the world's largest exporter of
natural gas, the second largest oil exporter, and the third largest
energy consumer.[14] Russia's significance on the world stage now, as
in the past, is immense.

Similarly, the United States is currently the most powerful nation on
earth. It is therefore essential that its citizens be accurately
informed on issues of significance. Israeli citizens, Russian
citizens, and citizens of nations throughout the world know the
information detailed above. It is critical that American citizens be
no less well informed.

For years, the neocons' push for war against Iraq was largely
uncovered by the US media. For even longer, the neocons' close
connections to Israel have gone largely unmentioned in mainstream
American news reports. As a result, very few Americans know to what
degree many of those responsible for the tragic US invasion and
occupation of Iraq have been motivated by Israeli concerns.

The omission in coverage of Iraq has been profoundly disastrous, both
for the Middle East and for Americans. In fact, it is quite likely
that only history will show the true extent of this disaster. It is
deeply troubling to see the same kind of omission occurring on Russia.

Alison Weir is Executive Director of If Americans Knew


[1] Interestingly, an AP report sent out only on its Worldstream wire
(i.e. to Europe; Britain; Scandinavia; Middle East; Africa; India;
Asia; England, but not to US papers) contained information on this at
the end of the report.

[2] Washington Post: "Prayer Breakfast Includes Russian
Fugitives" (overall, the Post has been an exception to the general
blackout on this subject); the Seattle Times, which ran the Post
story, and the New York Times, in a short story on page 12 on Sunday,
three days after the event. Interestingly, the NY Times story was
filed from Moscow (not Washington) and quotes a "spokesman" for the
two men, Charles Krause, who has worked as a correspondent in Israel
for the News Hour with Jim Lehrer. In the Times story Russian
attempts to prosecute these men are described as "politically
motivated."

[3] This is a wise move, since Israel is known for never extraditing
Jewish citizens, no matter what their crime. Even requests for such
cooperation by the US, which gives Israel over $10 million per day,
go unheeded by the Israeli government. Private citizens wanted for
committing murder in the US, for example, are not returned for trial.

[4] Associated Press, Sept. 22, 2004

[5] "Tycoons Take the Reins in Russia," By David Hoffman, Washington
Post Foreign Service, Friday, August 28, 1998; Page A01

[6] "Media and Politics in Transition: Three Models," Post-Soviet
Media Law & Policy Newsletter, Issue 35, Benjamin N. Cardozo School
of Law, Feb. 27, 1997

[7] "Boris Berezovsky: Putin's Russia dangerous for Israel.', Bret
Stephens, The Jerusalem Post, July 5, 2005

[8]" The Oligarchs", Uri Avnery, CounterPunch, Aug. 3, 2004

[9] "Tycoons Take the Reins in Russia," By David Hoffman, Washington
Post Foreign Service, Friday, August 28, 1998; Page A01,

[10] "Same Old Ruthless Russia," by Michael R. Caputo,
Washingtonpost.com

[11] Washington Post, Aug 28, 1998

[12] October 2003, Sabrina Tavernise,

[13] "Powerful Few Rule Russian Mass Media," David Hoffman,
Washington Post, March 31, 1997; Page A01

[14] http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/russia.html



=== 6 ===

Da Liberazione del 6 luglio 2004

Russia, sprofonda il colosso Yukos

Dopo il cappio della procura e del presidente, le banche reclamano1
miliardo di dollari. Rischio bancarotta, ma la vera sfida è politica


Dopo il cappio di Putin, l'of fensiva della procura di Mosca e
l'arresto del prin cipale azionista Mikhail Khodo rovsky, a stringere
il collo del co losso petrolifero russo Yukos sono anche le banche
creditrici. Con una notifica ratificata al primo mattino nella sede
svizzera dell'immensa società ex statale privatizzata nei primi '90
da Eltsin in cambio di poche centinaia di migliaia di dollari, un
consorzio di istituti bancari capeggiato da So cieté Generale ha
reclamato da Yukos un credito da un miliardo di dollari, somma che si
aggiunge ai 3,4 miliardi di esposizione della società nei confronti
del fisco. Una cifra enorme, che a Mosca ha dato il là a speculazioni
su una prossi ma bancarotta, preludio di una possibile ri-
nazionalizzazione della più grande firma degli idro carburi della
Federazione.

«Non abbiamo nessun piano di tagli all'export e siamo certi di po ter
onorare tutti gli impegni della stagione» ha precisato Alexander
Shadrin per smentire le voci se­condo cui Yukos si apprestava a ri
durre l'attività verso l'estero per ri durre i costi e accumulare
liquidi. L'indice è calato ieri dell'11 per cento, ma la vera
scadenza è mer­coledì pomeriggio, termine ulti mo secondo la procura
per il pa gamento della tasse del 2000, an che se un'altra corte ha
dichiarato sospeso il pagamento in attesa di procedere. Sarà più
probabilmen te politica l'eventuale soluzione, anche se tra il
Cremlino e i vertici del gruppo non si sono registrati avvicinamenti;
mentre Khodo­rovsky ha preferito la prigione pur di non piegarsi a
Putin.

Il presidente russo tuttavia non ha fretta. Il "caso-Yukos", nato dal
la contrapposizione tra la televi sione di Khodorovsky e lo stesso
Putin, è stato accolto in Occidente come un affare interno e l'Unione
europea si è guardata bene dall'af frontare la questione come un
problema di pluralismo o diritti democratici, preferendo al limite
mettere in guardia il governo rus so da un «clima che minaccia gli
investimenti internazionali»: Khodórovsky è il terzo oligarca che
cade, dopo che Putin si era già sba­razzato di Vladimir Guossinski e
Boris Berezovski - anche questi a capo (tra le tante cose) di potenti
mezzi di informazione critici se non ostili apertamente al presi
dente, fino a quando non hanno ceduto lasciando Mosca per un esilio a
Londra e in Israele. Ma non è solo grazie all'assenza di infor
mazione indipendente che Vladi mir Putin è riuscito in questi ulti mi
due anni ad assicurarsi una agi bilità quasi totalitaria nella gestio
ne dello Stato, anche perché al di là delle difficoltà di Yukos la
Russia ha ancora una crescita del 7 per cento annuo. E le
nazionalizzazio ni dei beni degli oligarchi sono sta te salutate dà
veri boati di appro vazione nell'opinione pubblica, che non aveva e
non ha dimenti cato che quei capitali sono in gran parte il frutto
della grande rapina alle casse dello Stato degli anni di Boris Eltsin.

IVAN BONFANTI

http://balkans.courriers.info/article7210.html

B 92

Slovénie : pogrom anti-tzigane dans la banlieue de Ljubljana

TRADUIT PAR PERSA ALIGRUDIC
Publié dans la presse : 28 octobre 2006
Mise en ligne : dimanche 29 octobre 2006

Tout a commencé par une rixe. Puis les habitants d’une petite commune
de la périphérie de Ljubljana ont chassé 35 Rroms dans les bois, dont
20 enfants, et leur ont interdit de revenir dans leurs propres
maisons. Les habitants exigent l’expulsion des Rroms pour des raisons
« sanitaires et sécuritaires », et menacent de boycotter les
élections municipales. Le gouvernement et les services publics
réagissent mollement.



Les Rroms du quartier de Decje Selo ont déjà passé deux nuits dans la
forêt où ils ont été expulsés par les habitants d’un village voisin,
Ambrus. Parmi les 35 Rroms, qui n’osent pas revenir dans leurs
habitations, il y a des femmes enceintes et 20 enfants âgés de 3 mois
à 15 ans.

Les représentants de l’association rrom de Novo Mesto se sont engagés
à fournir des tentes de la Croix Rouge et mentionnent que les Rroms
aimeraient regagner leurs maisons ou déménager si un nouvel
emplacement d’habitation leur était offert.

