Informazione
> http://www.iwpr.net/index.pl?archive/bcr3/bcr3_200308_452_1_eng.txt
IWPR'S BALKAN CRISIS REPORT, No. 452, August 13, 2003
MACEDONIA: PRESS TAKEOVER CONCERNS
There's concern the WAZ media acquisitions will create a monopoly in
weak media market.
By Ana Petruseva in Skopje
Macedonian journalists have welcomed the takeover of three major
newspapers by the German media giant WAZ, saying it will give them
greater political independence - but some media analysts warn that the
move could lead to a monopoly.
On July 28, the Essen-based WAZ group bought controlling shares in
Dnevnik, Vest and Utrinski Vestnik, the three dailies with the highest
circulation - jointly estimated at 120,000.
The three titles will be managed and distributed by a new umbrella
company called Media Print Macedonia, as a way of reducing overheads.
The firm is to be headed by Srdjan Kerim, a former Macedonia foreign
minister who was special adviser to the ex-head of the European Union's
Balkans Stability Pact, Bodo Hombach, now a WAZ director.
Although details of the deal were not disclosed, IWPR has learned that
the Germans acquired an 81.9 per cent stake in Dnevnik and 51 per cent
in the other two papers.
WAZ has pledged not to interfere in editorial policy. Hombach recently
told Deutsche Welle radio, "We are the better alternative for
journalists who want to work free of manipulation and influences.... We
have strong partners in Macedonia, and we will leave the editors to do
their job."
Editors and shareholders see the takeover as a positive step that will
raise professional standards and strengthen the media's independence
from political pressure.
Dnevnik, centrist and nationalist in outlook, dominates the print
scene. It has maintained its role as a leading independent news outlet
since it was founded in 1996. At the time, it was the only opposition
to the state-owned media.
Its chief editor, Branko Geroski, says the WAZ deal is good for his
paper. "We were making a profit and we had a high circulation, but we
had to think about the big picture," he told IWPR. "We realised WAZ was
a serious strategic partner and we simply could not say no - we had to
think how we could develop further."
He thinks the profit motive will guarantee editorial freedom, "You have
to work profitably in order to maintain your independence because when
you are struggling for survival you are vulnerable to political
pressure."
Goran Mihajlovski, editor in chief of the tabloid Vest, said German
investment would bring higher quality and lower costs, making the
papers more competitive. "Now we can focus more on the content, we
don't have to worry about ads," he said.
Diplomats are cautiously optimistic that WAZ will help the media become
free of political interference.
"What the Macedonian press badly needs is independent and unbiased
media where journalists report objectively, instead of spreading
confusion and insecurity by reporting rumours," said a western diplomat
who asked not to be named. "Very often we see journalists here taking
up the role of politicians."
The Macedonian media are vulnerable to pressure from politicians, and
most outlets have historically had political affiliations. Successive
governments have been able to exert considerable influence by
pressuring commercial advertisers - the media's major source of income.
Journalists working on the three dailies were reluctant to comment on
the deal. So far no job cuts have been announced as a way of trimming
costs.
Others in the Macedonian media are worried that the German takeover
will skew the small market for newspapers, making it less rather than
more competitive. They fear that WAZ will simply squeeze out weaker
titles by attracting advertising with cheaper rates, and printing and
distributing editions for less money.
"It will no doubt increase both journalistic standards and the media's
professional abilities," said Ljupco Zikov, owner of the economic
weekly Kapital. "However, there is a problem with a monopoly situation
on the publishing market, given that WAZ will hold over 80 per cent of
it."
Aco Kabramov, editor in chief of A1 Television, fears that editorial
standards will ultimately suffer, "I think that this deal will have a
negative affect on the media scene as it will impose an monopoly. No
matter how independent the editorial policy seems, it will not
contribute to professionalism or pluralism... The three newspapers will
be under the same company and that will ultimately lead to a more or
less unified editorial policy."
This IWPR reporter approached WAZ lawyers in Skopje on several
occasions for comment on the aforementioned concerns, but was told that
company representatives were not available for interview.
The government's anti-monopoly committee has yet to issue a view on
whether WAZ's acquisitions are in line with ownership regulations.
Elsewhere in the Balkans, the effect of WAZ's massive investments, some
say, has distorted already weak commercial markets.
In Bulgaria and Croatia, the group has effectively gained control over
large swathes of the print media. Last year, it moved into Serbia,
taking a 50 per cent share in the dominant publishing house that owns
the leading daily Politika.
At present, there is no big player in Macedonia's media, since the
once-powerful publishing house Nova Makedonija - a state-owned monopoly
for nearly 60 years, with several dailies and many periodicals - has
lost much of its influence.
The country's leading dailies Nova Makedonija and Vecer are now
marginalised, with huge debts and circulation falling to below 1,000.
The country currently has a total of eight dailies, six in Macedonian
and two in Albanian.
Klime Babunski of the Institute for Sociological, Political and Legal
Research believes WAZ may go on to make further acquisitions. "This
will not be the end of it," he said. "I don't see why WAZ shouldn't
expand into the weekly market. They have the resources for it, and the
interest."
Ana Petruseva is IWPR's coordinating editor in Skopje.
(...) Balkan Crisis Report is supported by the Department for
International Development, the European Commission, the Swedish
International Development and Cooperation Agency, The Netherlands
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and other funders. IWPR also acknowledges
general support from the Ford Foundation. For further details on this
project, other information services and media programmes, visit IWPR's
website: www.iwpr.net (...)
IWPR'S BALKAN CRISIS REPORT, No. 452, August 13, 2003
MACEDONIA: PRESS TAKEOVER CONCERNS
There's concern the WAZ media acquisitions will create a monopoly in
weak media market.
By Ana Petruseva in Skopje
Macedonian journalists have welcomed the takeover of three major
newspapers by the German media giant WAZ, saying it will give them
greater political independence - but some media analysts warn that the
move could lead to a monopoly.
On July 28, the Essen-based WAZ group bought controlling shares in
Dnevnik, Vest and Utrinski Vestnik, the three dailies with the highest
circulation - jointly estimated at 120,000.
The three titles will be managed and distributed by a new umbrella
company called Media Print Macedonia, as a way of reducing overheads.
The firm is to be headed by Srdjan Kerim, a former Macedonia foreign
minister who was special adviser to the ex-head of the European Union's
Balkans Stability Pact, Bodo Hombach, now a WAZ director.
Although details of the deal were not disclosed, IWPR has learned that
the Germans acquired an 81.9 per cent stake in Dnevnik and 51 per cent
in the other two papers.
WAZ has pledged not to interfere in editorial policy. Hombach recently
told Deutsche Welle radio, "We are the better alternative for
journalists who want to work free of manipulation and influences.... We
have strong partners in Macedonia, and we will leave the editors to do
their job."
Editors and shareholders see the takeover as a positive step that will
raise professional standards and strengthen the media's independence
from political pressure.
Dnevnik, centrist and nationalist in outlook, dominates the print
scene. It has maintained its role as a leading independent news outlet
since it was founded in 1996. At the time, it was the only opposition
to the state-owned media.
Its chief editor, Branko Geroski, says the WAZ deal is good for his
paper. "We were making a profit and we had a high circulation, but we
had to think about the big picture," he told IWPR. "We realised WAZ was
a serious strategic partner and we simply could not say no - we had to
think how we could develop further."
He thinks the profit motive will guarantee editorial freedom, "You have
to work profitably in order to maintain your independence because when
you are struggling for survival you are vulnerable to political
pressure."
Goran Mihajlovski, editor in chief of the tabloid Vest, said German
investment would bring higher quality and lower costs, making the
papers more competitive. "Now we can focus more on the content, we
don't have to worry about ads," he said.
Diplomats are cautiously optimistic that WAZ will help the media become
free of political interference.
"What the Macedonian press badly needs is independent and unbiased
media where journalists report objectively, instead of spreading
confusion and insecurity by reporting rumours," said a western diplomat
who asked not to be named. "Very often we see journalists here taking
up the role of politicians."
The Macedonian media are vulnerable to pressure from politicians, and
most outlets have historically had political affiliations. Successive
governments have been able to exert considerable influence by
pressuring commercial advertisers - the media's major source of income.
Journalists working on the three dailies were reluctant to comment on
the deal. So far no job cuts have been announced as a way of trimming
costs.
Others in the Macedonian media are worried that the German takeover
will skew the small market for newspapers, making it less rather than
more competitive. They fear that WAZ will simply squeeze out weaker
titles by attracting advertising with cheaper rates, and printing and
distributing editions for less money.
"It will no doubt increase both journalistic standards and the media's
professional abilities," said Ljupco Zikov, owner of the economic
weekly Kapital. "However, there is a problem with a monopoly situation
on the publishing market, given that WAZ will hold over 80 per cent of
it."
Aco Kabramov, editor in chief of A1 Television, fears that editorial
standards will ultimately suffer, "I think that this deal will have a
negative affect on the media scene as it will impose an monopoly. No
matter how independent the editorial policy seems, it will not
contribute to professionalism or pluralism... The three newspapers will
be under the same company and that will ultimately lead to a more or
less unified editorial policy."
This IWPR reporter approached WAZ lawyers in Skopje on several
occasions for comment on the aforementioned concerns, but was told that
company representatives were not available for interview.
The government's anti-monopoly committee has yet to issue a view on
whether WAZ's acquisitions are in line with ownership regulations.
Elsewhere in the Balkans, the effect of WAZ's massive investments, some
say, has distorted already weak commercial markets.
In Bulgaria and Croatia, the group has effectively gained control over
large swathes of the print media. Last year, it moved into Serbia,
taking a 50 per cent share in the dominant publishing house that owns
the leading daily Politika.
At present, there is no big player in Macedonia's media, since the
once-powerful publishing house Nova Makedonija - a state-owned monopoly
for nearly 60 years, with several dailies and many periodicals - has
lost much of its influence.
The country's leading dailies Nova Makedonija and Vecer are now
marginalised, with huge debts and circulation falling to below 1,000.
The country currently has a total of eight dailies, six in Macedonian
and two in Albanian.
Klime Babunski of the Institute for Sociological, Political and Legal
Research believes WAZ may go on to make further acquisitions. "This
will not be the end of it," he said. "I don't see why WAZ shouldn't
expand into the weekly market. They have the resources for it, and the
interest."
Ana Petruseva is IWPR's coordinating editor in Skopje.
(...) Balkan Crisis Report is supported by the Department for
International Development, the European Commission, the Swedish
International Development and Cooperation Agency, The Netherlands
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and other funders. IWPR also acknowledges
general support from the Ford Foundation. For further details on this
project, other information services and media programmes, visit IWPR's
website: www.iwpr.net (...)
"LA MACEDONIA DEVE DIVENTARE UN PROTETTORATO DELL'EUROPA E DEGLI STATI
UNITI"
Sono le parole testuali di Avdil Jakupi, leader del terrorismo
pan-albanese in Macedonia (FYROM).
Jakupi chiarisce in questo modo che la colonizzazione USA-UE e la
creazione della Grande Albania con la violenza non sono due progetti
distinti, bensi' sono due aspetti perfettamente coerenti di uno stesso
progetto neofascista, vicino al compimento oggi nei Balcani, ai danni
di tutti i popoli della regione.
Il suo gruppo (ANA, "Esercito Nazionale Albanese") oltreche' nella
FYROM e' attivo anche in Serbia, nella valle di Presevo a ridosso della
provincia del Kosovo, e nello stesso protettorato del Kosovo, dove
probabilmente ha il suo centro direzionale. Secondo il vice primo
ministro serbo Covic, l'ANA non esiste come tale: si tratta solo del
nuovo travestimento dell'UCK, che e' tuttora attivo avendo conservato
intatte le sue strutture sotto la copertura del "Corpo di Protezione
del Kosovo". Come tutte le altre formazioni nazionaliste panalbanesi,
l'ANA si propone di spaccare gli Stati balcanici confinanti con
l'Albania per creare una Grande Albania etnica.
I miliziani ANA si muovono tranquillamente a cavallo dei vari confini
con il supporto di strutture K-FOR (NATO) e della base USA di Camp
Bondsteel.
(a cura di I. Slavo)
http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/bb/Qmacedonia-albania.RrHh_DS4.html
Albanian rebel leader threatens to launch war in
Macedonia
SOFIA, Sept 4 (AFP) - The self-declared commander of
the banned Albanian Liberation Army (ANA), Avdil
Jakupi, Thursday threatened to launch a separatist war
in Macedonia in an interview with Bulgaria's bTV
private television.
"Macedonia cannot be a state because Prime Minister
Branko Crvenkovski is a criminal who is implicated in
the murder of (slain Serbian prime minister Zoran)
Djindjic", Jakupi told bTV by telephone.
"Because of this we will rise up and start a war," the
rebel, who is wanted by Macedonian police, added.
"Macedonia must become a protectorate of Europe and
the United States."
ANA on Monday issued an ultimatum to the Macedonian
police, demanding that they withdraw from the
Albanian-majority north of the country.
They had set Thursday evening as the deadline for the
government to heed their call, but later extended it
indefinitely.
The rebel movement has also demanded that the Albanian
authorities declare a general amnesty and free
detained ANA members, whom they consider political
prisoners.