L’expulsion des Rroms met un point culminant aux protestations qui
durent depuis une semaine. Les habitants d’Ambrus exigent que les
Rroms quittent la zone pour des raisons sécuritaires et écologiques,
en menaçant de boycotter le deuxième tour des élections municipales
qui se tiennent ce dimanche en Slovénie. La révolte a été provoquée
par une rixe entre Jozeto Sinkovec d’Ambrus et un individu que l’on a
d’abord pris pour un Rrom. Par la suite, on a constaté qu’il ne
s’agissait pas d’un Rrom mais d’un Slovène, Roman Cmak, qui
séjournait provisoirement dans le quartier rrom. Sinkovec a été
transporté à l’hôpital après la rixe, tandis que Cmak a été arrêté
puis relâché. Cela n’a fait qu’ajouter à la colère des habitants qui
ont incendié le véhicule de Cmak. Les pompiers ont refusé d’éteindre
le feu.

Les protestations ont pris encore plus d’ampleur et les représentants
des autorités locales ont dit qu’ils allaient prendre les choses en
mains, ce que le ministre de l’Intérieur a jugé inacceptable et
illégal, en ajoutant que la police ne le permettrait pas. Malgré
cela, une baraque du quartier rrom a été mise à feu et, selon les
propos d’une Rrom, des actions visant à terroriser les Rroms se sont
poursuivies au cours de la nuit. Des voitures ont ainsi foncé à vive
allure vers le quartier rrom, en braquant leurs pleins phares sur les
baraques.

Effrayés, les Rroms se sont enfuis dans les bois qui se trouvent sur
le territoire de la commune voisine de Grosuplje dont les habitants,
après avoir été informés par les médias, ont exigé que les Rroms
quittent immédiatement leur territoire.

En cherchant un moyen de régler le problème, la proposition a été
faite d’installer les Rroms dans les bois de Kocevski, connus pour
leurs hivers rudes et leurs neiges abondantes, mais qui sont aussi
habités par les ours.

Le maire d’Ambruz a accusé toute la société pour ce problème, mais le
ministre de l’Environnement et de l’Aménagement du territoire a
rappelé que si la commune qui proteste n’a jamais obtenu des fonds de
l’Etat pour régler le problème des Rroms, c’est qu’elle ne les a
jamais demandé, bien que ces fonds existent et qu’ils soient
uniquement prévus à cette fin. ? ?Le ministre de l’Education pense
que les exigences de déplacement inconditionnel des Rroms sont
inadmissibles et qu’au XXIème siècle, on ne peut pas permettre des
expulsions sous la contrainte, en rappelant que parmi les Rroms, se
trouvent des enfants soumis à l’obligation de scolarité.

Le médiateur de la République a accusé l’Etat slovène, qui diffère
depuis des années son obligation de préparer et de mettre en
application un projet d’intégration des Rroms. L’État laisse aux
communautés locales le soin de s’occuper de cette intégration ce qui,
comme on le voit actuellement, cause des conflits.

Environ 10 000 Rroms vivent en Slovénie, dans 90 quartiers et villages.

CONSIDERAZIONI INATTUALI


Lettera di Engels a Turati
La futura rivoluzione italiana e il partito socialista

Londra, 26 gennaio 1894

Caro Turati,
La situazione in Italia, a mio parere, è questa.
La borghesia, giunta al potere durante e dopo l'emancipazione
nazionale, non seppe, né volle completare la sua vittoria. Non ha
distrutti i residui della feudalità né ha riorganizzato la produzione
nazionale sul modello borghese moderno. Incapace di far partecipare
il paese ai relativi e temporanei vantaggi del regime capitalista,
essa gliene impose tutti i carichi, tutti gli inconvenienti. Non
contenta di ciò, perdette per sempre, in ignobili bindolerie
bancarie, quel che le restava di rispettabilità e di credito.
Il popolo lavoratore - contadini, artigiani, operai agricoli e
industriali - si trova dunque schiacciato, da una parte, da antichi
abusi, retaggio non solo dei tempi feudali, ma benanche
dell'antichità (mezzadria, latifundia del mezzodì, ove il bestiame
surroga l'uomo); dall'altra parte, dalla più vorace fiscalità che mai
sistema borghese abbia inventato. È ben il caso di dire con Marx che
"noi siamo afflitti, come tutto l'occidente continentale europeo, e
dallo sviluppo della produzione capitalista, e ancora dalla mancanza
di questo sviluppo. Oltre i mali dell'epoca presente abbiamo a
sopportare una lunga serie di mali ereditarii, derivanti dalla
vegetazione continua dei modi di produzione che hanno vissuto, colla
conseguenza dei rapporti politici e sociali anacronistici che essi
producono. Abbiamo a soffrire non solo dai vivi, ma anche dai morti.
Le mort saisit le vif". Questa situazione spinge a una crisi.
Dappertutto la massa produttrice è in fermento; qua e là si solleva.
Dove ci condurrà questa crisi?
Evidentemente il partito socialista è troppo giovane e, per effetto
della situazione economica, troppo debole per sperare una vittoria
immediata del socialismo. Nel paese la popolazione agricola prevale,
e di gran lunga, sulla urbana; poche, nelle città, le industrie
sviluppate, scarso quindi il proletariato tipico; la maggioranza è
composta di artigiani, di piccoli bottegai, di spostati, massa
fluttuante fra la piccola borghesia e il proletariato. È la piccola e
media borghesia del Medioevo in decadenza e disintegrazione, la più
parte proletari futuri, non ancora proletari dell'oggi. È questa
classe, sempre faccia a faccia colla rovina economica e ora spinta
alla disperazione, che sola potrà fornire e la massa dei combattenti
e i capi di un movimento rivoluzionario. Su questa via la
seconderanno i contadini, ai quali il loro stesso sparpagliamento sul
territorio e il loro analfabetismo vietano ogni iniziativa efficace,
ma che saranno ad ogni modo ausiliarii e indispensabili. In caso di
un successo più o meno pacifico, si avrà un cangiamento di Ministero,
coll'avvenimento al potere dei repubblicani "convertiti", i
Cavallotti e compagnia; in caso di rivoluzione, si avrà la repubblica
borghese.
Di fronte a queste eventualità, quale sarà l'ufficio del partito
socialista?
Dal 1848 in poi, la tattica che ha portato i maggiori successi ai
socialisti fu quella del Manifesto dei Comunisti. "I socialisti, nei
varii stadii attraversati dalla lotta fra proletariato e borghesia,
difendono sempre l'interesse del movimento generale...; lottano bensì
per raggiungere scopi immediati nell'interesse delle classi
lavoratrici, ma nel moto presente rappresentano eziandio l'avvenire
del movimento". Essi pigliano dunque parte attiva in ciascuna delle
fasi evolutive della lotta delle due classi, senza mai perder di
vista che queste fasi non sono che altrettante tappe conducenti alla
prima grande meta: la conquista del potere politico da parte del
proletariato, come mezzo di riorganizzazione sociale. Il loro posto è
fra i combattenti per ogni vantaggio immediato da ottenere
nell'interesse della classe operaia: tutti questi vantaggi politici o
sociali essi li accettano, ma solo come acconti. Perciò essi
considerano ogni movimento rivoluzionario o progressivo come un passo
nella direzione del loro proprio cammino; è loro missione speciale di
spingere avanti gli altri partiti rivoluzionarii e, quando uno di
questi trionfasse, di salvaguardare gli interessi del proletariato.
Questa tattica, che mai non perde di vista il gran fine, risparmia ai
socialisti le disillusioni cui vanno soggetti infallibilmente gli
altri partiti meno chiaroveggenti - sia repubblicani, sia socialisti
sentimentali, che scambiano ciò che è una semplice tappa per il
termine finale della marcia in avanti. Applichiamo tutto questo
all'Italia.
La vittoria della piccola borghesia in disintegrazione e dei
contadini porterà dunque forse un Ministero di repubblicani
"convertiti". Ciò ci procurerà il suffragio universale e una libertà
di movimento (stampa, riunione, associazione, abolizione
dell'ammonizione, ecc.) assai più considerevole - nuove armi che non
sono da disdegnare.
Oppure ci porterà la repubblica borghese, cogli stessi uomini e
qualche mazziniano con essi. Ciò allargherebbe ancora e di assai la
nostra libertà e il nostro campo di azione, almeno pel momento. E la
repubblica borghese, ha detto Marx, è la sola forma politica nella
quale la lotta fra proletariato e borghesia può avere soluzione.
Senza dire del contraccolpo che ne risentirebbe l'Europa.
La vittoria del movimento rivoluzionario che si prepara non potrà
dunque che renderci più forti e collocarci in un ambiente più
favorevole. Commetteremmo il più grande degli errori se, di fronte ad
esso, vorremo astenerci, se nel nostro contegno rimpetto ai partiti
"affini" vorremo limitarci a una critica puramente negativa. Potrà
arrivare il momento nel quale fosse dover nostro di cooperare con
essi in modo positivo. Quale sarà questo momento?
Evidentemente non è a noi che spetta di preparare direttamente un
movimento che non è quello precisamente della classe che noi
rappresentiamo. Se i repubblicani e i radicali credono scoccata l'ora
di muoversi, diano essi libero sfogo alla loro impetuosità. Quanto a
noi, fummo troppo spesso ingannati dalle grandi promesse di questi
signori, per lasciarvicisi prendere un'altra volta. Né le loro
proclamazioni né le loro cospirazioni dovranno menomamente toccarci.
Se noi siamo tenuti a sostenere ogni movimento popolare reale, siamo
tenuti ugualmente a non sacrificare indarno il nucleo appena formato
del nostro partito proletario, e a non lasciar decimare il
proletariato in sterili sommosse locali.
Se al contrario il movimento è davvero nazionale, i nostri uomini non
staranno nascosti, non vi sarà neppure bisogno di lanciar loro una
parola di ordine... Ma allora dovrà ben essere inteso, e noi dovremmo
proclamarlo altamente, che noi partecipiamo come partito
indipendente, alleato pel momento ai radicali e repubblicani, ma
interamente distinto da essi; che non ci facciamo alcuna illusione
sul risultato della lotta in caso di vittoria; che questo risultato,
lungi dal renderci soddisfatti, non sarà per noi che una tappa
guadagnata, nuova base d'operazioni per conquiste ulteriori; che il
dì stesso della vittoria le nostre strade si divideranno; che da quel
giorno, di fronte al nuovo governo, noi formeremo la nuova
opposizione, opposizione non già reazionaria, ma progressiva,
opposizione d'estrema sinistra che spingerà a nuove conquiste al di
là dei terreni guadagnati.
Dopo la vittoria comune, potrebbe esserci offerto qualche seggio nel
nuovo governo, ma sempre nella minoranza. QUESTO È IL PERICOLO PIU'
GRANDE. Dopo febbraio 1848 i democratici socialisti francesi (della
Réforme, Ledru-Rollin, Louis Blanc, Flocon, ecc.) commisero l'errore
di accettare cosiffatte cariche. Minoranza nel governo, essi
condivisero volontariamente la responsabilità di tutte le infamie e i
tradimenti, di fronte alla classe operaia, commessi dalla maggioranza
di repubblicani puri; mentre la presenza loro nel governo paralizzava
completamente l'azione rivoluzionaria della classe lavoratrice che
essi pretendevano rappresentare. In tutto questo, io non dò che la
mia opinione personale, poiché me l'avete domandata, e ancora con la
maggior diffidenza. Quanto alla tattica generale, ne ho sperimentato
l'efficacia durante tutta la mia vita; non una volta essa mi ha
fallito. Ma quanto alla sua applicazione alle condizioni attuali in
Italia, è altra cosa; ciò deve decidersi sul posto e da coloro che si
trovano in mezzo agli avvenimenti.