ANA has claimed responsibility for several attacks in
Macedonia since late 2001 after the end of an ethnic
Albanian insurgency, when the now defunct National
Liberation Army (NLA) laid down arms following a
Western-brokered peace agreement with the government.
UNITI"
Sono le parole testuali di Avdil Jakupi, leader del terrorismo
pan-albanese in Macedonia (FYROM).
Jakupi chiarisce in questo modo che la colonizzazione USA-UE e la
creazione della Grande Albania con la violenza non sono due progetti
distinti, bensi' sono due aspetti perfettamente coerenti di uno stesso
progetto neofascista, vicino al compimento oggi nei Balcani, ai danni
di tutti i popoli della regione.
Il suo gruppo (ANA, "Esercito Nazionale Albanese") oltreche' nella
FYROM e' attivo anche in Serbia, nella valle di Presevo a ridosso della
provincia del Kosovo, e nello stesso protettorato del Kosovo, dove
probabilmente ha il suo centro direzionale. Secondo il vice primo
ministro serbo Covic, l'ANA non esiste come tale: si tratta solo del
nuovo travestimento dell'UCK, che e' tuttora attivo avendo conservato
intatte le sue strutture sotto la copertura del "Corpo di Protezione
del Kosovo". Come tutte le altre formazioni nazionaliste panalbanesi,
l'ANA si propone di spaccare gli Stati balcanici confinanti con
l'Albania per creare una Grande Albania etnica.
I miliziani ANA si muovono tranquillamente a cavallo dei vari confini
con il supporto di strutture K-FOR (NATO) e della base USA di Camp
Bondsteel.
(a cura di I. Slavo)
http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/bb/Qmacedonia-albania.RrHh_DS4.html
Albanian rebel leader threatens to launch war in
Macedonia
SOFIA, Sept 4 (AFP) - The self-declared commander of
the banned Albanian Liberation Army (ANA), Avdil
Jakupi, Thursday threatened to launch a separatist war
in Macedonia in an interview with Bulgaria's bTV
private television.
"Macedonia cannot be a state because Prime Minister
Branko Crvenkovski is a criminal who is implicated in
the murder of (slain Serbian prime minister Zoran)
Djindjic", Jakupi told bTV by telephone.
"Because of this we will rise up and start a war," the
rebel, who is wanted by Macedonian police, added.
"Macedonia must become a protectorate of Europe and
the United States."
ANA on Monday issued an ultimatum to the Macedonian
police, demanding that they withdraw from the
Albanian-majority north of the country.
They had set Thursday evening as the deadline for the
government to heed their call, but later extended it
indefinitely.
The rebel movement has also demanded that the Albanian
authorities declare a general amnesty and free
detained ANA members, whom they consider political
prisoners.
ANA has claimed responsibility for several attacks in
Macedonia since late 2001 after the end of an ethnic
Albanian insurgency, when the now defunct National
Liberation Army (NLA) laid down arms following a
Western-brokered peace agreement with the government.
La dittatura della borghesia:
Repubblica Ceca e Federazione Russa
1. Attenti a Praga: il caso di David Pecha
2. Dichiarazione del C.C. del PCFR in merito alla prosecuzione del
boicottaggio informativo del partito
=== 1 ===
Da: "CONTROPIANO" <cpiano@...>
Data: Gio 4 Set 2003 12:42:22 Europe/Rome
ATTENTI A PRAGA
Una recente notizia ha riportato alla ribalta la dura realtà dei
cosiddetti regimi post comunisti dell’Europa dell’Est.
Il prossimo 23 settembre David Pecha, un ventiseienne militante
comunista di una cittadina della Repubblica Ceca, verrà processato per
aver scritto sul giornale “Pochoden” (“La fiaccola”), di cui è
caporedattore, che l’unico modo per risolvere il problema della
disoccupazione nel suo paese è quello di mettere fine al regime
economico capitalista.
Il ragazzo, senza aver compiuto nessun reato se non quello di aver
espresso una opinione – cioè quella di preferire la dittatura del
proletariato a quella di un esiguo numero di capitalisti – è stato
accusato di “incitamento all’odio di classe”, e rischia ora di essere
condannato a ben otto anni di galera.
Questa è la realtà di un Paese che per entrare nell’Unione Europea si
appresta a cancellare garanzie sociali per i lavoratori e per le donne,
alzando l’età pensionabile e aumentando i contributi, privatizzando i
servizi sociali e cancellando per gli insegnanti, da un giorno
all’altro, il diritto a ricevere la tredicesima e la quattordicesima.
Contro gli insegnanti in sciopero la classe politica ceca ha scatenato
una infamante campagna stampa, e allo stesso modo i mezzi di
“informazione” stanno tentando di criminalizzare David Pecha col fine
di intimidire le forze comuniste che pure nel paese rappresentano una
realtà di massa.
E’ significativo il silenzio mediatico sulla realtà di un paese, la
Repubblica Ceca, che per anni è stato il capofila della campagna di
criminalizzazione di Cuba e che veniva descritto come un’isola felice
di democrazia nell’Est europeo.
La Rete dei Comunisti esprime tutta la propria solidarietà al compagno
colpito dalla repressione, e invita tutti i comunisti e le forze
progressiste e democratiche a dimostrare apertamente il proprio
appoggio ai comunisti cechi, e in particolare a David Pecha.
Condanniamo fermamente la violazione dei diritti fondamentali dei
cittadini nella Repubblica Ceca, come il diritto alla libera opinione
ed espressione, all’informazione, di manifestazione. Chiediamo il
proscioglimento di David Pecha e l’abrogazione di tutte le leggi
antidemocratiche varate negli ultimi anni dal cosiddetto regime
democratico della Repubblica Ceca.
La Rete dei Comunisti – (Italia)
Giovedì 4 settembre 2003
---
(La Stampa del 28/8/2003)
PROCESSO PER APOLOGIA DI COMUNISMO
Francesca Sforza
corrispondente da BERLINO
PRAGA DECIDE CHE MARX E’ FUORILEGGE
SE Togliatti è in paradiso, come dice Andreotti, quaggiù in terra i
comunisti non se la passano per niente bene. Ne sa qualcosa David
Pecha, ragazzo moravo di 26 anni, che per aver scritto su un
giornaletto di sinistra che l’unico rimedio all’ingiustizia sociale è
la dittatura del proletariato, si è visto condurre davanti a un
tribunale dalle autorità della Repubblica Ceca con l’accusa - niente
meno - di apologia di comunismo. L’udienza decisiva è prevista per il
prossimo 23 settembre, quando David dovrà dimostrare davanti alla Corte
di Sumperk, cittadina a duecento chilometri da Praga, che i suoi
articoli sul «Pochoden» («La Fiaccola») potranno pure essere un po’
estremisti, ma non al punto di meritare otto anni di carcere, come ha
chiesto il pubblico ministero Vlastimil Flasar. «L’imputato Pecha – ha
dichiarato il suo accusatore – si lamenta delle ingiustizie sociali, e
su questo posso anche essere d’accordo, ma come unica soluzione propone
di fare la rivoluzione e instaurare la dittatura del proletariato, e
questo invece è contro la legge». Poco importa che la legge ceca
preveda il reato di associazione eversiva, che al limite sarebbe
suonato meno ridicolo di quello di apologia di comunismo (soprattutto
in un paese in cui i comunisti siedono ancora in Parlamento
legittimamente eletti dal 12 per cento della popolazione). E poco
importa anche che con la fine del comunismo quello vero, la Repubblica
Ceca stia oggi per entrare nell’Unione Europea, in cui ne succedono
tante, è vero, ma una cosa così non si era ancora mai sentita. Gli
organismi internazionali per la libertà di stampa guardano con molta
attenzione al verdetto della Corte di Sumperk, che tra l’altro sarà
pronunciato da una giudice di qualche anno più grande dell’imputato,
alla sua prima prova in aula. Una condanna a David Pecha, se non
sostanziata da prove che dimostrino un collegamento diretto con gruppi
armati, significherebbe l’inizio di una crociata sul diritto d’opinione
che rischia di coinvolgere tutte le giovani democrazie dell’Est
europeo, con inevitabili ricadute sui delicati equilibri dell’Unione.
«La magistratura sta facendo un grosso errore – spiega Peter Uhl,
socialdemocratico ed editorialista del quotidiano “Pravo” –. Stanno
perseguendo una persona che ha forse idee estremiste, ma in nessun modo
è un criminale. Non c’è alcuna prova che abbia commesso azioni
violente, o che abbia istigato alla violazione delle regole
democratiche. E’ una vicenda assurda: in una società democratica non si
può punire una persona per le proprie opinioni». Dalle colonne del
«Pravo», Peter Uhl ha lanciato un appello ai comunisti che siedono nel
Parlamento ceco per sostenere la causa di David Pecha e della libertà
d’espressione. «Non ho ricevuto nessuna risposta – dice – e so di aver
creato molto imbarazzo». Pare che i comunisti non considerino il
ragazzo «abbastanza» comunista. Solidarietà al compagno Pecha, dunque,
comunque vada.
=== 2 ===
Dichiarazione del C.C. del PCFR in merito alla prosecuzione del
boicottaggio informativo del partito
http://www.kprf.ru/zuganov/news/17694.shtml
29 agosto 2003
Con l’approssimarsi della scadenza delle consultazioni politiche di
dicembre in Russia, si intensificano i tentativi da parte del regime di
condizionare l’andamento della campagna elettorale, attraverso un
ulteriore inasprimento del già rigido controllo sugli strumenti di
informazione di massa. Se ciò non dovesse bastare, appare scontato il
ricorso all’uso massiccio della pratica dei brogli, che già in passate
consultazioni hanno sottratto ai comunisti milioni di voti. Come
risorsa estrema, settori del regime (è la tesi sostenuta dal giornale
“Novaya Gazeta”, ripresa da “Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty”)
potrebbero addirittura tentare la strada di un vero e proprio colpo di
stato, sapendo di poter contare, come avvenne ai tempi del sanguinoso
golpe del 1993, sul sostegno dell’Occidente. La partita in gioco è
estremamente delicata: se i comunisti confermassero gli attuali
sondaggi, che li danno ampiamente in testa, potrebbero riconquistare
una maggioranza determinante alla Duma. Non solo. In un simile scenario
politico, si scatenerebbe, con esiti imprevedibili, una lotta (al
momento condotta in modo sotterraneo) senza esclusione di colpi
all’interno dello stesso schieramento governativo e delle forze
centriste – caratterizzato da un precario equilibrio - tra i fautori di
un’accelerazione dei processi di integrazione della Russia nel “nuovo
ordine mondiale” ed i settori più sensibili alla difesa degli
“interessi nazionali”, sostenitori di un maggiore protagonismo della
potenza eurasiatica nello scenario mondiale. In tali condizioni di
netto spostamento a sinistra, la condotta politica dello stesso Putin
sarebbe soggetta a condizionamenti tali da riservare sorprese alla
vigilia della campagna per le elezioni presidenziali.
Già al momento dell’avvio dell’accordo sulle procedure della campagna
elettorale, sottoscritto, oltre che dai partiti partecipanti alla
competizione, anche dalla “Commissione elettorale centrale”, e definito
“Patto sociale Elezioni 2003”, si sono verificate le prime gravi
violazioni a danno proprio del PCFR.
L’accordo ha avuto il suo primo “banco di prova”con lo svolgimento di
una “Fiera” propagandistica, aperta alla partecipazione di tutti i
principali partiti. Essa si è svolta alla fine d’agosto nel centro di
Mosca ed è stata visitata da decine di migliaia di cittadini. In tale
occasione, il PCFR è stato protagonista delle iniziative di gran lunga
più affollate: i sondaggi, effettuati tra i visitatori, hanno
attribuito ai comunisti il 30% dei consensi (il dato è ancor più
significativo, se si considera che a Mosca il PCFR è tradizionalmente
molto debole).
Ebbene, la partecipazione dei comunisti alla “Fiera”, non è stata
ripresa da alcun canale televisivo nazionale russo. Solo l’edizione
russa di “Euronews” ha ospitato un breve servizio.
L’episodio, che non lascia certo ben sperare nel corretto svolgimento
della campagna elettorale, soprattutto nelle ultime fasi, è stato
immediatamente denunciato dal leader del PCFR Ghennadij Zjuganov in una
dura dichiarazione.
M.G.
29 agosto 2003
Il presidente del CC del PCFR G.A. Zjuganov
Non si è ancora asciugato l’inchiostro, con cui i rappresentanti dei
partiti, dei movimenti, della comunità giornalistica, degli esperti di
tecnologie politiche e della “Commissione elettorale centrale” hanno
firmato il “Patto sociale Elezioni 2003”, che già assistiamo alla prima
violazione dello spirito e della lettera di tale documento.
La televisione russa, i suoi canali principali – sia quello cosiddetto
“sociale” che quello statale – hanno deciso di mantenere il silenzio in
occasione della presentazione del più forte partito del paese: il PCFR.
L’unico canale televisivo, che ha trovato il coraggio di concedere uno
spazio ai comunisti di Russia, è stato la rete “Euronews”.
In tal modo, uno dei protagonisti del processo elettorale, vale a dire
il sistema degli strumenti di informazione di massa, si schiera
apertamente dalla parte dei partiti filogovernativi, filopresidenziali,
rifiutandosi di adempiere al proprio dovere nei confronti del popolo e
della società. I corrispondenti e i redattori degli strumenti di
informazione di massa sono venuti meno in pratica all’obiettività e
all’imparzialità, che dovrebbero costituire il fondamento della loro
professione.
Se ciò accade immediatamente dopo la sigla di un “patto di buone
intenzioni”, significa che ci si appresta a mettere in pratica i
disgustosi metodi di “killeraggio” televisivo, che abbiamo già dovuto
subire nel 1999. Noi, e con noi la società russa, sappiamo bene chi
(Putin, nota del traduttore) è debitore del proprio successo politico
alle tecniche di manipolazione politica utilizzate a quel tempo.
Ma la società non tollererà che si ripeta quanto accadde allora. Il
popolo della Russia è ormai immunizzato nei confronti della menzogna
televisiva, e non si riuscirà ad ingannarlo una seconda volta con la
nuova edizione del “partito del potere”.
Ricordiamo che il PCFR ha firmato il “Patto sociale Elezioni 2003” con
la precisa clausola, che contempla la creazione di reali meccanismi di
controllo dell’osservanza del trattato.
Se il Consiglio di Vigilanza del “Patto sociale” non indirizzerà al
Presidente della Federazione Russa, al Presidente della Corte Suprema
della Federazione Russa, al Procuratore Generale della Federazione
Russa, ai dirigenti degli organi di tutela giudiziaria e del Ministero
della Giustizia una dichiarazione con la richiesta di garantire
effettivamente la difesa della espressione della volontà dei cittadini,
il PCFR si vedrà costretto a mettere in discussione l’opportunità di
continuare il suo lavoro nell’ambito del Consiglio stesso.
Inoltre, restiamo in attesa di una presa di posizione del Consiglio di
Vigilanza in merito a un avvenimento che mette in evidenza la mancanza
di obiettività della televisione russa.
Traduzione dal russo di Mauro Gemma
Repubblica Ceca e Federazione Russa
1. Attenti a Praga: il caso di David Pecha
2. Dichiarazione del C.C. del PCFR in merito alla prosecuzione del
boicottaggio informativo del partito
=== 1 ===
Da: "CONTROPIANO" <cpiano@...>
Data: Gio 4 Set 2003 12:42:22 Europe/Rome
ATTENTI A PRAGA
Una recente notizia ha riportato alla ribalta la dura realtà dei
cosiddetti regimi post comunisti dell’Europa dell’Est.
Il prossimo 23 settembre David Pecha, un ventiseienne militante
comunista di una cittadina della Repubblica Ceca, verrà processato per
aver scritto sul giornale “Pochoden” (“La fiaccola”), di cui è
caporedattore, che l’unico modo per risolvere il problema della
disoccupazione nel suo paese è quello di mettere fine al regime
economico capitalista.
Il ragazzo, senza aver compiuto nessun reato se non quello di aver
espresso una opinione – cioè quella di preferire la dittatura del
proletariato a quella di un esiguo numero di capitalisti – è stato
accusato di “incitamento all’odio di classe”, e rischia ora di essere
condannato a ben otto anni di galera.
Questa è la realtà di un Paese che per entrare nell’Unione Europea si
appresta a cancellare garanzie sociali per i lavoratori e per le donne,
alzando l’età pensionabile e aumentando i contributi, privatizzando i
servizi sociali e cancellando per gli insegnanti, da un giorno
all’altro, il diritto a ricevere la tredicesima e la quattordicesima.
Contro gli insegnanti in sciopero la classe politica ceca ha scatenato
una infamante campagna stampa, e allo stesso modo i mezzi di
“informazione” stanno tentando di criminalizzare David Pecha col fine
di intimidire le forze comuniste che pure nel paese rappresentano una
realtà di massa.
E’ significativo il silenzio mediatico sulla realtà di un paese, la
Repubblica Ceca, che per anni è stato il capofila della campagna di
criminalizzazione di Cuba e che veniva descritto come un’isola felice
di democrazia nell’Est europeo.
La Rete dei Comunisti esprime tutta la propria solidarietà al compagno
colpito dalla repressione, e invita tutti i comunisti e le forze
progressiste e democratiche a dimostrare apertamente il proprio
appoggio ai comunisti cechi, e in particolare a David Pecha.
Condanniamo fermamente la violazione dei diritti fondamentali dei
cittadini nella Repubblica Ceca, come il diritto alla libera opinione
ed espressione, all’informazione, di manifestazione. Chiediamo il
proscioglimento di David Pecha e l’abrogazione di tutte le leggi
antidemocratiche varate negli ultimi anni dal cosiddetto regime
democratico della Repubblica Ceca.
La Rete dei Comunisti – (Italia)
Giovedì 4 settembre 2003
---
(La Stampa del 28/8/2003)
PROCESSO PER APOLOGIA DI COMUNISMO
Francesca Sforza
corrispondente da BERLINO
PRAGA DECIDE CHE MARX E’ FUORILEGGE
SE Togliatti è in paradiso, come dice Andreotti, quaggiù in terra i
comunisti non se la passano per niente bene. Ne sa qualcosa David
Pecha, ragazzo moravo di 26 anni, che per aver scritto su un
giornaletto di sinistra che l’unico rimedio all’ingiustizia sociale è
la dittatura del proletariato, si è visto condurre davanti a un
tribunale dalle autorità della Repubblica Ceca con l’accusa - niente
meno - di apologia di comunismo. L’udienza decisiva è prevista per il
prossimo 23 settembre, quando David dovrà dimostrare davanti alla Corte
di Sumperk, cittadina a duecento chilometri da Praga, che i suoi
articoli sul «Pochoden» («La Fiaccola») potranno pure essere un po’
estremisti, ma non al punto di meritare otto anni di carcere, come ha
chiesto il pubblico ministero Vlastimil Flasar. «L’imputato Pecha – ha
dichiarato il suo accusatore – si lamenta delle ingiustizie sociali, e
su questo posso anche essere d’accordo, ma come unica soluzione propone
di fare la rivoluzione e instaurare la dittatura del proletariato, e
questo invece è contro la legge». Poco importa che la legge ceca
preveda il reato di associazione eversiva, che al limite sarebbe
suonato meno ridicolo di quello di apologia di comunismo (soprattutto
in un paese in cui i comunisti siedono ancora in Parlamento
legittimamente eletti dal 12 per cento della popolazione). E poco
importa anche che con la fine del comunismo quello vero, la Repubblica
Ceca stia oggi per entrare nell’Unione Europea, in cui ne succedono
tante, è vero, ma una cosa così non si era ancora mai sentita. Gli
organismi internazionali per la libertà di stampa guardano con molta
attenzione al verdetto della Corte di Sumperk, che tra l’altro sarà
pronunciato da una giudice di qualche anno più grande dell’imputato,
alla sua prima prova in aula. Una condanna a David Pecha, se non
sostanziata da prove che dimostrino un collegamento diretto con gruppi
armati, significherebbe l’inizio di una crociata sul diritto d’opinione
che rischia di coinvolgere tutte le giovani democrazie dell’Est
europeo, con inevitabili ricadute sui delicati equilibri dell’Unione.
«La magistratura sta facendo un grosso errore – spiega Peter Uhl,
socialdemocratico ed editorialista del quotidiano “Pravo” –. Stanno
perseguendo una persona che ha forse idee estremiste, ma in nessun modo
è un criminale. Non c’è alcuna prova che abbia commesso azioni
violente, o che abbia istigato alla violazione delle regole
democratiche. E’ una vicenda assurda: in una società democratica non si
può punire una persona per le proprie opinioni». Dalle colonne del
«Pravo», Peter Uhl ha lanciato un appello ai comunisti che siedono nel
Parlamento ceco per sostenere la causa di David Pecha e della libertà
d’espressione. «Non ho ricevuto nessuna risposta – dice – e so di aver
creato molto imbarazzo». Pare che i comunisti non considerino il
ragazzo «abbastanza» comunista. Solidarietà al compagno Pecha, dunque,
comunque vada.
=== 2 ===
Dichiarazione del C.C. del PCFR in merito alla prosecuzione del
boicottaggio informativo del partito
http://www.kprf.ru/zuganov/news/17694.shtml
29 agosto 2003
Con l’approssimarsi della scadenza delle consultazioni politiche di
dicembre in Russia, si intensificano i tentativi da parte del regime di
condizionare l’andamento della campagna elettorale, attraverso un
ulteriore inasprimento del già rigido controllo sugli strumenti di
informazione di massa. Se ciò non dovesse bastare, appare scontato il
ricorso all’uso massiccio della pratica dei brogli, che già in passate
consultazioni hanno sottratto ai comunisti milioni di voti. Come
risorsa estrema, settori del regime (è la tesi sostenuta dal giornale
“Novaya Gazeta”, ripresa da “Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty”)
potrebbero addirittura tentare la strada di un vero e proprio colpo di
stato, sapendo di poter contare, come avvenne ai tempi del sanguinoso
golpe del 1993, sul sostegno dell’Occidente. La partita in gioco è
estremamente delicata: se i comunisti confermassero gli attuali
sondaggi, che li danno ampiamente in testa, potrebbero riconquistare
una maggioranza determinante alla Duma. Non solo. In un simile scenario
politico, si scatenerebbe, con esiti imprevedibili, una lotta (al
momento condotta in modo sotterraneo) senza esclusione di colpi
all’interno dello stesso schieramento governativo e delle forze
centriste – caratterizzato da un precario equilibrio - tra i fautori di
un’accelerazione dei processi di integrazione della Russia nel “nuovo
ordine mondiale” ed i settori più sensibili alla difesa degli
“interessi nazionali”, sostenitori di un maggiore protagonismo della
potenza eurasiatica nello scenario mondiale. In tali condizioni di
netto spostamento a sinistra, la condotta politica dello stesso Putin
sarebbe soggetta a condizionamenti tali da riservare sorprese alla
vigilia della campagna per le elezioni presidenziali.
Già al momento dell’avvio dell’accordo sulle procedure della campagna
elettorale, sottoscritto, oltre che dai partiti partecipanti alla
competizione, anche dalla “Commissione elettorale centrale”, e definito
“Patto sociale Elezioni 2003”, si sono verificate le prime gravi
violazioni a danno proprio del PCFR.
L’accordo ha avuto il suo primo “banco di prova”con lo svolgimento di
una “Fiera” propagandistica, aperta alla partecipazione di tutti i
principali partiti. Essa si è svolta alla fine d’agosto nel centro di
Mosca ed è stata visitata da decine di migliaia di cittadini. In tale
occasione, il PCFR è stato protagonista delle iniziative di gran lunga
più affollate: i sondaggi, effettuati tra i visitatori, hanno
attribuito ai comunisti il 30% dei consensi (il dato è ancor più
significativo, se si considera che a Mosca il PCFR è tradizionalmente
molto debole).
Ebbene, la partecipazione dei comunisti alla “Fiera”, non è stata
ripresa da alcun canale televisivo nazionale russo. Solo l’edizione
russa di “Euronews” ha ospitato un breve servizio.
L’episodio, che non lascia certo ben sperare nel corretto svolgimento
della campagna elettorale, soprattutto nelle ultime fasi, è stato
immediatamente denunciato dal leader del PCFR Ghennadij Zjuganov in una
dura dichiarazione.
M.G.
29 agosto 2003
Il presidente del CC del PCFR G.A. Zjuganov
Non si è ancora asciugato l’inchiostro, con cui i rappresentanti dei
partiti, dei movimenti, della comunità giornalistica, degli esperti di
tecnologie politiche e della “Commissione elettorale centrale” hanno
firmato il “Patto sociale Elezioni 2003”, che già assistiamo alla prima
violazione dello spirito e della lettera di tale documento.
La televisione russa, i suoi canali principali – sia quello cosiddetto
“sociale” che quello statale – hanno deciso di mantenere il silenzio in
occasione della presentazione del più forte partito del paese: il PCFR.
L’unico canale televisivo, che ha trovato il coraggio di concedere uno
spazio ai comunisti di Russia, è stato la rete “Euronews”.
In tal modo, uno dei protagonisti del processo elettorale, vale a dire
il sistema degli strumenti di informazione di massa, si schiera
apertamente dalla parte dei partiti filogovernativi, filopresidenziali,
rifiutandosi di adempiere al proprio dovere nei confronti del popolo e
della società. I corrispondenti e i redattori degli strumenti di
informazione di massa sono venuti meno in pratica all’obiettività e
all’imparzialità, che dovrebbero costituire il fondamento della loro
professione.
Se ciò accade immediatamente dopo la sigla di un “patto di buone
intenzioni”, significa che ci si appresta a mettere in pratica i
disgustosi metodi di “killeraggio” televisivo, che abbiamo già dovuto
subire nel 1999. Noi, e con noi la società russa, sappiamo bene chi
(Putin, nota del traduttore) è debitore del proprio successo politico
alle tecniche di manipolazione politica utilizzate a quel tempo.
Ma la società non tollererà che si ripeta quanto accadde allora. Il
popolo della Russia è ormai immunizzato nei confronti della menzogna
televisiva, e non si riuscirà ad ingannarlo una seconda volta con la
nuova edizione del “partito del potere”.