Federico Engels

(in: Marx-Engels, Scritti italiani, Ed. "Avanti!" 1955, pagg. 170-174)

I TOSCANI SARANNO MINORANZA NAZIONALE IN ITALIA


Dopo la secessione della Toscana dalla Repubblica Italiana -
riconosciuta con entusiasmo dalla Unione Europea che ha anche
acconsentito ad introdurre l'insegnamento della lingua toscana in
alternativa alla lingua italiana nelle facoltà universitarie europee
che ne faranno richiesta - i cittadini italiani di etnia toscana
chiedono adesso di essere riconosciuti ufficialmente come minoranza
nazionale...


Les Monténégrins de Serbie veulent être reconnus comme minorité
nationale

Mirko Zecevic, président de la Communauté nationale des Monténégrins
de Belgrade, plaide pour que cette communauté jouisse des droits
prévus pour les minorités nationales, sans être soumise à un
processus d’assimilation en Serbie, qui lui ferait perdre son
identité. Jusqu’à présent, les autorités serbes n’ont guère été
favorables à ces revendications...

http://balkans.courriers.info/article7196.html

(italiano / deutsch / francais / english / castellano)


SOLIDARITE AVEC L'UNION DE LA JEUNESSE COMMUNISTE - KSM


1) SKOJ statement against ilegallization of KSM

2) Demonstrations in Athens, Wien:
- Photos of KNE members at the Czech Embassy in Athenes
- Kämpferische Kundgebung gegen das KSM-Verbot vor der tschechischen Botschaft in Wien  
- Concentración en Viena contra la ilegalización de la Juventud Comunista checa 

3) From http://www.solidnet.org
- CP of Finland, Open Letter To The EU Presidency About KSM 
- CP of Greece, Solidarity With KSM 
- CP of Chile, Protest to The Embassy of Czech Republic [Sp.]
- French CP, Respect for Freedom and Organization Right in the Czech Republic [Fr.]
- WFDY, Solidarity with KSM Czech Republic - VERY URGENT ACTIONS

4) La Campagna di Solidarietà col KSM in Italia
- OdG del CPF del PRC di Bologna in solidarietà col KSM

5) Interview with Radim Gonda, vice-chairman of the Communist Youth Union (KSM) of the Czech Republic

6) Praga, pesantezza dell'anticomunismo (di Tommaso Di Francesco)

7) PRCF: SOLIDARITE AVEC L'UNION DE LA JEUNESSE COMMUNISTE - KSM



=== 1 ===

SKOJ statement against ilegallization of KSM

    Posted by: "goran vlajkovic" 
    Date: Sun Oct 22, 2006 2:19 pm (PDT)

AGAINST ILEGALIZATION OF KSM

We express our strongest condemnation of the
outrageous decision by the Czech government to ban the
KSM. It is a decision that violates openly elementary
democratic rights and fundamental freedoms.

These actions, rooted on political and ideological
discrimination, can only be considered as part of an
unjust , anti-democratic and anti-communist campaign,
that seeks to restrict the freedom of association and
expression of the Czech Republic's people and, in
particular, of its youth. These campaigns are
anti-civilization, shame action against democracy,
freedom of mind and speak.

Lastly, we want to send a strong communist hug to the
KSM, and we offer ourselves struggle against
illegalization and transforming the communist movement
into a crime.

The Czech Government started the process almost half a
year ago, in December of 2005. Through lies and absurd
charges, they began a campaign for deceiving to the
public opinion, in order to prepare the future
actions. Far from being an isolated event, this is
happening within a framework of a European campaign to
transform communism
into a crime, and even in the Council of Europe a
resolution has been approved.
Long live the KSM!
Long live international solidarity!
Long live the international young communist movement!