Ricordiamo che il PCFR ha firmato il “Patto sociale Elezioni 2003” con
la precisa clausola, che contempla la creazione di reali meccanismi di
controllo dell’osservanza del trattato.
Se il Consiglio di Vigilanza del “Patto sociale” non indirizzerà al
Presidente della Federazione Russa, al Presidente della Corte Suprema
della Federazione Russa, al Procuratore Generale della Federazione
Russa, ai dirigenti degli organi di tutela giudiziaria e del Ministero
della Giustizia una dichiarazione con la richiesta di garantire
effettivamente la difesa della espressione della volontà dei cittadini,
il PCFR si vedrà costretto a mettere in discussione l’opportunità di
continuare il suo lavoro nell’ambito del Consiglio stesso.
Inoltre, restiamo in attesa di una presa di posizione del Consiglio di
Vigilanza in merito a un avvenimento che mette in evidenza la mancanza
di obiettività della televisione russa.
Traduzione dal russo di Mauro Gemma
> http://www.apisgroup.org/article.html?id=1388
The Center for an Informed America
CNN - The CIA's News Network?
How it works?
Dave McGowan
In February of this year, a story that had appeared in the European
press was reported by Alexander Cockburn - co-editor of Counterpunch -
concerning the employment by CNN of military psychological warfare
specialists. Other than Cockburn's piece, and the issuance of an
'Action Alert' by the media-watchdog group FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy
in Reporting), the report was ignored by the American press.
As originally reported by Abe de Vries in the Dutch periodical Trouw,
the story went something like this: "For a short time last year, CNN
employed military specialists in 'psychological operations' (psyops).
This was confirmed to Trouw by a spokesman of the U.S. Army. The
military could have influenced CNN's news reports about the crisis in
Kosovo." (1)
Could have? The word 'duh' would seem to apply here. In fact, here's a
news flash: the military influenced the news reports of all the media
outlets that covered the Kosovo bombardment. The only news coming from
the area was coming from NATO and the Pentagon. When you are the sole
source of information, you tend to have a lot of influence.
But that's not the issue here. The concern here is with CNN hiring
military personnel to package for viewers the information provided as
'news' by other military personnel. This is said to be a most
disturbing development, and I suppose it would be were it not for the
fact that the U.S. media - as a whole - is infested with so many
intelligence assets that it is hard to see how a few more in the mix
could make much of a difference.
Of course, most of them are posing as reporters, editors, news anchors,
analysts, producers, publishers, etc. The difference here is that these
particular spooks were employed openly at CNN, without journalistic
cover. As Major Thomas Collins, of the U.S. Army Information Service
acknowledged:
"Psyops personnel, soldiers and officers, have been working in CNN's
headquarters in Atlanta through our programme 'Training With Industry'.
They worked as regular employees of CNN. Conceivably, they would have
worked on stories during the Kosovo war. They helped in the production
of new typa of news."(2)
The phrase "production of news" is notably ambiguous when used in this
context. It could easily be defined as the manufacture of news.
Manufacturing news is, in fact, exactly what psychological warfare
specialists do. As de Vries notes:
"The military CNN personnel belonged to the airmobile Fourth
Psychological Operations Group, stationed at Fort Bragg, North
Carolina. One of the main tasks of this group of almost 1200 soldiers
and officers is to spread 'selected information'. [We should pause
here, briefly, to note that in this context, the phrase 'selected
information' generally means vicious distortions and outright lies.|
"American psyops troops try with a variety of techniques to influence
media and public opinion in armed conflicts in which American state
interests are said to be at stake. [We need to pause again to note that
'American state interests' generally means the financial interests of
U.S. monopoly capitalists.] The propaganda group was involved in the
Gulf war, the Bosnian war and the crisis in Kosovo." (1)
In other words, they did during the war in Kosovo what they have always
done. This time, however, they did it more openly. This could have
proven to be a major blunder for CNN, with scores of competitors airing
this story to embarrass and discredit a rival. But that would require
that we have some actual semblance of a free press.
Instead, what happened was that the story got a couple of brief
mentions in the alternative press that were easily overlooked and
ignored. And this was only after the translated article began appearing
on internet sites, most notably on the Emperor's Clothes. Had this not
been the case, the story likely would not have surfaced at all on these
shores.
Nor would a follow-up article by de Vries in the same publication a few
days later. De Vries refers to the Commander of the Fourth
Psychological Operations Group, Colonel Cristopher St. John, who
described the cooperation with CNN as "a textbook example of the kind
of ties the American army wants to have with the media." (2)
The kind of ties that will allow it "to spread handpicked 'information'
and keep other news quiet, ... to control the internet, to wage
electronic warfare against disobedient media, and to control commercial
satellites." (2) Most of which, it should be noted, the intelligence
community already does to varying degrees. Still, the control is not
yet complete enough.
De Vries reports that the psyops personnel were not completely
satisfied with the Kosovo operation: "In their opinion, too much
information about the unplanned results of the bombings has come to the
surface. [We must pause yet again to note that 'unplanned results of
the bombings' refers to the entirely foreseeable civilian carnage.]
Rear Admiral Thomas Steffens of the U.S. Special Operations Command
(SOCOM) reportedly would like to have the capacity to bring down an
'informational cone of silence' over areas where special operations are
in place. What that can mean in reality was shown by the bombing of the
Serbian state television RTS in Belgrade." (2)
Indeed. And speaking of the bombing of the Serbian television station,
there was another story that ran in the European press concerning that
particular incident which also happened to cast CNN in a particularly
bad light. Considerably more so than the story told in the Dutch
publication, in fact.
Significantly, this story was not aired at all in the United States. It
did appear, however, in the U.K., in an article by corespondent Robert
Fisk in The Independent. The report reveals that:
"Two days before NATO bombed the Serb Television headquarters in
Belgrade, CNN received a tip from its Atlanta headquarters that the
building was to be destroyed. They were told to remove their facilities
from the premises at once, which they did." (3)
Apparently it helps to have those psyops specialists on board. Fisk
goes on to recount that the next day, Aleksander Vucic, the Serbian
Information Minister, received an invitation to appear on the Larry
King Live show, ostensibly to give Larry's audience the Serbian view of
the conflict via satellite.
There were two rather serious problems with this invitation, however.
First, the notion that CNN would invite a Serbian official on the air
to give the Serb point of view is rather far-fetched, to say the least.
More importantly, the studio to which Vucic had been invited was now
deserted. Nevertheless, he was asked to arrive for makeup at 2:00AM for
a 2:30AM appearance.
"Vucic was late - which was just as well for him since NATO missiles
slammed into the building at six minutes past two. The first one
exploded in the make-up room where the young Serb assistant was burned
to death. CNN calls this all a coincidence, saying that the Larry King
show, put out by the entertainment division, did not know of the news
department's instruction to its men to leave the Belgrade building." (3)
CNN's explanation is, of course, preposterous. In fact, the notion that
there is some kind of distinction between CNN's 'entertainment
division' and its 'news department' is rather preposterous as well. The
truth appears to be that CNN was directly complicit in the attempted
commission of a war crime.
And this action was, to be sure, a war crime. The deliberate targeting
of a foreign dignitary for assassination - even in time of war - is
definitely an international war crime. So it appears that our media
have crossed the line from complicity in the covering-up of U.S. war
crimes - which has been a mainstay of the press for decades - to
complicity in the actual commission of war crimes.
A rather serious transgression, one would think, yet one which has been
politely overlooked by the rest of the American media outlets. This is
quite likely due to the fact that the intelligence community and
corporate America pretty much controls all the media.
That is why even when stories such as the CNN/Psyops reports emerge in
the 'progressive' media, albeit in a very limited way, they are
accompanied by amusing commentary and analysis intended to downplay the
significance of the incident.
For example, Cockburn wonders if: "It could be that CNN was the target
of a psyops penetration and is still too naïve to figure out what was
going on." (4) To the contrary, it appears that CNN was well aware of -
and actively participating in - "what was going on."
Similarly, for FAIR what is "especially troubling is the fact that the
network allowed the Army's covert propagandists to work in its
headquarters, where they learned the ins and outs of CNN's operations.
Even if the psyops officers working in the newsroom did not influence
news reporting, did the network allow the military to conduct an
intelligence-gathering mission against CNN itself?" (5)
Or, more likely, is CNN itself an "intelligence gathering mission," and
has it been from its inception? It was CNN, it will be recalled, that
pioneered the concept of military conflict as mini-series - complete
with theme music and title graphics - during the Gulf War. That is, of
course, the blueprint that has been followed by the media at large for
all coverage of U.S. military actions since then.
One of the specific purposes for which CNN seems to have been born is
the packaging of imperialist military conquests as humanitarian
missions. In other words, "to spread 'selected information'" in order
to "influence media and public opinion in armed conflicts in which
American state interests are said to be at stake."
Glorification of U.S. high-tech weaponry, vilification of America's
enemy of the moment, canonization of genocidal military leaders and
advisers, rote reporting of the NATO/Pentagon/State Department line,
deliberate avoidance of reporting clear-cut cases of American brutality
and war crimes - all of these are indicative of a psyops program, not
an allegedly independent news agency.
As the group FAIR noted: "CNN has always maintained a close
relationship with the Pentagon. Getting access to top military
officials is a necessity for a network that stakes its reputation on
being first on the ground during wars and other military operations."
(5)
Being first on the ground during military operations is, to be sure, a
good place to be if one is a reporter. It is also a good place to be,
it should be noted, if one is a member of the spook community.
Whether CNN was born as an intelligence front is probably now largely
an irrelevant issue, as the cable titan has since the Kosovo war
announced that it is to become a part of the AOL family. And AOL is, as
was noted in a recent Spin Cycle article (Sony's Magic Cameras), doing
a pretty damn good job of masquerading as an intelligence front itself.
So if CNN was not originally conceived as a psychological warfare
entity (which appears to be the case, despite its purported status as
the brainchild of Ted Turner, husband of Jane Fonda), it has certainly
evolved into one. And by the way, does anyone remember when Jane was
supposed to be one of the good guys? Just checking.
REFERENCES:
1. Abe de Vries "U.S. Army 'Psyops' Specialists Worked for CNN," Trouw,
February 21, 2000
2. Abe de Vries "The American Army Loves CNN," Trouw, February 25, 2000
3. Robert Fisk "Taken In By the NATO Line," The Independent, July 2,
1999
4. Alexander Cockburn "CNN And Psyops," Counterpunch, March 26, 2000
5. "Why Were Government Propaganda Experts Working On News At CNN?,"
FAIR Action Alert, March 27, 2000
30. avgust 2003. godine
The Center for an Informed America
CNN - The CIA's News Network?
How it works?
Dave McGowan
In February of this year, a story that had appeared in the European
press was reported by Alexander Cockburn - co-editor of Counterpunch -
concerning the employment by CNN of military psychological warfare
specialists. Other than Cockburn's piece, and the issuance of an
'Action Alert' by the media-watchdog group FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy
in Reporting), the report was ignored by the American press.
As originally reported by Abe de Vries in the Dutch periodical Trouw,
the story went something like this: "For a short time last year, CNN
employed military specialists in 'psychological operations' (psyops).
This was confirmed to Trouw by a spokesman of the U.S. Army. The
military could have influenced CNN's news reports about the crisis in
Kosovo." (1)
Could have? The word 'duh' would seem to apply here. In fact, here's a
news flash: the military influenced the news reports of all the media
outlets that covered the Kosovo bombardment. The only news coming from
the area was coming from NATO and the Pentagon. When you are the sole
source of information, you tend to have a lot of influence.
But that's not the issue here. The concern here is with CNN hiring
military personnel to package for viewers the information provided as
'news' by other military personnel. This is said to be a most
disturbing development, and I suppose it would be were it not for the
fact that the U.S. media - as a whole - is infested with so many
intelligence assets that it is hard to see how a few more in the mix
could make much of a difference.
Of course, most of them are posing as reporters, editors, news anchors,
analysts, producers, publishers, etc. The difference here is that these
particular spooks were employed openly at CNN, without journalistic
cover. As Major Thomas Collins, of the U.S. Army Information Service
acknowledged:
"Psyops personnel, soldiers and officers, have been working in CNN's
headquarters in Atlanta through our programme 'Training With Industry'.
They worked as regular employees of CNN. Conceivably, they would have
worked on stories during the Kosovo war. They helped in the production
of new typa of news."(2)
The phrase "production of news" is notably ambiguous when used in this
context. It could easily be defined as the manufacture of news.
Manufacturing news is, in fact, exactly what psychological warfare
specialists do. As de Vries notes:
"The military CNN personnel belonged to the airmobile Fourth
Psychological Operations Group, stationed at Fort Bragg, North
Carolina. One of the main tasks of this group of almost 1200 soldiers
and officers is to spread 'selected information'. [We should pause
here, briefly, to note that in this context, the phrase 'selected
information' generally means vicious distortions and outright lies.|
"American psyops troops try with a variety of techniques to influence
media and public opinion in armed conflicts in which American state
interests are said to be at stake. [We need to pause again to note that
'American state interests' generally means the financial interests of
U.S. monopoly capitalists.] The propaganda group was involved in the
Gulf war, the Bosnian war and the crisis in Kosovo." (1)
In other words, they did during the war in Kosovo what they have always
done. This time, however, they did it more openly. This could have
proven to be a major blunder for CNN, with scores of competitors airing
this story to embarrass and discredit a rival. But that would require
that we have some actual semblance of a free press.
Instead, what happened was that the story got a couple of brief
mentions in the alternative press that were easily overlooked and
ignored. And this was only after the translated article began appearing
on internet sites, most notably on the Emperor's Clothes. Had this not
been the case, the story likely would not have surfaced at all on these
shores.
Nor would a follow-up article by de Vries in the same publication a few
days later. De Vries refers to the Commander of the Fourth
Psychological Operations Group, Colonel Cristopher St. John, who
described the cooperation with CNN as "a textbook example of the kind
of ties the American army wants to have with the media." (2)
The kind of ties that will allow it "to spread handpicked 'information'
and keep other news quiet, ... to control the internet, to wage
electronic warfare against disobedient media, and to control commercial
satellites." (2) Most of which, it should be noted, the intelligence
community already does to varying degrees. Still, the control is not
yet complete enough.
De Vries reports that the psyops personnel were not completely
satisfied with the Kosovo operation: "In their opinion, too much
information about the unplanned results of the bombings has come to the
surface. [We must pause yet again to note that 'unplanned results of
the bombings' refers to the entirely foreseeable civilian carnage.]
Rear Admiral Thomas Steffens of the U.S. Special Operations Command
(SOCOM) reportedly would like to have the capacity to bring down an
'informational cone of silence' over areas where special operations are
in place. What that can mean in reality was shown by the bombing of the
Serbian state television RTS in Belgrade." (2)
Indeed. And speaking of the bombing of the Serbian television station,
there was another story that ran in the European press concerning that
particular incident which also happened to cast CNN in a particularly
bad light. Considerably more so than the story told in the Dutch
publication, in fact.
Significantly, this story was not aired at all in the United States. It
did appear, however, in the U.K., in an article by corespondent Robert
Fisk in The Independent. The report reveals that:
"Two days before NATO bombed the Serb Television headquarters in
Belgrade, CNN received a tip from its Atlanta headquarters that the
building was to be destroyed. They were told to remove their facilities
from the premises at once, which they did." (3)
Apparently it helps to have those psyops specialists on board. Fisk
goes on to recount that the next day, Aleksander Vucic, the Serbian
Information Minister, received an invitation to appear on the Larry
King Live show, ostensibly to give Larry's audience the Serbian view of
the conflict via satellite.
There were two rather serious problems with this invitation, however.
First, the notion that CNN would invite a Serbian official on the air
to give the Serb point of view is rather far-fetched, to say the least.
More importantly, the studio to which Vucic had been invited was now
deserted. Nevertheless, he was asked to arrive for makeup at 2:00AM for
a 2:30AM appearance.
"Vucic was late - which was just as well for him since NATO missiles
slammed into the building at six minutes past two. The first one
exploded in the make-up room where the young Serb assistant was burned
to death. CNN calls this all a coincidence, saying that the Larry King
show, put out by the entertainment division, did not know of the news
department's instruction to its men to leave the Belgrade building." (3)
CNN's explanation is, of course, preposterous. In fact, the notion that
there is some kind of distinction between CNN's 'entertainment
division' and its 'news department' is rather preposterous as well. The
truth appears to be that CNN was directly complicit in the attempted
commission of a war crime.
And this action was, to be sure, a war crime. The deliberate targeting
of a foreign dignitary for assassination - even in time of war - is
definitely an international war crime. So it appears that our media
have crossed the line from complicity in the covering-up of U.S. war
crimes - which has been a mainstay of the press for decades - to
complicity in the actual commission of war crimes.
A rather serious transgression, one would think, yet one which has been
politely overlooked by the rest of the American media outlets. This is
quite likely due to the fact that the intelligence community and
corporate America pretty much controls all the media.
That is why even when stories such as the CNN/Psyops reports emerge in
the 'progressive' media, albeit in a very limited way, they are
accompanied by amusing commentary and analysis intended to downplay the
significance of the incident.
For example, Cockburn wonders if: "It could be that CNN was the target
of a psyops penetration and is still too naïve to figure out what was
going on." (4) To the contrary, it appears that CNN was well aware of -
and actively participating in - "what was going on."
Similarly, for FAIR what is "especially troubling is the fact that the
network allowed the Army's covert propagandists to work in its
headquarters, where they learned the ins and outs of CNN's operations.
Even if the psyops officers working in the newsroom did not influence
news reporting, did the network allow the military to conduct an
intelligence-gathering mission against CNN itself?" (5)
Or, more likely, is CNN itself an "intelligence gathering mission," and
has it been from its inception? It was CNN, it will be recalled, that
pioneered the concept of military conflict as mini-series - complete
with theme music and title graphics - during the Gulf War. That is, of
course, the blueprint that has been followed by the media at large for
all coverage of U.S. military actions since then.
One of the specific purposes for which CNN seems to have been born is
the packaging of imperialist military conquests as humanitarian
missions. In other words, "to spread 'selected information'" in order
to "influence media and public opinion in armed conflicts in which
American state interests are said to be at stake."
Glorification of U.S. high-tech weaponry, vilification of America's
enemy of the moment, canonization of genocidal military leaders and
advisers, rote reporting of the NATO/Pentagon/State Department line,
deliberate avoidance of reporting clear-cut cases of American brutality
and war crimes - all of these are indicative of a psyops program, not
an allegedly independent news agency.
As the group FAIR noted: "CNN has always maintained a close
relationship with the Pentagon. Getting access to top military
officials is a necessity for a network that stakes its reputation on
being first on the ground during wars and other military operations."
(5)
Being first on the ground during military operations is, to be sure, a
good place to be if one is a reporter. It is also a good place to be,
it should be noted, if one is a member of the spook community.
Whether CNN was born as an intelligence front is probably now largely
an irrelevant issue, as the cable titan has since the Kosovo war
announced that it is to become a part of the AOL family. And AOL is, as
was noted in a recent Spin Cycle article (Sony's Magic Cameras), doing
a pretty damn good job of masquerading as an intelligence front itself.
So if CNN was not originally conceived as a psychological warfare
entity (which appears to be the case, despite its purported status as
the brainchild of Ted Turner, husband of Jane Fonda), it has certainly
evolved into one. And by the way, does anyone remember when Jane was
supposed to be one of the good guys? Just checking.
REFERENCES:
1. Abe de Vries "U.S. Army 'Psyops' Specialists Worked for CNN," Trouw,
February 21, 2000
2. Abe de Vries "The American Army Loves CNN," Trouw, February 25, 2000
3. Robert Fisk "Taken In By the NATO Line," The Independent, July 2,
1999
4. Alexander Cockburn "CNN And Psyops," Counterpunch, March 26, 2000
5. "Why Were Government Propaganda Experts Working On News At CNN?,"
FAIR Action Alert, March 27, 2000
30. avgust 2003. godine
Dini sul caso Telekom Serbia
(vedi anche:
Dini accusa "i manovali della Cia" - Il ministro degli esteri accusa:
l'inchiesta su Telecom-Serbia è manovrata dalla Cia
da "Il Manifesto",1 Marzo 2001
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/message/819 )
http://www.unita.it/
index.asp?SEZIONE_COD=ARKINT&TOPIC_TIPO=I&TOPIC_ID=28555
L'Unita', 03.09.2003
Dini: qualcuno in alto ha pagato Marini
ROMA «L’onorevole Bondi, portavoce del partito del presidente del
Consiglio, dovrebbe vergognarsi degli spudorati attacchi politici
lanciati contro gli esponenti dell’opposizione. Si tratta di una
gravissima campagna di delegittimazione che, al di là di imbarazzate
smentite, sembra ora voler coinvolgere anche la massima carica dello
Stato». Lamberto Dini non nasconde la sua indignazione nei confronti
«dell’uso politico, del tutto strumentale, fatto dalla maggioranza di
governo delle menzogne dispensate da un poco di buono come Igor Marini
sull’affare Telekom Serbia».
Presidente Dini, i leader della Casa Libertà accusano l’allora governo
dell’Ulivo, di cui lei era ministro degli Esteri, di aver sostenuto sul
piano economico e politico il governo di Belgrado e il regime di
Slobodan Milosevic attraverso lo «sporco affare» di Telekom Serbia.
«È un’accusa fuorviante, strumentale. Perché il governo di Milosevic
era tornato ad essere un interlocutore, sia pur problematico,
dell’Occidente, Stati Uniti in testa. Qui non si deve confondere il
momento in cui questa trattativa fu portata avanti, da sola, in
segretezza da Telecom Italia, più alacremente nei primi mesi del 1997,
con il problema del Kosovo, iniziato dopo il febbraio del ‘99. Ci sono
quasi due anni di distacco e nessuno poteva allora prevedere che
Belgrado assumesse un comportamento non cooperativo con la comunità
internazionale nei riguardi del riconoscimento dell’identità etnica e
culturale dei kosovari all’interno della Federazione [1] . Non si
possono legare le due cose. Io ho ricordato in Parlamento che a seguito
degli accordi di Dayton, del 21 novembre ‘95, che sancivano con il
benestare di Belgrado il nuovo assetto costituzionale della Bosnia
Erzegovina, Milosevic era tornato ad assumere il ruolo d’interlocutore,
per quanto problematico, dell’Occidente, a cominciare dagli Usa,
configurandosi come una sorta di garante dei fragili equilibri
delineati a Dayton. In questa ottica, è di grande rilievo la
dichiarazione di James Rubin (portavoce del Dipartimento di Stato
americano durante gli anni dell’amministrazione Clinton e braccio
destro dell’allora Segretario di Stato, Madeleine Albright, nella
gestione della crisi dei Balcani, ndr.), che in un’intervista a "La
Stampa "dice che quanto dichiarato dall’onorevole Fassino risponde “più
o meno a verità”».
Da cosa nasce questa valutazione di Rubin?
«Gli Stati Uniti, come hanno fatto in altre occasioni, non avevano
tolto nel 1997 le sanzioni contro Belgrado, ma sul piano giuridico il
primo ottobre del 1996, il Consiglio di Sicurezza dell’Onu aveva
revocato le sanzioni economiche e il provvedimento era stato recepito
nell’ordinamento italiano e pubblicato nella Gazzetta Ufficiale del 4
novembre ’96. Inoltre, il 27 febbraio del ’97, il Consiglio Affari
Generali dell’Unione Europea ha deciso addirittura di ripristinare nei
confronti della Repubblica federale jugoslava le cosiddette preferenze
commerciali generalizzate, e per tanto non si poteva a quell’epoca
sostenere che c’erano controindicazioni politiche. Noi agivamo con
questo nuovo orientamento internazionale, che era molto chiaro. Questi
sono fatti, non chiacchiere. Nel 1996-1997, dopo gli accordi di Dayton,
la comunità internazionale muoveva dall’idea che era legittimo pensare
a impostare con Belgrado relazioni per un futuro non troppo lontano di
normalizzazione. Non si può dunque parlare di cinismo politico quando è
stata fatta questa operazione da Telecom Italia - condotta senza
informare il governo, senza chiederne la partecipazione - perché
diffusa era la convinzione che dopo la guerra si poteva imboccare con
la Federazione jugoslava la via del negoziato. Non è sorprendente che
in quel periodo, non solo imprese italiane ma anche altre e importanti
imprese europee manifestassero interesse e avviassero trattative con le
autorità di Belgrado che avevano iniziato un programma di
privatizzazione».
L’Unità riportava ieri in prima pagina una dichiarazione, datata 11
settembre 1994, dell’allora ministro degli Esteri del primo governo
Belusconi, Antonio Martino, che sosteneva: «Bisogna aiutare Milosevic
ad uscire dall’isolamento, poiché accettando il piano di pace corre
rischi ad opera dei falchi del suo Paese: senza la cooperazione
internazionale sarebbe in pericolo»...
«Di lì poi sono arrivati gli accordi di Dayton nel 1995, con i quali
Milosevic era tornato ad essere un interlocutore accettabile per
l’Occidente...».
Nove anni dopo, queste considerazioni di Martino sembrano sfuggire alla
memoria dei leader della Casa della Libertà. Perché questo «vuoto di
memoria»?
«Non si può confondere il periodo durante il quale la Telecom Italia
condusse questa trattativa e acquistò all’inizio del 1997 una
partecipazione non di controllo ma di minoranza, del 29%, nella Telekom
Serbia, con il problema del Kosovo. Nel momento in cui Milosevic non
accettò, dopo Rambouillet, febbraio 1999, il dettato della comunità
internazionale che contemplava una presenza militare internazionale, in
particolare per prevenire ulteriori lacerazioni tra la popolazione
serba e la popolazione del Kosovo [2] - l’Italia, lo ricordo, insisteva
per dare maggiore autonomia e riconoscere l’identità etnica e cultura
kosovara nelle scuole e nelle università -, da quel rifiuto, e
dall’inasprimento del conflitto, nacque l’intervento della Nato,
sancito all’unanimità dai membri dell’Alleanza e che l’Italia rispettò
pienamente [3]. Non possono assolutamente accusarci di connivenza con
Milosevic. Il fatto è che Telecom Italia ha condotto da sola questa
trattativa, non ha mai chiesto l’intervento del governo, io non ero
stato informato, e vorrei che si trovasse anche una sola persona che
possa dire di avermi parlato di Telekom Serbia, che sia di Telecom
Italia, delle parti politiche, che siano delle autorità di Belgrado.