CC of the SKOJ
Belgrade, October 22, 2006


=== 2 ===

Photos of KNE members at the Czech Embassy in Athenes:



===

Kämpferische Kundgebung gegen das KSM-Verbot vor der tschechischen Botschaft in Wien     

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Rechnen sie ruhig damit, daß es hier öfter laut sein wird, Herr Botschafter! Unser Protest geht weiter, bis das KSM-Verbot fällt". 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Trotz einsetzenden Regens und eher kurzer, spontaner Vorbereitung versammelten sich am Dienstag, den 24. Oktober, weit über hundert Demonstranten, um gegen das antidemokratische Verbot des kommunistischen Jugendverbandes Tschechiens KSM zu protestieren. Ein Vertreter der Kommunistischen Jugendorganisationen, der Vorsitzende der Sozialistischen Jugend Niederösterreichs, Wieland, VertreterInnen der AIK, von Ast und Revolution, der SOAL und schließlich der Kommunistischen Initiative [KI] forderten in scharfen Worten die sofortige Rücknahme des Verbotes.

Gesamter Bericht und Fotos:

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---

Concentración en Viena contra la ilegalización de la Juventud Comunista checa 

miércoles, 25 de octubre de 2006 

Ayer por la noche se reunieron ante la embajada checa en la capital austriaca más de cien manifestantes para protestar contra la ilegalización de la Unión de Jóvenes Comunistas (KSM) en la República Checa. La concentración fue convocada por la Juventud Comunista de Austria (KJÖ), la Unión Comunista de Estudiantes (KSV) y la Iniciativa Comunista (KI). El oficial Partido Comunista de Austria (KPÖ) no movilizaba para la concentración, obvíamente por sus diferencias políticas con la KI.
En los discursos, los manifestantes advirtieron que la ilegalización de la Juventud Comunista en la República Checa, una organización fuerte con miles de militantes, puede ser sólo el primer paso a la ilegalización de organizaciones comunistas y progresistas en otros países europeos, por ejemplo en Grecia y Portugal, donde también trabajan fuertes partidos y juventudes comunistas.

Markus Wagentristl, que habló en nombre de la Juventud y los Estudiantes Comunistas, recordó que la razón fundamental para la ilegalización de la KSM es su influencia entre los jóvenes checos. "Miles de jóvenes comunistas, unidos bajo la bandera de la KSM, son una espada amenazadora de Damocles sobre las cabezas de los capitalistas". Afirmó que "hoy estamos frente de la embajada - pero quizás ya mañana estaremos dentro de las embajadas de todo el mundo".

Otto Bruckner de la Iniciativa Comunista anunció más protestas: "Señor embajador, esperen que aquí vindrá más ruido. ¡Nuestra protesta sigue hasta que cae la ilegalización de la KSM!"

www.redglobe.org 


=== 3 ===


---

CP of Finland, Open Letter To The EU Presidency About KSM
-------------------------------------------------
From: Communist Party of Finland, Friday, October 20, 2006
==================================================

The Communist Party of Finland has published an open letter to the EU
Presidency just before the EU Summit that takes place todays in Lahti
city, Finland:


Open Letter To The Eu Presidency

Minister Erkki Tuomioja


We have just heard that the Czech Republic's interior minister has
announced the dissolution of the country's Communist Youth Union. This
decision has been made on the pretext that the Communist Youth Union
advocates in its programme "the collective ownership of means of
production" instead of the "private ownership of these means".

This is an attack against democratic rights that concerns not only the
Czech Republic, but the European Union, too: the values that are
declared to be the bases of Europe are not compatible with this kind of
political discrimination and crime.

The Communist Party of Finland demands the EU Presidency to be active
and take a firm stand against this violation of democratic rights. CP of
Finland demands the government of the Czech Republic to cancel the
decisions of the ministry of interior and to allow the continuation of
the activity of the Communist Youth Union (KSM).

Helsinki 19.10.2006


Communist Party of Finland

Yrjö Hakanen
chairman


---


CP of Greece, Solidarity With KSM
-------------------------------------------------
From: Communist Party of Greece, Friday, October 20, 2006
http://inter.kke.gr <http://inter.kke.gr/>  , mailto:cpg   @...
==================================================

To: KSM
CC: CP of Bohemia and Moravia
Prague
Athens, October 19, 2006
Dear Comrades

We express our strongest condemnation of the outrageous decision by the
Czech government to ban the KSM. It is a decision that violates openly
elementary democratic rights and fundamental freedoms. We would like to
voice our firm solidarity and commitment to step up our struggle until
this unacceptable action is being revoked.

What is even more outrageous is the argument raised for this
unacceptable and undemocratic action. The Czech government by setting
illegal any demand that questions the private ownership over the means
of production not only consecrates the capitalist ownership and
exploitation but even outlaws socialism as political aim and ideology.
It is once more proven that the only "human right" that capitalism
secures is the "right" for big business to commercialize everything for
profit and to exploit the working class.

We note that this action is being taken just before the local and senate
elections, casting serious doubts over the legality of the electoral
procedure itself.

It is also interesting that this action coincides with the increasing
pressure for the establishment of an US base in the Czech Republic. It
is well known that KSM has played a pivotal role in all-European
anti-NATO and has collected thousands of signatures against the
establishment of US bases in your country.

Perhaps it is not accidental that the inadmissible illegalization of KSM
was followed next day by the statements of the Czech prime minister that
they are planning to ban access to NATO and EU documents to everybody
except 5 (!) people in the country. This is the "democracy" of the
European Union, of the "transition" and of the imperialist new world
order.

The CC of KKE has issued a statement condemning the measures. The issue
is also very high at the news published by Rizospastis and the radio and
TV station of the party.

We would like to inform you that there are already first reactions in
our country. Yesterday morning KNE organized a protest at the Czech
embassy and has called for a mass demonstration on October 26 at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece.  KKE and KNE have called upon the
trade unions, the students associations and all the organizations of the
mass movement of react and demand the revocation of the banning. Only
yesterday more than 250 people from all continents endorsed the online
petition and expressed their solidarity.

Under the initiative of the MEPs of KKE the GUE/NGL already issued a
protest statement.

We are sure that this anticommunist attempt will fail, as so many
attempts in the past. No banning, no military dictatorship, no fascist
or arbitrary measures have ever managed to silence the voice of the
communists that is the voice of justice and truth.

With fraternal greetings

The International Section of KKE


---

CP of Chile, Protest to The Embassy of Czech Republic [Sp.]
-------------------------------------------------
From: Communist Party of Chile, Friday, October 20, 2006
==================================================

Santiago, 19 de octubre de 2006.

Dr. Ph
Lubomir Hladik
Embajador de la República Checa
Santiago

Señor Embajador:

El Partido Comunista de Chile expresa ante su gobierno y la opinión
internacional su más enérgica protesta frente al hecho incalificable de
que el gobierno de la República Checa haya culminado un largo proceso de
amenazas y hostigamiento contra la organización de los jóvenes
comunistas, la Unión Comunista de la Juventud (Komunisticky svaz
mladeze, KSM), para poner a dicha organización fuera de la ley.

No vacilamos en  calificar esta medida gubernamental de antidemocrática
y la consideramos como un retroceso histórico de su país a los tiempos
en que los nazis imponían  sus leyes en Europa. Para nosotros, chilenos,
esta medida nos evoca nuestra historia reciente cuando la dictadura
pinochetista gobernó Chile a sangre y fuego para poner a los comunistas
y otros sectores democráticos fuera de la ley.

Esta decisión injustificable puede constituir un gravísimo precedente
que conduzca al gobierno checo a extender la ilegalización de la KSM  a
otros sectores democráticos y progresistas del país, poniendo a su país
entre aquellos estados que usan su poder, formalmente democrático, para
encubrir una persecución política inaceptable.

Esta protesta ante la representación de la República Checa en Chile será
dada a conocer al gobierno chileno y a la opinión pública nacional e
internacional, para exigir que esta medida contra la KSM sea revocada y
se detenga el hostigamiento contra los comunistas checos por parte de su
gobierno.