Mai nessuno me ne ha parlato».
C’è chi sostiene che si sia trattato di un affare «spazzatura», un
pessimo affare, sotto ogni punto di vista.
«Allora era ritenuta una operazione commerciale come tante altre...».
Ma l’ambasciatore Francesco Bascone non appare di questo avviso.
«L’ambasciatore Bascone ha riportato articoli di giornali
dell’opposizione serba, sostenendo davanti alla Commissione su Telekom
Serbia che l’opposizione non era contenta che imprese straniere,
comprese quelle italiane, attraverso le privatizzazioni dessero un
sostegno finanziario molto forte a Milosevic. Ma questa era il
convincemento dell’opposizione serba e non della comunità
internazionale che invece aveva rimosso le sanzioni. A distanza di sei
anni, si grida ”ma come è possibile che il governo abbia autorizzato
un’operazione che è costata ai contribuenti italiani 800 miliardi”...».
Qual è la sua risposta?
«Si tratta di una fandonia. Quando Telecom Italia fece questa
operazione, riteneva che si trattasse di un’operazione strategica per
la società. Anzi, in Serbia si sosteneva che aveva pagato anche troppo
poco e c’erano gli oppositori di Milosevic nel governo, l’ala più
oltranzista, che affermavano apertamente che Milosevic avrebbe dovuto
chiedere di più per questa transazione. Non è che Telecom
necessariamente pagò troppo, queste sono valutazioni dell’azienda che
ha fatto e ha pagato quello che riteneva un prezzo equo, giusto. Da
allora ci sono stati ripetuti passaggi di proprietà di Telecom, tre per
la precisione: prima c’è stata la partecipazione minoritaria di Fiat e
di altri gruppi, poi intervenne il management di Rossi e Tommasi di
Vignano, poi intervenne Colaninno che cambiò il management,
successivamente intervenne Pirelli e quindi Tronchetti Provera che
cambiò a sua volta di nuovo il management della società. A sei anni di
distanza, Telecom Italia cambiata e rinnovata non ha ritenuto più
strategica quella partecipazione - un’operazione portata a termine da
una società per azioni ormai privatizzata - e quindi ha deciso di
cederla [4]. L’ha venduta per il prezzo giusto? Qualcuno può ritenere
che l’ha venduta a un prezzo troppo basso, ma questa è una valutazione
della società, perché del resto a sei anni di distanza certamente le
attrezzature di Telekom Serbia si erano deteriorate, erano divenute
obsolete, c’era stata la guerra del Kosovo che le aveva debilitate, e
molto probabilmente quella partecipazione aveva perso di valore. Ma
questo cosa vuol dire, che sono stati sprecati i soldi dei contribuenti
italiani? Questa è una vergognosa fandonia. Chi conosce come operano le
società sa bene che si può fare un buon investimento che a distanza di
cinque anni può rivelarsi proficuo e profittevole o, al contrario, può
rivelarsi un cattivo affare. Ma allora cosa c’entrano i discorsi dei
vari Consolo, Gasparri, che dicono “ci spieghino come sono stati
sperperati i denari pubblici..”. Questa è un’operazione condotta da
Telecom Italia e non dal governo italiano».
La montatura dell’«affare Telekom Serbia» è il segno inquietante
dell’imbarbarimento della politica italiana?
«Nella mia esperienza non avevo mai registrato un contrasto politico
così forte, devastante tra governo e opposizione. Mai era avvenuto un
tale imbarbarimento. Alla fine di aprile, l’onorevole Berlusconi si
presenta volontariamente a Milano e accusa Prodi e Amato nell’affare
Sme di tangenti e di altre nefandezze. Una settimana dopo, esce fuori
Marini, che attraverso una lettera anonima o altro si presenta alla
Commissione Telecom Serbia, con tutte le sue fandonie, maldicenze,
invenzioni, un cumulo di falsità e bugie, con le quali la maggioranza
della Commissione ha riempito giornali; la maggioranza si è servita di
questi signori per imbastire una vergognosa, infamante campagna di
denigrazione degli esponenti del centrosinistra e quindi
dell’opposizione. Mai era successa una cosa simile, di servirsi di
mascalzoni per delegittimare l’opposizione e i suoi leader. Quando noi
diciamo che vogliamo sapere chi sono i mandanti, diciamo questo: perché
verrà fuori definitivamente che quello che ha detto Marini sono
soltanto falsità, bugie, invenzioni e che non c’è assolutamente nulla
di vero di tutto quello che ha raccontato gli esponenti. E allora ci
dobbiamo interrogare su chi sono i mandanti...».
E qual è la sua risposta?
«Marini non è nato così, questa è una persona senza un soldo, pieno di
debiti, e che si è fatto pagare da qualcuno per infangare. Per più di
tre mesi, Tv e giornali hanno registrato quotidianamente le “verità di
Marini” sulle tangenti miliardarie prese da Prodi, Dini, Fassino; un
cumulo di falsità prese per buone e amplificate da esponenti della
maggioranza. L’obiettivo era di ingenerare dubbio nei cittadini che
forse c’è qualcosa di vero. Questo è il danno politico che hanno inteso
creare. E lo fanno perché sanno che questo governo fallimentare perderà
le prossime elezioni e dunque si cerca di infangare tutta
l’opposizione. Basta guardare il "Giornale" di Berlusconi che fa cinque
pagine al giorno su questa vicenda, rimasticando vecchie cose,
riciclando dichiarazioni fatte in passato, senza mai aggiungere nulla
di nuovo. E fa questo per ordine ricevuto. Dall’alto, da molto in alto».
NOTE
[1] Dini vuole probabilmente dire che nel 1997 non si poteva prevedere
l'inizio della campagna terroristica dell'UCK, appoggiata dagli USA e
sfociata nella guerra di aggressione del 1999.
[2] Dini vuole probabilmente dire che la Jugoslavia non accetto'
l'allegato B di Rambouillet che prevedeva la occupazione militare NATO
di tutto il paese oltre a porre le basi per la secessione della
provincia del Kosmet.
[3] In effetti e' di questo che si dovrebbero vergognare.
[4] Vedi allegati.
--- allegati ---
TELECOM CEDE PARTECIPAZIONE 29% TELEKOM SERBIA PER 195 MLN
(ANSA) - ROMA, 28 DIC - Telecom Italia ha ceduto il 29% di
Telekom Serbia alla PTT Srbija (azienda pubblica controllata dal
governo di Belgrado) che gia' detiene il 51% della societa'. Lo
comunica l'azienda italiana specificando che il prezzo convenuto e' di
195 milioni di euro e che ''con questa operazione prosegue la politica
di razionalizzazione delle partecipazioni non strategiche''. Telecom
Italia, si legge in una nota, ''comunica di aver accettato in data
odierna una proposta di acquisto del 29% di Telekom Serbia da parte di
PTT Srbija (azienda pubblica controllata dal governo serbo) che gia'
detiene il 51% della societa'. Il prezzo convenuto e' di 195 milioni di
euro (pari all'attuale valore di carico della partecipazione nei
bilanci del gruppo Telecom Italia), con versamento di 120 milioni di
euro entro il closing (previsto per il mese di aprile 2003) e il
pagamento dei restanti 75 milioni di euro entro luglio 2008, con
contemporaneo deposito delle
azioni presso una primaria banca internazionale concordata fra le parti
fino all'integrale pagamento del prezzo''. A favore della societa'
greca OTE (anch'essa partner di Telekom Serbia) sussiste un diritto di
prelazione che la stessa azienda potrebbe decidere di esercitare nei
prossimi 60 giorni lavorativi, salvo il consenso di PTT Srbija.
(ANSA). VG 28-DIC-02 16:39 NNNN
28/12/2002 18:05
TELECOM: PER TELEKOM SERBIA E' L'AFFARE DEL DECENNIO
(ANSA) - BELGRADO, 29 DIC - Il premier serbo Zoran Djindjic
ha confermato oggi che l'azienda statale Ptt Srbija (le Poste
serbe) ha comprato l'intero pacchetto azionario di Telekom Serbia
detenuto da Telecom Italia, in quello che il direttore della Ptt ha
definito ''l'affare del decennio''. In una conferenza stampa a
Belgrado, Djindjic ha confermato che e' stato raggiunto un accordo con
cui Telecom ha ceduto il suo intero pacchetto azionario, pari al 29%
del capitale di Telekom Srbija, per la cifra di 195 milioni di euro. Il
governo e' ora proprietario dell'80% del capitale di Telekom (l'altro
20% e' in mano alla greca Ote). Djindjic ha detto che il governo non ha
intenzione di comprare il 20% detenuto dall'azienda ellenica, precisando
anzi che verra' sottoscritto un nuovo contratto per la salvaguardia
dei diritti di soci di minoranza. Le trattative con il partner italiano
sono durate otto mesi, ha detto Djindjic, affermando che ''un cosi'
buon accordo e' stato possibile solo dopo il cambiamento politico in
Italia perche' il nuovo governo ha deciso di chiarire tutti i contratti
dubbi stipulati sotto i precedenti governi''. Djindjic ha detto che
Telekom Serbia quest'anno, nonostante problemi di gestione, ha avuto un
risultato buono, con un attivo di 55-60 milioni di euro, e che per il
prossimo anno e' previsto un attivo di 100 milioni di euro, una parte
del quale sara' usata per restituire debiti con societa' italiane. Il
direttore generale delle Poste serbe Srdjan Blagojevic ha detto che la
Serbia ha fatto ''l'affare del decennio'' ricomprando per 195 milioni
di euro la quota ceduta a Telecom Italia (nel giugno 1997) per 497
milioni di dollari. (ANSA). COR-LG 29/12/2002 16:03
TELECOM: IL 20 FEBBRAIO CLOSING CESSIONE TELEKOM
SERBIA
(ANSA) - BELGRADO, 18 FEB - Telecom Italia e Telekom
Serbia firmeranno il 20 febbraio ad Amsterdam l'accordo per la
cessione del pacchetto azionario dell'azienda serba in mano alla
societa' italiana. Lo ha detto alle agenzie Beta e Fonet il direttore
di Telekom Serbia Srdjan Blagojevic. Telecom Italia possiede il 29%
del pacchetto azionario della consorella serba, acquistato nel 1997 in
una operazione che aveva visto coinvolta anche la greca Oti, che ha il
20% delle azioni.
Il pacchetto di controllo del 51% e' in mano serba. Telekom Serbia
versera' all'azienda italiana 195 milioni di euro, di cui 120 milioni
in quattro rate a partire dal marzo 2003, e il rimanente scaglionato
nei prossimi sei anni. Le trattative per la cessione del 29% delle
azioni di Telekom Serbia erano state avviate circa nove mesi fa.
(ANSA). OT 18/02/2003 15:29
Serbia buys back Telecom Italian stake in Telekom Srbija
http://www.serbia.sr.gov.yu/cgi-bin/printpage.cgi?filename
=/news/2002-12/30/327296.html
(a cura di Andrea)
(vedi anche:
Dini accusa "i manovali della Cia" - Il ministro degli esteri accusa:
l'inchiesta su Telecom-Serbia è manovrata dalla Cia
da "Il Manifesto",1 Marzo 2001
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/message/819 )
http://www.unita.it/
index.asp?SEZIONE_COD=ARKINT&TOPIC_TIPO=I&TOPIC_ID=28555
L'Unita', 03.09.2003
Dini: qualcuno in alto ha pagato Marini
ROMA «L’onorevole Bondi, portavoce del partito del presidente del
Consiglio, dovrebbe vergognarsi degli spudorati attacchi politici
lanciati contro gli esponenti dell’opposizione. Si tratta di una
gravissima campagna di delegittimazione che, al di là di imbarazzate
smentite, sembra ora voler coinvolgere anche la massima carica dello
Stato». Lamberto Dini non nasconde la sua indignazione nei confronti
«dell’uso politico, del tutto strumentale, fatto dalla maggioranza di
governo delle menzogne dispensate da un poco di buono come Igor Marini
sull’affare Telekom Serbia».
Presidente Dini, i leader della Casa Libertà accusano l’allora governo
dell’Ulivo, di cui lei era ministro degli Esteri, di aver sostenuto sul
piano economico e politico il governo di Belgrado e il regime di
Slobodan Milosevic attraverso lo «sporco affare» di Telekom Serbia.
«È un’accusa fuorviante, strumentale. Perché il governo di Milosevic
era tornato ad essere un interlocutore, sia pur problematico,
dell’Occidente, Stati Uniti in testa. Qui non si deve confondere il
momento in cui questa trattativa fu portata avanti, da sola, in
segretezza da Telecom Italia, più alacremente nei primi mesi del 1997,
con il problema del Kosovo, iniziato dopo il febbraio del ‘99. Ci sono
quasi due anni di distacco e nessuno poteva allora prevedere che
Belgrado assumesse un comportamento non cooperativo con la comunità
internazionale nei riguardi del riconoscimento dell’identità etnica e
culturale dei kosovari all’interno della Federazione [1] . Non si
possono legare le due cose. Io ho ricordato in Parlamento che a seguito
degli accordi di Dayton, del 21 novembre ‘95, che sancivano con il
benestare di Belgrado il nuovo assetto costituzionale della Bosnia
Erzegovina, Milosevic era tornato ad assumere il ruolo d’interlocutore,
per quanto problematico, dell’Occidente, a cominciare dagli Usa,
configurandosi come una sorta di garante dei fragili equilibri
delineati a Dayton. In questa ottica, è di grande rilievo la
dichiarazione di James Rubin (portavoce del Dipartimento di Stato
americano durante gli anni dell’amministrazione Clinton e braccio
destro dell’allora Segretario di Stato, Madeleine Albright, nella
gestione della crisi dei Balcani, ndr.), che in un’intervista a "La
Stampa "dice che quanto dichiarato dall’onorevole Fassino risponde “più
o meno a verità”».
Da cosa nasce questa valutazione di Rubin?
«Gli Stati Uniti, come hanno fatto in altre occasioni, non avevano
tolto nel 1997 le sanzioni contro Belgrado, ma sul piano giuridico il
primo ottobre del 1996, il Consiglio di Sicurezza dell’Onu aveva
revocato le sanzioni economiche e il provvedimento era stato recepito
nell’ordinamento italiano e pubblicato nella Gazzetta Ufficiale del 4
novembre ’96. Inoltre, il 27 febbraio del ’97, il Consiglio Affari
Generali dell’Unione Europea ha deciso addirittura di ripristinare nei
confronti della Repubblica federale jugoslava le cosiddette preferenze
commerciali generalizzate, e per tanto non si poteva a quell’epoca
sostenere che c’erano controindicazioni politiche. Noi agivamo con
questo nuovo orientamento internazionale, che era molto chiaro. Questi
sono fatti, non chiacchiere. Nel 1996-1997, dopo gli accordi di Dayton,
la comunità internazionale muoveva dall’idea che era legittimo pensare
a impostare con Belgrado relazioni per un futuro non troppo lontano di
normalizzazione. Non si può dunque parlare di cinismo politico quando è
stata fatta questa operazione da Telecom Italia - condotta senza
informare il governo, senza chiederne la partecipazione - perché
diffusa era la convinzione che dopo la guerra si poteva imboccare con
la Federazione jugoslava la via del negoziato. Non è sorprendente che
in quel periodo, non solo imprese italiane ma anche altre e importanti
imprese europee manifestassero interesse e avviassero trattative con le
autorità di Belgrado che avevano iniziato un programma di
privatizzazione».
L’Unità riportava ieri in prima pagina una dichiarazione, datata 11
settembre 1994, dell’allora ministro degli Esteri del primo governo
Belusconi, Antonio Martino, che sosteneva: «Bisogna aiutare Milosevic
ad uscire dall’isolamento, poiché accettando il piano di pace corre
rischi ad opera dei falchi del suo Paese: senza la cooperazione
internazionale sarebbe in pericolo»...
«Di lì poi sono arrivati gli accordi di Dayton nel 1995, con i quali
Milosevic era tornato ad essere un interlocutore accettabile per
l’Occidente...».
Nove anni dopo, queste considerazioni di Martino sembrano sfuggire alla
memoria dei leader della Casa della Libertà. Perché questo «vuoto di
memoria»?
«Non si può confondere il periodo durante il quale la Telecom Italia
condusse questa trattativa e acquistò all’inizio del 1997 una
partecipazione non di controllo ma di minoranza, del 29%, nella Telekom
Serbia, con il problema del Kosovo. Nel momento in cui Milosevic non
accettò, dopo Rambouillet, febbraio 1999, il dettato della comunità
internazionale che contemplava una presenza militare internazionale, in
particolare per prevenire ulteriori lacerazioni tra la popolazione
serba e la popolazione del Kosovo [2] - l’Italia, lo ricordo, insisteva
per dare maggiore autonomia e riconoscere l’identità etnica e cultura
kosovara nelle scuole e nelle università -, da quel rifiuto, e
dall’inasprimento del conflitto, nacque l’intervento della Nato,
sancito all’unanimità dai membri dell’Alleanza e che l’Italia rispettò
pienamente [3]. Non possono assolutamente accusarci di connivenza con
Milosevic. Il fatto è che Telecom Italia ha condotto da sola questa
trattativa, non ha mai chiesto l’intervento del governo, io non ero
stato informato, e vorrei che si trovasse anche una sola persona che
possa dire di avermi parlato di Telekom Serbia, che sia di Telecom
Italia, delle parti politiche, che siano delle autorità di Belgrado.
Mai nessuno me ne ha parlato».
C’è chi sostiene che si sia trattato di un affare «spazzatura», un
pessimo affare, sotto ogni punto di vista.
«Allora era ritenuta una operazione commerciale come tante altre...».
Ma l’ambasciatore Francesco Bascone non appare di questo avviso.
«L’ambasciatore Bascone ha riportato articoli di giornali
dell’opposizione serba, sostenendo davanti alla Commissione su Telekom
Serbia che l’opposizione non era contenta che imprese straniere,
comprese quelle italiane, attraverso le privatizzazioni dessero un
sostegno finanziario molto forte a Milosevic. Ma questa era il
convincemento dell’opposizione serba e non della comunità
internazionale che invece aveva rimosso le sanzioni. A distanza di sei
anni, si grida ”ma come è possibile che il governo abbia autorizzato
un’operazione che è costata ai contribuenti italiani 800 miliardi”...».
Qual è la sua risposta?
«Si tratta di una fandonia. Quando Telecom Italia fece questa
operazione, riteneva che si trattasse di un’operazione strategica per
la società. Anzi, in Serbia si sosteneva che aveva pagato anche troppo
poco e c’erano gli oppositori di Milosevic nel governo, l’ala più
oltranzista, che affermavano apertamente che Milosevic avrebbe dovuto
chiedere di più per questa transazione. Non è che Telecom
necessariamente pagò troppo, queste sono valutazioni dell’azienda che
ha fatto e ha pagato quello che riteneva un prezzo equo, giusto. Da
allora ci sono stati ripetuti passaggi di proprietà di Telecom, tre per
la precisione: prima c’è stata la partecipazione minoritaria di Fiat e
di altri gruppi, poi intervenne il management di Rossi e Tommasi di
Vignano, poi intervenne Colaninno che cambiò il management,
successivamente intervenne Pirelli e quindi Tronchetti Provera che
cambiò a sua volta di nuovo il management della società. A sei anni di
distanza, Telecom Italia cambiata e rinnovata non ha ritenuto più
strategica quella partecipazione - un’operazione portata a termine da
una società per azioni ormai privatizzata - e quindi ha deciso di
cederla [4]. L’ha venduta per il prezzo giusto? Qualcuno può ritenere
che l’ha venduta a un prezzo troppo basso, ma questa è una valutazione
della società, perché del resto a sei anni di distanza certamente le
attrezzature di Telekom Serbia si erano deteriorate, erano divenute
obsolete, c’era stata la guerra del Kosovo che le aveva debilitate, e
molto probabilmente quella partecipazione aveva perso di valore. Ma
questo cosa vuol dire, che sono stati sprecati i soldi dei contribuenti
italiani? Questa è una vergognosa fandonia. Chi conosce come operano le
società sa bene che si può fare un buon investimento che a distanza di
cinque anni può rivelarsi proficuo e profittevole o, al contrario, può
rivelarsi un cattivo affare. Ma allora cosa c’entrano i discorsi dei
vari Consolo, Gasparri, che dicono “ci spieghino come sono stati
sperperati i denari pubblici..”. Questa è un’operazione condotta da
Telecom Italia e non dal governo italiano».
La montatura dell’«affare Telekom Serbia» è il segno inquietante
dell’imbarbarimento della politica italiana?
«Nella mia esperienza non avevo mai registrato un contrasto politico
così forte, devastante tra governo e opposizione. Mai era avvenuto un
tale imbarbarimento. Alla fine di aprile, l’onorevole Berlusconi si
presenta volontariamente a Milano e accusa Prodi e Amato nell’affare
Sme di tangenti e di altre nefandezze. Una settimana dopo, esce fuori
Marini, che attraverso una lettera anonima o altro si presenta alla
Commissione Telecom Serbia, con tutte le sue fandonie, maldicenze,
invenzioni, un cumulo di falsità e bugie, con le quali la maggioranza
della Commissione ha riempito giornali; la maggioranza si è servita di
questi signori per imbastire una vergognosa, infamante campagna di
denigrazione degli esponenti del centrosinistra e quindi
dell’opposizione. Mai era successa una cosa simile, di servirsi di
mascalzoni per delegittimare l’opposizione e i suoi leader. Quando noi
diciamo che vogliamo sapere chi sono i mandanti, diciamo questo: perché
verrà fuori definitivamente che quello che ha detto Marini sono
soltanto falsità, bugie, invenzioni e che non c’è assolutamente nulla
di vero di tutto quello che ha raccontato gli esponenti. E allora ci
dobbiamo interrogare su chi sono i mandanti...».
E qual è la sua risposta?
«Marini non è nato così, questa è una persona senza un soldo, pieno di
debiti, e che si è fatto pagare da qualcuno per infangare. Per più di
tre mesi, Tv e giornali hanno registrato quotidianamente le “verità di
Marini” sulle tangenti miliardarie prese da Prodi, Dini, Fassino; un
cumulo di falsità prese per buone e amplificate da esponenti della
maggioranza. L’obiettivo era di ingenerare dubbio nei cittadini che
forse c’è qualcosa di vero. Questo è il danno politico che hanno inteso
creare. E lo fanno perché sanno che questo governo fallimentare perderà
le prossime elezioni e dunque si cerca di infangare tutta
l’opposizione. Basta guardare il "Giornale" di Berlusconi che fa cinque
pagine al giorno su questa vicenda, rimasticando vecchie cose,
riciclando dichiarazioni fatte in passato, senza mai aggiungere nulla
di nuovo. E fa questo per ordine ricevuto. Dall’alto, da molto in alto».
NOTE
[1] Dini vuole probabilmente dire che nel 1997 non si poteva prevedere
l'inizio della campagna terroristica dell'UCK, appoggiata dagli USA e
sfociata nella guerra di aggressione del 1999.
[2] Dini vuole probabilmente dire che la Jugoslavia non accetto'
l'allegato B di Rambouillet che prevedeva la occupazione militare NATO
di tutto il paese oltre a porre le basi per la secessione della
provincia del Kosmet.
[3] In effetti e' di questo che si dovrebbero vergognare.
[4] Vedi allegati.
--- allegati ---
TELECOM CEDE PARTECIPAZIONE 29% TELEKOM SERBIA PER 195 MLN
(ANSA) - ROMA, 28 DIC - Telecom Italia ha ceduto il 29% di
Telekom Serbia alla PTT Srbija (azienda pubblica controllata dal
governo di Belgrado) che gia' detiene il 51% della societa'. Lo
comunica l'azienda italiana specificando che il prezzo convenuto e' di
195 milioni di euro e che ''con questa operazione prosegue la politica
di razionalizzazione delle partecipazioni non strategiche''. Telecom
Italia, si legge in una nota, ''comunica di aver accettato in data
odierna una proposta di acquisto del 29% di Telekom Serbia da parte di
PTT Srbija (azienda pubblica controllata dal governo serbo) che gia'
detiene il 51% della societa'. Il prezzo convenuto e' di 195 milioni di
euro (pari all'attuale valore di carico della partecipazione nei
bilanci del gruppo Telecom Italia), con versamento di 120 milioni di
euro entro il closing (previsto per il mese di aprile 2003) e il
pagamento dei restanti 75 milioni di euro entro luglio 2008, con
contemporaneo deposito delle
azioni presso una primaria banca internazionale concordata fra le parti
fino all'integrale pagamento del prezzo''. A favore della societa'
greca OTE (anch'essa partner di Telekom Serbia) sussiste un diritto di
prelazione che la stessa azienda potrebbe decidere di esercitare nei
prossimi 60 giorni lavorativi, salvo il consenso di PTT Srbija.