PARTIDO COMUNISTA DE CHILE

Guillermo Teillier, Presidente

Lautaro Carmona, Secretario General
Jorge Insunza, Responsable de Relaciones Internacionales


---

French CP, Respect for Freedom and Organization Right in the Czech Republic [Fr.]
-------------------------------------------------
From: French Communist Party, Friday, October 20, 2006
http://www.pcf.fr <http://www.pcf.fr/>  , mailto:pcf@...
==================================================

Le PCF demande solennellement le respect de la liberté d’organisation en
République tchèque

Le Parti communiste français est consterné et élève sa plus vive
protestation après la dissolution de l'"Union de la Jeunesse communiste"
de la République tchèque. Cette dissolution vient d’être prononcée par
le ministre de l'Intérieur de ce pays, au motif que « l’Union de la
jeunesse communiste prône, dans son programme, ... "la propriété
collective des moyens de production" à la place de la "propriété privée
de ces moyens"! On croit rêver!

Le Pcf demande solennellement aux autorités de la République tchèque de
revenir immédiatement sur cette décision inique qui institue un délit
d’opinion. Un tel acte est en contradiction avec les principes les plus
communément établis d’un Etat de droit.

Les ennemis de la démocratie sont ceux qui prêchent le racisme,
l'antisémitisme, la xénophobie, l'homophobie qui pratiquent les
violences ou appellent à la guerre. Rien de tel dans le cas de cette «
Union de la Jeunesse communiste » dont le combat pour la démocratie et
le progrès social est une option essentielle.

Nous invitons tous les démocrates, les progressistes à ne pas laisser
passer sans réagir ce dangereux précédent qui suscite déjà un large
courant de solidarité en République tchèque et au-delà.

Parti communiste français

Paris, le 19 octobre 2006.

---


WFDY, Solidarity with KSM Czech Republic - VERY URGENT ACTIONS
-------------------------------------------------
From: World Federation of Democratic Youth, Monday, October 23, 2006
==================================================

WFDY - World Federation of Democratic Youth
Fédération Mondiale de la Jeunesse Démocratique
Federacion Mundial de la Juventud Democratica
_____ 

In Service of Youth and Their Rights Since 1945
_____ 

WFDY is an International NGO with consultative status with UN (ECOSOC)
and operational relation with UNESCO
Presented a Peace Messenger award by UN Secretary General in 1987
_____ 

Postal address: 1389 Budapest, POB 147, Hungary 
Address: 1139 Budapest XIII, Frangepán U. 16 – Hungary
Tel/Fax: + 361 350 22 02 / 12 04 
COMMISSION OF EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA

CENA Coordination

EDON – P.O. Box 21986, Lefkosia, Cyprus Tel: +357 22766459 Fax: +357
22757161 E-mail: ccedon@...

SDAJ – Hoffnungsstrasse 18, 45127 Essen, Germany Tel: +49 0201230633
Fax: +49 0201230693 E-mail: international@...
UJCE – Olimpo 35, 28043 Madrid, Spain Tel: +349 13004969 Fax: +349
13004744 E-mail: int@...


Statement condemning the prohibition of the 
Communist Youth Union of Czech Republic (KSM)


On December 2005 it came to our knowledge that the Ministry of Interior
of Czech Republic commanded KSM to renounce to its political proposals,
its communist identity and its Marxist-Leninist principles. The Czech
Republic government established a time limit so that KSM would change
its political program otherwise this youth organization would be
declared illegal. The first given closing date (31st December 2005) was
later on postponed to March 2006. 

The Ministry of Interior had sent to KSM a warning and precept, in which
it:

1. Impugns the status of the KSM as a civic association under
pretext that the goals of KSM´s activity interfere with an area
restricted to activities of political parties that is, according to the
interpretation of the Home Office of the Czech Republic, excluded from
the intervention of civic associations. Nevertheless the KSM does not
differ in this area from the field of action of other youth political
organizations in the Czech Republic like Young Conservatives, Young
Social Democrats, Young Christian Democrats, etc. Thus it is obvious
that this attack against the KSM is politically motivated. It is an
obvious attempt to restrain our freedom of association.

2. Tries to coerce the KSM into renouncing its political
program, communist identity, goals, and theoretical basis in Marx,
Engels and Lenin, which is Marxism as a whole.

It is necessary to emphasize that the attack against the KSM is an
attack against the whole communist movement in the Czech Republic, and
therefore also against the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia
(KCSM), which the state power has not so far dared to attack directly;
it does so indirectly by attacking the KSM due to the closeness between
the KCSM, which is today one of the strongest parliamentary political
parties in the Czech Republic and one of the strongest communist parties
in Europe. 

This attack against the KSM is just the climax of a long-run
anticommunist campaign that has increased in intensity this year. Among
its manifestations was for example a petition titled “Let’s abolish the
communists” an endeavor to pass a law that would criminalize communist
ideas, movement and the word “communist” as such. This bill
simultaneously put communism and its ideas on one level with fascism and
its crimes. 

On identical level of offense it is the motion presented on 24th of
January 2006 to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) entitled “Need for international condemnation of crimes of
totalitarian communist regimes” upon a report of its political
committee. The content of this report constitutes a flagrant violation
of every sense of democratic liberties and order and shows a practice of
political revenge of capitalism, aiming to prevent the most progressive
forces to act freely and to propagate their ideas and ideals. This
anti-democratic crusade is a clear violation of the most elementary
rights and freedom of the citizens. To perpetuate this crusade
everything is admissible for the capitalist ideological offense from
comparisons of the progressive and peace-loving organizations of
workers, youth and students with the terrorist actions or the heinous
crimes carried out by the Nazi-fascism as it already has happened in
Czech Republic and other countries. 

During all this year, in Czech Republic and all over the world, a
solidarity campaign has emerged towards the KSM, namely trough the
International Campaign for Democratic and Civil Rights and Liberties of
WFDY. In Czech Republic, student’s organizations, political parties,
several associations and anti-fascist organizations protested against
this attack to the most elementary democratic rights. All over the
world, several youth organizations of many aims, anti-imperialist,
progressive, democratic, peace-loving youth movements, political parties
and many personalities and intellectuals expressed solidarity with the
KSM, and stand against the attacks performed to prohibit it, demanding
the retreat of the resolution to prohibit the KSM.

While the Czech Republic government had been postponing its final
decision, the anticommunist attacks had been raised with slogans like
"Kill a communist to strengthen peace!" / "Do not let the red swine’s
rule!” / "Commie out!” / "The reds do not sleep, make them sleep!" /
"Save our land, smash the reds" / "Fucking communists, go to ass!" etc.
An anticommunist demonstration on the May Day took place in Prague on a
place where the KCSM traditionally organized its May Day. Therefore the
KCSM had to organize it on other place. On this anticommunist
demonstration also participated the leaders of three parliamentary
right-wing parties made their speeches using very offensive, dirty words
against the communists. The vice-chairman of the KCSM was brutally
attacked on 25th of April 2006 on the street in Prague.

Recently, through a letter of 12th of October 2006 the Czech government
has come to dissolute the KSM, presenting as a pretext some contents on
the proposals, as the substitution of the private property of the
production means by the collective property of the production means.
Thus, the reason for the prohibition is the conviction of these
youngsters to build a different society, not base on the capitalist’s
principals. This concerns an act that primarily turns against democracy,
human rights and fundamental freedoms of which the EU claims to be the
defender.

We strongly condemn the prohibition of the KSM. The open threats towards
the KSM and of course toward the KCSM during the past few months became
more intense and were placed among the wider plan of imperialism to
intensify anti-communist propaganda, to distort history with lies, to
place communists on the bench with memoranda, prohibitions and militant
anti-communism. 

This attempt falls within the wider policy of the Czech Republic
government and is promoted by the broader policies of the EU as well,
for the prohibition of the radical Left ideology which offers the utmost
in the struggle against fascism, against colonialism and social
injustice, against human exploitation and inequality. The KCSM also
comprises a target of the Czech Republic government through the decision
in question only a week before the elections, as well as the overall
anti-communist climate that is being cultivated and reminds of a
witch-hunt. The activities of the KCSM in gathering 40.000 signatures
against the promoted plans for the installation of the NATO bases in the
Czech Republic were quite disturbing for the government of the USA.

We wish to stress that similar phenomena of communist condemnation due
to their ideology, penalization of organizations and their activities,
prohibition and imprisonment of members or representatives of communist
parties are also observed in other countries, mostly in Eastern Europe,
such as in Bulgaria, Hungary, Baltic countries and other republics of
the former Soviet Union. At the same time, anti-communist and
anti-socialist foundations have been established in Bulgaria and Romania
while in the Czech Republic and Hungary anti-communist museums have been
created. While the Left confronts fascist prosecutions, in several of
these countries not only are fascist and neo-Nazi organizations not
prohibited but also they are allowed, if not encouraged, to act freely. 

The appeal of progressive ideals worries the system of exploitation and
discrimination because by its policies the European youngsters became
aware of the capitalism crimes. This offence against KSM has emerged
from a profounder campaign against the communist movement in Czech
Republic and in Eastern Europe. This anti-democratic and anti-communist
crusade, intends to criminalize communist people and their actions,
comparing it with the hideous crimes carried out by the Nazi-fascism.
This anti-democratic operation aims to strike the communist movement and
the most elementary rights and freedom of the citizens by the
implementation of the so-called “anti-terrorist legislation”, by the US
government and the EU.

Such kinds of policies and practices, along with social deadlocks caused
but not faced by the system, encourage the revival of Fascism and
Nazism, which caused so much destruction, and deaths of millions of
people. The peoples of the aforementioned countries, as well as the
representatives of the communist ideology have offered innumerable
sacrifices in the anti-fascist victory of the peoples during the Second
World War and have moreover played a decisive role in the conquest of
many labor, collective and individual rights which are currently under
the threat of abolition, as sacrifice in the name of the market economy,
of the “holy” competition, of globalization, of inequality and the
capital and profit of multinational companies.

We strongly criticize such policies like the terror legislation, the
inclusion of biometric data in citizens documents, the arrest and
retention of suspects without warrants of arrest or proof, the
surveillance of persons, secret prisons even on European ground and
private conversation wiretapping. Such measures, which supposedly turn
against terrorism, in essence turn against workers and movements or
parties that express the workers’ interests.

These policies aim at imposing imperialist policies and the interests of
multinational companies at the expense of human rights and the freedoms
of people. The imperialists in Eastern Europe show an extra effort to
this direction with the purpose of erasing the peoples’ memory and any
possibility of the youth getting to know how all the people can manage
their own destiny. They know that the communists have a way out and this
is why they are the first target in the wider attack against the popular
movement. We express our solidarity with the KSM and KCSM and we believe
that this issued does not only concern the communist but all democratic
people, as it comprise

(Message over 64 KB, truncated)

Source : http://fr.groups.yahoo.com/group/alerte_otan/messages

Reportage sur la minorité Rom du Kosovo sur Euronews

English version: see below

Le magazine « Europeans » de EuroNews TV diffuse pendant une semaine,
à partir du vendredi 20 octobre 2006, selon la grille horaire donnée
ci-dessous, le reportage de 8 minutes sur Le logement de la minorité
Rom au Kosovo réalisé et filmé par Sébastien Verkindere, produit par
Agit.prod, qui traite en particulier de la reconstruction de la
Mahala de Mitrovica détruite par un pogrom en 1999.

Agit.prod sa - alainverkindere @ hotmail.com

English version

EuroNews TV magazine "Europeans" broadcasts during a week, starting
Friday October 20th 2006, according to the broadcast time given
below, the 8 minute report about Roma minority housing in Kosovo
directed and shot by Sébastien Verkindere, produced by Agit.prod,
dealing in particular with the reconstruction of the Mitrovica Mahala
destroyed by a pogrom in 1999.

Grille de diffusion corrigée / Corrected broadcast times (CET)

Mardi/Tuesday: 13.15, 16.45, 21.45
Mercredi/Wednesday: 11.45, 14.45, 17.45
Jeudi/Thursday: 13.45, 21.45

===

EN FRANCAIS SUR LA SITUATION DU KOSOVO VOIR AUSSI,
sur le site anti-yougoslave "Courrier des Balkans":

Kosovo : un patrimoine divisé à protéger

La semaine dernière, l’Assemblée du Kosovo a approuvé une loi
particulièrement délicate : la loi sur la tutelle du patrimoine
culturel. Le thème est fortement politisé, car il renvoit à la
protection de l’identité serbe. La définition et l’inventaire du
patrimoine à protéger ont constitué un thème majeur des discussions
serbo-albanaises de Vienne, mais l’indifférence prévaut sur le sujet
dans la population, tandis que se poursuivent les constructions
sauvages...

http://balkans.courriers.info/article7174.html

Les dirigeants albanais du Kosovo ont perdu leur crédibilité

Corruption, collusions avec le crime organisé : les dirigeants des
partis politiques albanais n’ont plus guère de crédibilité et sont
des proies faciles pour les chantages et les pressions de la
communauté internationale. Le quotidien Express dresse un tableau
accablant, alors que les négociations sur le statut final du Kosovo
approchent de leur terme...

http://balkans.courriers.info/article7142.html

Kosovo : vers une explosion de violence si le « statut final » est
repoussé ?

http://balkans.courriers.info/article7108.html

Minorités au Kosovo : disparition programmée des Gorani ?

http://balkans.courriers.info/article7114.html

Indépendance « conditionnelle » du Kosovo : le scénario

Le Conseil de sécurité adoptera au plus tard en mars 2007 une
nouvelle résolution sur le Kosovo, annulant la résolution 1244. Ni
l’indépendance ni la souveraineté de la Serbie sur le territoire du
Kosovo ne seront mentionnées par ce document, qui ouvrira la voie à
l’arrivée d’une mission de l’UE au Kosovo en juin 2007. Les
révélations - difficiles à vérifier - du quotidien Blic de Belgrade...

http://balkans.courriers.info/article6999.html

Négociations sur le Kosovo et « responsabilité historique » :
Belgrade vs. Ahtisaari

http://balkans.courriers.info/article6973.html

Kosovo : Belgrade exclut toujours un partage

http://balkans.courriers.info/article6943.html

Kosovo : dangereuse explosion à Mitrovica nord

http://balkans.courriers.info/article6951.html

Kosovo : maisons serbes (reconstruites) à vendre. Prix avantageux.

http://balkans.courriers.info/article6945.html

Corruption au Kosovo : la MINUK prise la main dans le sac

Un rapport du bureau pour le contrôle des services intérieurs de
l’ONU (OIOS) a identifié le chef de la MINUK comme un obstacle au
combat contre la corruption au Kosovo. Ce rapport parle « d’abus et
de mauvaise gestion », et d’une « corruption systématique » à
l’Aéroport de Pristina. Il accuse le chef de la MINUK d’avoir fermé
les yeux...

http://balkans.courriers.info/article6606.html

Les rroms, la communauté la plus marginalisée du Kosovo

http://balkans.courriers.info/article6594.html

Le sulfureux homme d’affaires Behxhet Pacolli veut jouer au
Berlusconi du Kosovo

http://balkans.courriers.info/article6593.html

Kosovo-Monténégro : une liaison dangereuse

http://balkans.courriers.info/article6584.html

La Serbie exige l’arrêt des privatisations au Kosovo

http://balkans.courriers.info/article6574.html

Kosovo : nouvelles vagues de violences contre les Serbes

http://balkans.courriers.info/article6556.html

(italiano / english)

The Albanian Brooklyn Connection


Nell'estate 2005 a Parigi, nel quadro del Festival dei film sui Diritti dell'Uomo, fu presentato anche il filmato che potete vedere nella Sezione Video del sito Google:


Esso documenta del traffico di armi a favore dei secessionisti pan-albanesi; nel documentario vedrete tra l'altro i soldi andati dritti dritti in tasca ai politici USA che hanno appoggiato - ed appoggiano - l'irredentismo revanscista, pan-albanese e non solo pan-albanese, nei Balcani. 

Protagonista della operazione è Florin Krasniqi, un piccolo imprenditore edile, che esibisce il suo fanatismo e razzismo anti-serbo davanti alle telecamere. Nel film si vedono i membri del clan Krasniqi ed altri, legati alla mafia albanese ed all'UCK. Viene documentato come tonnellate di armi furono trasportate dal Nord America in Kosovo, tramite l'Albania. Vedrete anche il generalissimus della NATO in un'atmosfera preelettorale, dove piovono assegni da migliaia e migliaia di dollari...

1) The Albanian Brooklyn connection: a video
2) J. Gorin: The Brooklyn Connection (JWR)
3) June 2005: Brooklyn Connection exposed in Den Haag by Milosevic; prosecution attempts to destroy credibility of defence witnesses
4) Buying Big Guns? No Big Deal / From Brooklyn to Kosovo, Arms Supplier Makes Deadly Connection 
5) Welcome to America? The Terrorist Connection in the U.S. / Albanian Mafia in the USA  (Stella Jatras)



(a cura di Olga ed Andrea)


=== 1 ===


The Albanian Brooklyn connection

VPRO 
50 min 12 sec - 5-feb-2006 

Documentary about how Albanians form Brooklyn New York are smuggling weapons form the USA to Kosovo via Albania. It also shows that former ... tutti » Clinton administration officials such as Richard Holbrooke and former presidential candidate / NATO supreme commander General Wesley Clark, support The KLA an independence of Kosovo 

The Documentary has Dutch Subtittles, languages spoken are: English (90 %) Albanian (5%) and Dutch (5%)



=== 2 ===

Jewish World Review July 19, 2005 / 12 Tamuz, 5765 

The Brooklyn Connection 

By Julia Gorin 


http://www.jewishworldreview.com | Albanian-American roofer Florin Krasniqi has been living in Brooklyn and smuggling American guns into Kosovo to arm the Kosovo Liberation Army--this time for war against its erstwhile saviors, NATO and the UN. The KLA are the bin Laden-trained, Iran-backed narco-terrorists whose 1999 jihad against the Christian Serbs we helped fight, abetting secession and creating a mono-ethnic terror haven and future Islamic republic in Europe. 

Krasniqi, who raised $30 million from fellow Albanian-Americans to help finance the KLA's war, is the subject of a documentary by Dutch filmmaker Klaartje Quirijns, titled "The Brooklyn Connection," which will air Tuesday night at 10 pm on PBS. The Department of Homeland Security has launched an investigation into Krasniqi, according to Ms. Quirijns, as a result of her award-winning film, which was meant to be sympathetic to Krasniqi's cause of an independent Kosovo, and to highlight the ease of buying guns in America. 

Realizing Albanians could lose the good will of Americans once they see the documentary, Krasniqi went on "60 Minutes" last Sunday, to paint himself as a concerned citizen promoting anti-gun legislation. 

But "The Brooklyn Connection" is damning, demonstrating just how seriously our 1999 blunder continues to backfire, as the film follows Krasniqi's life: at home in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, with his wife and three kids; at the gun store buying a .50-caliber rifle; at an army surplus store buying fatigues and holsters; at the airport checking in his firearm; and at a 2003 John Kerry fundraiser writing out thousand-dollar checks. 

"With money, you can do amazing things in this country," Krasniqi rhapsodizes. "Senators and congressmen are looking for donations, and if you raise the money they need for their campaigns, they pay you back."

At the event, we see Krasniqi greeting Wesley Clark. "Mr. Clark, this is your group, your KLA," Krasniqi says, introducing the former NATO commander to six or so fellow KLA fighters whom Krasniqi helped resettle in the U.S. Krasniqi himself was smuggled into the country across the Mexican border in the trunk of a car. 
 
Clark shakes hands with everyone, then calls Richard Holbrooke over for more introductions. The politicians and the terrorists have a few laughs before Holbrooke makes a speech calling for speedier UN action on "Kosova's" independence, using the same, purposeful Albanian mispronunciation of the Serbian word that President Clinton had used. Albanian-American Jim Belushi also makes an appearance, via telecast, telling the guests, "If you care about the fate of Albanians in the Balkans, if you care about the safety and prosperity of America... I'm sure you'll do anything you can to make sure John Kerry is elected as our next president."

Indeed, had John Kerry been elected, the architects of our backward 1999 debacle    Clark, Albright and Holbrooke    would be back in position to finish the job they started    that is, officially establishing the independent terrorist state of Kosovo. As UN final status talks on Kosovo loom this year, Clark has been working feverishly to complete the Clinton administration's blunder. In February he wrote a Wall St. Journal op-ed warning that "a violent collision may occur by year-end" if we don't do what the Kosovo Albanians want    and that's exactly what this four-star general advocated doing. After all, unrest in the region shines an unwelcome spotlight on his "successful war", as he spent all of election year billing it in contrast to Iraq. So he wants to close the book as soon as possible on Kosovo, where there were four more explosions over the July 4th weekend  — part of the ongoing bombings by our Albanian "rescuees" and a message to persuade the international community that only one final status will be acceptable: unconditional independence, without border compromises with Serbia or protection guarantees for non-Albanian minorities. 

"United Nations doesn't know what we are capable of," Krasniqi warns. "If we were capable of getting NATO to help us, I think we are capable of throwing the UN out of there also. And we will throw the UN out if we have to."

The intermittent gunfights between Albanians and NATO (KFOR) troops over the past six years since that American "victory" on behalf of the enemy can attest to that, as can a Kosovo charity that was raising funds for Osama bin Laden. Then there's the KLA member whose application was found at an al Qaeda recruitment office in Afghanistan: "I have Kosovo Liberation Army combat experience against Serb and American forces... I recommend [suicide] operations against [amusement] parks like Disney." 

Regardless, Clark has already promised his former campaign donors, the National Albanian American Council, that "Kosova" would be independent. In his op-ed, he even suggested pummeling the Serbs again if Belgrade got in the way; it's easier than fighting Albanian terrorists. 

Despite a different administration being in power now, full secession still seems to be the likelihood, what with Congress, the UN, the State Department and a number of George Soros-funded NGOs (non-governmental organizations) pushing for it. If Kosovo does become independent, the international peacekeepers will have to leave, and with them our eyes and ears in this European terror haven and thruway.

Additionally, it will facilitate the continued push to create "Greater Albania", a fight that has already spread to Macedonia and means to embroil parts of Montenegro and northern Greece, as was the plan all along. 

In between Krasniqi's on-camera descriptions of the planeloads of guns and ammo he's been sending over to Albania then smuggling by truck or mule into Kosovo, we see his all-American pre-teen daughter dancing around the house to J. Lo before the family's town car takes them to a relative's party at an Albanian catering hall, where Krasniqi is reminded to write a check to "Hyde for Congress." The guests dance on top of dollar bills, strewn about the dance floor like confetti, to a song about Kosovo and the KLA.

Today Kosovo is just five percent away from being ethnically pure--purged of all minorities via pogroms, which reached a crescendo in March of last year. Nearly 200 Serbian churches and monasteries have been burned, destroyed, spray-painted with "KLA" and/or used as a toilet.

There is a hotel outside Pristina, the capital of Kosovo. Atop the hotel sits a tribute to those who helped achieve this dream: a makeshift reproduction of the Statue of Liberty. 

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in Washington and in the media consider "must reading." Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here. 



=== 3 ===

IWPR'S TRIBUNAL UPDATE No. 411, June 24, 2005

COURTSIDE: MILOSEVIC

By Ana Uzelac in The Hague

Slobodan Milosevic and Hague tribunal prosecutors embarked on a risky journey this week, when Yugoslav army general Bozidar Delic - himself potentially implicated in numerous war crimes in Kosovo - entered the witness stand.

The 49-year-old defence witness was brought to The Hague to counter prosecution claims that the Yugoslav army took part in the ethnic cleansing and murder of Albanian civilians in Kosovo during the 1999 conflict there.

But it emerged that the neatly dressed, well-mannered general was himself implicated in several episodes of alleged war crimes in Kosovo - yet, at the same time, is scheduled as an expert witness for the prosecution in their case against the former Kosovo Albanian prime minister Ramush Haradinaj. (...)

The witness started off by trying to prove that the Kosovo Albanian rebellion in 1998 had western backing, by showing a video clip of US special envoy Richard Holbrook meeting with a Kosovar guerrilla leader in June of that year. This meeting, which Milosevic has tried to present as a part of a western conspiracy against his country, was in fact conducted in public view and in the framework of Holbrook's official visit to destroyed Albanian villages in Kosovo at the time.

The witness then showed excerpts from the Dutch documentary "Brooklyn Connection", which describes the ways the Albanian immigrant community in the United States organised weapon supply channels for the Kosovar insurgents in the late Nineties.

The first clip showed the movie's main characters Florin Krasniqi distributing weapons to Albanian men - alleged insurgents - from the back of a van. But IWPR's senior editor Stacy Sullivan - who produced the documentary - later explained to this reporter in a telephone interview from New York that the clip was in fact a re-enactment based on Krasniqi's recollections, which was filmed in Kosovo in November 2003.

The last segment the witness played showed a fundraising dinner for US presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004, where Krasniqi is seen chatting with Holbrook and the former American general Wesley Clark.

The witness then moved to paint a picture of the Yugoslav army's attempts to stop the growing illegal import of weapons and the infiltration of trained guerrillas from neighbouring Albania. To back up this picture, he used recordings of intercepted radio traffic between the insurgents and various contemporaneous reports he sent to his superiors.

He also described numerous border incidents in his zone of responsibility in southwestern Kosovo - and played video clips of the official army investigations into some of them.

The pictures showed bodies of Albanians killed in alleged shootouts as well as weapons and ammunition confiscated by the Yugoslav army. In one such incident, the witness claimed, six conscript soldiers and one non-commissioned officer ambushed a group of around 175 insurgents and managed to kill 19 of them, without suffering a single casualty.

(... ) Two witnesses who earlier testified in the prosecution stage of the trial have implicated general Delic and his unit in several episodes of deliberate mass killings of Albanian civilians in Kosovo. (...) This "demolishing effect" is likely to be strengthened, as it comes after the prosecutors managed to seriously dent the credibility of the previous witness - police inspector Dragan Jasovic, whose testimony ended on May 22 and who is likely to be remembered for the numerous allegations of torture levelled against him for his dealings with Albanians in the Kosovo town of Urosevac. 

"If the witnesses like [Jasovic and Delic] are in the end remembered by the judges not by the evidence they brought but by the crimes they are alleged to have committed themselves, . they would serve Milosevic no purpose," said Chen.

But destroying the credibility of both Delic and Jasovic could also prove to be potentially risky and embarrassing for the prosecutor's office as a whole - they have both been called on by the prosecution to appear in the trials of two Kosovo Albanians. As revealed this week, Delic is scheduled to appear as an expert witness in the Haradinaj trial, which is yet to begin. Jasovic has already testified in the prosecution case against KLA regional commander Fatmir Limaj.

In this way, the lead prosecutor in the Milosevic case is effectively destroying the credibility of the witnesses chosen by his colleagues working on another case. This paradox, according to Chen of the CIJ, stems from the nature of the adversarial system applied in the court, which allows for the same person to be rendered useless in one case because they are subject to sustained cross-examination in another.

But with cases as high profile as Milosevic and later Haradinaj, such a paradox can easily end up as an embarrassment, Chen warns, adding that the prosecutors may try to avoid this embarrassment by removing Delic from their witness list in the Haradinaj case.

"In the end the prosecutors have to choose - weakening their Milosevic case or losing one witness in the Haradinaj [trial]," he said. "Clearly, they would not risk the former."

Ana Uzelac is IWPR's project manager in The Hague.

IWPR'S TRIBUNAL UPDATE No. 411, June 24, 2005
www. iwpr.net

=== 4 ===

Modern Jihad in Europa dall'America: sempre a proposito del personaggio di Florin Krasniqi, come si presenta lui stesso nel film della regista canadese Klaartje Quirijns.

From:   r_rozoff
Subject: [yugoslaviainfo] The Brooklyn Connection: 'Kosovo Is Up In The Air. We Will Throw The UN Out'
Date: July 19, 2005 11:50:52 PM GMT+02:00


Bloomberg News - July 19, 2005

From Brooklyn to Kosovo, Arms Supplier Makes Deadly Connection 

-``We have a team of snipers here in the U.S. ready to
be dispatched on very short notice,'' Krasniqi says. 


Florin Krasniqi owns a roofing company and lives in a
pleasant Brooklyn neighborhood, where he enjoys
poolside barbecues with his wife and two children. 

Not exactly the typical profile of a major arms
supplier to a guerilla army. But that's a pretty fair
description of Krasniqi, who's at the center of a
chilling PBS documentary called ``The Brooklyn
Connection.'' 

Krasniqi is an immigrant from Kosovo who was a major
backer of the Kosovo Liberation Army, a group of
ethnic Albanians who tried to topple the Serbian-led
government during the late 1990s. He raised $30
million to arm and supply KLA fighters during the war,
which ended in 1999 when Serbia agreed to a United
Nations-approved peace plan. 

Today, Kosovo remains under UN control with the aid of
NATO troops. But Krasniqi, whose hatred of the Serbian
rulers was fueled by the death of a cousin during
fighting in 1997, continues to raise money and supply
arms to rebels who want to drive the UN, NATO and the
Serbs out of Kosovo. 

``For us and the Serbs it's unfinished business,'' he
says. 

Shoot to Kill 

Krasniqi says Serbs consider Albanians ``animals''
worthy of slaughter. The feeling appears to be mutual.


Dutch filmmaker Klaartje Quirijns followed Krasniqi
from late 2003 to early 2005, including his visit to a
gun show where he received advice on the quickest way
to dispose of the enemy. 

``If you shoot them in the heart they still have nine
seconds to kill you,'' says a grizzled fellow with
thick glasses. Best to shoot an opponent in the
``medulla,'' the man says, because it ``kills them
instantly.'' 

Krasniqi also traveled to a gun store in St. Mary's,
Pennsylvania, where he fell in love with a 50-caliber
rifle - the most powerful in the world. This
particular model, about 4 1/2 feet long and mounted on
a tripod, can fire only one shot at a time. 

Krasniqi asks if a five-shot Beretta might be
available. The owner responds by inquiring what he
wants the gun for. 

``Elephant hunting,'' Krasniqi says. 

``We don't see a lot of elephant hunters,'' the owner
says. Although no five-shot Beretta was available,
Krasniqi buys the 50- caliber rifle and the owner
throws in a free hunting hat. 

Arms on Airplanes 

In a sequence that may surprise some airline patrons,
Krasniqi wheels the weapon to the U.S. Airways
check-in booth, opens the case (which also contains a
short-barreled shotgun with a pistol grip) and
promises there is no ammo inside. No problem, airline
officials say, and welcome him aboard.