(ANSA). VG 28-DIC-02 16:39 NNNN
28/12/2002 18:05
TELECOM: PER TELEKOM SERBIA E' L'AFFARE DEL DECENNIO
(ANSA) - BELGRADO, 29 DIC - Il premier serbo Zoran Djindjic
ha confermato oggi che l'azienda statale Ptt Srbija (le Poste
serbe) ha comprato l'intero pacchetto azionario di Telekom Serbia
detenuto da Telecom Italia, in quello che il direttore della Ptt ha
definito ''l'affare del decennio''. In una conferenza stampa a
Belgrado, Djindjic ha confermato che e' stato raggiunto un accordo con
cui Telecom ha ceduto il suo intero pacchetto azionario, pari al 29%
del capitale di Telekom Srbija, per la cifra di 195 milioni di euro. Il
governo e' ora proprietario dell'80% del capitale di Telekom (l'altro
20% e' in mano alla greca Ote). Djindjic ha detto che il governo non ha
intenzione di comprare il 20% detenuto dall'azienda ellenica, precisando
anzi che verra' sottoscritto un nuovo contratto per la salvaguardia
dei diritti di soci di minoranza. Le trattative con il partner italiano
sono durate otto mesi, ha detto Djindjic, affermando che ''un cosi'
buon accordo e' stato possibile solo dopo il cambiamento politico in
Italia perche' il nuovo governo ha deciso di chiarire tutti i contratti
dubbi stipulati sotto i precedenti governi''. Djindjic ha detto che
Telekom Serbia quest'anno, nonostante problemi di gestione, ha avuto un
risultato buono, con un attivo di 55-60 milioni di euro, e che per il
prossimo anno e' previsto un attivo di 100 milioni di euro, una parte
del quale sara' usata per restituire debiti con societa' italiane. Il
direttore generale delle Poste serbe Srdjan Blagojevic ha detto che la
Serbia ha fatto ''l'affare del decennio'' ricomprando per 195 milioni
di euro la quota ceduta a Telecom Italia (nel giugno 1997) per 497
milioni di dollari. (ANSA). COR-LG 29/12/2002 16:03
TELECOM: IL 20 FEBBRAIO CLOSING CESSIONE TELEKOM
SERBIA
(ANSA) - BELGRADO, 18 FEB - Telecom Italia e Telekom
Serbia firmeranno il 20 febbraio ad Amsterdam l'accordo per la
cessione del pacchetto azionario dell'azienda serba in mano alla
societa' italiana. Lo ha detto alle agenzie Beta e Fonet il direttore
di Telekom Serbia Srdjan Blagojevic. Telecom Italia possiede il 29%
del pacchetto azionario della consorella serba, acquistato nel 1997 in
una operazione che aveva visto coinvolta anche la greca Oti, che ha il
20% delle azioni.
Il pacchetto di controllo del 51% e' in mano serba. Telekom Serbia
versera' all'azienda italiana 195 milioni di euro, di cui 120 milioni
in quattro rate a partire dal marzo 2003, e il rimanente scaglionato
nei prossimi sei anni. Le trattative per la cessione del 29% delle
azioni di Telekom Serbia erano state avviate circa nove mesi fa.
(ANSA). OT 18/02/2003 15:29
Serbia buys back Telecom Italian stake in Telekom Srbija
http://www.serbia.sr.gov.yu/cgi-bin/printpage.cgi?filename
=/news/2002-12/30/327296.html
(a cura di Andrea)
(this text in english:
http://globalresearch.ca/articles/SCH308B.html )
Junge Welt (Berlin)
19.08.2003, Ausland
Cathrin Schütz, Belgrad
Beweisnot in Den Haag
UN-Tribunal will dubiose Dokumente nutzen, um Vorwürfe gegen Milosevic
aufrechtzuerhalten
Am UN-Tribunal in Den Haag ist am Montag die Sommerpause zu Ende
gegangen. Im Prozeß gegen den ehemaligen jugoslawischen Präsidenten
Slobodan Milosevic soll in den kommenden Monaten schwerpunktmäßig das
»Massaker von Srebrenica« im Juli 1995 verhandelt werden. Im Fall des
Bürgerkriegs in Bosnien-Herzegowina wirft Chefanklägerin Carla del
Ponte dem Angeklagten »Völkermord« vor. Ursprünglich war dieser
Tatvorwurf auch Teil des Kosovo-Komplexes. Mangels Beweisen mußte dies
allerdings fallengelassen werden. Dabei war der Völkermordvorwurf
Hintergrund der Anklage und der illegalen Auslieferung Milosevics. Auch
im Fall Srebrenica bewegt sich del Ponte auf dünnem Eis. Noch vor der
Sommerpause hatte der ehemalige jugoslawische Präsident Zoran Lilic vor
Gericht Milosevic bescheinigt, nicht in das Massaker in der ehemaligen
UN-Schutzzone verwickelt gewesen zu sein.
Das »Institute for War and Peace Reporting« (IWPR) in London spielte
der Anklageseite in Den Haag indes ein belastendes Papier zu, bei dem
es sich um einen vom damaligen bosnisch-serbischen Innenminister
Tomislav Kovac unterzeichneten Befehl zur Truppenverlegung serbischer
Polizeieinheiten von Sarajevo nach Srebrenica handeln soll. Stacey
Sullivan, Mitarbeiterin von IWPR, erklärte, das Dokument belege
erstmalig, daß Polizei aus Serbien an der Operation in Srebrenica
teilnahm. Dem entgegen hob die Washingtoner »Koalition für
internationale Gerechtigkeit« hervor, daß dies durch das Dokument
keineswegs bewiesen sei. Daß weiterhin unbekannt sei, was Milosevic
selbst von den Vorgängen wußte, mußte jedoch auch Sullivan zugeben.
Die New York Times, die sich sonst in der Vorverurteilung des
ehemaligen jugoslawischen Präsidenten übt, berichtete bereits im Juni,
daß bekannt sei, daß gegen Milosevic im Falle Srebrenica keine Beweise
vorliegen: »Sogar im Prozeß gegen General Radislav Krstic, einem der
Kommandierenden in Srebrenica, der zu 46 Jahren Gefängnis verurteilt
wurde, lag den Anklägern kein Dokument vor, das Belgrad mit den
Verbrechen in Verbindung bringt.« Es scheint sich auch bei dem neuen
Papier nicht um einen Beweis gegen Milosevic zu handeln. Die Sprecherin
der Anklageseite bezeichnete das Dokument denn auch nur als »ein
Element«. Vermutlich wird das Dokument genutzt, um Lilics Aussage über
Milosevics Unschuld aus den Medien zu verdrängen. IWPR gibt an, das
Papier bislang »übersehen zu haben«.
Wenn man die Kooperationspartner des IWPR betrachtet, verstärkt sich
der Verdacht, daß das Institut den Anklägern in die Hände spielt. Zu
diesen Partnern gehören das »Open Society Institute« des
US-amerikanischen Multimillionärs George Soros, der auch das Tribunal
selbst mitfinanziert. Über »US AID« erhält das Institut Mittel der
US-Regierung. Weitere stammen von der US-amerikanischen Organisa-
tion »IREX«, die eigenen Angaben zufolge direkte Unterstützung vom
Außenministerium in Washington erhält. IREX finanziert auch
Journalisten aus dem ehemaligen Jugoslawien, die von Den Haag aus über
den Milosevic-Prozeß berichten.
Ein Assistent von Milosevic kommentierte gegenüber jW: »Carla del
Ponte prahlte kürzlich gegenüber der Presse, sie habe alle
Anklagepunkte beweisen können, nur der Völkermord sei schwerer
nachzuweisen, aber sie werde das in den kommenden Monaten tun. Das war
ihr Versuch, der Öffentlichkeit ihren fehlenden Erfolg zu
verheimlichen, da ihre Position als Chefanklägerin derzeit gefährdet
ist. Milosevics Schuld kann nicht nachgewiesen werden, weil es sie
nicht gibt. Jeder weiß, daß er Extremismus und Verbrechen öffentlich
verurteilte, auch wenn sie von serbischer Seite kamen. Er hat
angekündigt, daß er versuchen werde, die Komplizenschaft der westlichen
Geheimdienste bei den schlimmsten Verbrechen in Bosnien und Kroatien
nachzuweisen.«
Dieses Unternehmen dürfte sich als erfolgreicher erweisen als der
Versuch der Anklage, Beweise für eine Verbindung Milosevics zum
Massaker von Srebrenica zu erbringen. Schon die Kommission unter Cees
Wiebes vom Niederländischen Institut für Kriegsdokumentation
(NIOD), die den wohl umfangreichsten Bericht über den Krieg in Bosnien
erstellte, brachte eben dies zutage. Wiebes hatte ungehinderten Zugang
zu niederländischen Geheimdienstdokumenten und recherchierte bei
Geheimdiensten westlicher Staaten und in Bosnien. Während es in der
Presse hieß, es gebe »keine Hinweise auf eine direkte Verbindung
Milosevics und der serbischen Behörden in Belgrad« in den Überfall auf
Srebrenica, brachte die Untersuchung die direkte Verwicklung
ausländischer Kräfte ans Licht: »Die USA benutzen Islamisten, um die
bosnischen Muslime zu bewaffnen; der Srebrenica-Bericht enttarnt die
Rolle des Pentagons in einem schmutzigen Krieg. Die offizielle
niederländische Untersuchung des Srebrenica-Massakers von 1995 enthält
einen der sensationellsten Berichte über westliche Geheimdienste, die
je veröffentlicht wurden«, so der britische Guardian.
SIEHE AUCH:
-> http://www.jungewelt.de/beilage/index.php?b_id=12
*** sloboda - Freiheit für Milosevic
Junge Welt Beilage vom 18.06.2003 ***
Inhalt:
Es sind noch Zellen frei
Slobodan Milosevic ist der erste Kriegsgefangene der neuen Weltordnung
Jürgen Elsässer
Im Kreuzverhör
Milosevic befragt einen prominenten Zeugen über die Kriegsverbrechen in
Kroatien und Bosnien-Herzegowina
Kein Völkermord
Der bisherige Prozeßverlauf in Den Haag ist für die Anklage ein Fiasko
Matthias Gockel
Fluch des Amselfeldes
Wie Milosevic Jugoslawien durch Serbien retten wollte und doch alles
verlor
Werner Pirker
Abschied von Serbien
Vier Jahre nach dem NATO-Krieg: Kosovo auf dem Weg in die Unabhängigkeit
Rüdiger Göbel
Quislinge in Belgrad
An der Ermordung des serbischen Premiers Zoran Djindjic sollen die
Gegner des Haager Tribunals schuld sein, meinen Djindjics Erbschleicher
Klaus Hartmann
»Das Tribunal ist illegal«
junge Welt sprach mit dem ehemaligen US-amerikanischen Justizminister
Ramsey Clark über den Verlauf des Prozesses
Interview: Cathrin Schütz
Die BRD vor Gericht
Im Prozeß um den Bombenangriff auf die Brücke von Varvarin geht es um
mehr als Schadensersatz
Harald Kampffmeyer
28. Juni - Demo in Den Haag
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-> http://www.jungewelt.de/beilage/index.php?b_id=12
http://globalresearch.ca/articles/SCH308B.html )
Junge Welt (Berlin)
19.08.2003, Ausland
Cathrin Schütz, Belgrad
Beweisnot in Den Haag
UN-Tribunal will dubiose Dokumente nutzen, um Vorwürfe gegen Milosevic
aufrechtzuerhalten
Am UN-Tribunal in Den Haag ist am Montag die Sommerpause zu Ende
gegangen. Im Prozeß gegen den ehemaligen jugoslawischen Präsidenten
Slobodan Milosevic soll in den kommenden Monaten schwerpunktmäßig das
»Massaker von Srebrenica« im Juli 1995 verhandelt werden. Im Fall des
Bürgerkriegs in Bosnien-Herzegowina wirft Chefanklägerin Carla del
Ponte dem Angeklagten »Völkermord« vor. Ursprünglich war dieser
Tatvorwurf auch Teil des Kosovo-Komplexes. Mangels Beweisen mußte dies
allerdings fallengelassen werden. Dabei war der Völkermordvorwurf
Hintergrund der Anklage und der illegalen Auslieferung Milosevics. Auch
im Fall Srebrenica bewegt sich del Ponte auf dünnem Eis. Noch vor der
Sommerpause hatte der ehemalige jugoslawische Präsident Zoran Lilic vor
Gericht Milosevic bescheinigt, nicht in das Massaker in der ehemaligen
UN-Schutzzone verwickelt gewesen zu sein.
Das »Institute for War and Peace Reporting« (IWPR) in London spielte
der Anklageseite in Den Haag indes ein belastendes Papier zu, bei dem
es sich um einen vom damaligen bosnisch-serbischen Innenminister
Tomislav Kovac unterzeichneten Befehl zur Truppenverlegung serbischer
Polizeieinheiten von Sarajevo nach Srebrenica handeln soll. Stacey
Sullivan, Mitarbeiterin von IWPR, erklärte, das Dokument belege
erstmalig, daß Polizei aus Serbien an der Operation in Srebrenica
teilnahm. Dem entgegen hob die Washingtoner »Koalition für
internationale Gerechtigkeit« hervor, daß dies durch das Dokument
keineswegs bewiesen sei. Daß weiterhin unbekannt sei, was Milosevic
selbst von den Vorgängen wußte, mußte jedoch auch Sullivan zugeben.
Die New York Times, die sich sonst in der Vorverurteilung des
ehemaligen jugoslawischen Präsidenten übt, berichtete bereits im Juni,
daß bekannt sei, daß gegen Milosevic im Falle Srebrenica keine Beweise
vorliegen: »Sogar im Prozeß gegen General Radislav Krstic, einem der
Kommandierenden in Srebrenica, der zu 46 Jahren Gefängnis verurteilt
wurde, lag den Anklägern kein Dokument vor, das Belgrad mit den
Verbrechen in Verbindung bringt.« Es scheint sich auch bei dem neuen
Papier nicht um einen Beweis gegen Milosevic zu handeln. Die Sprecherin
der Anklageseite bezeichnete das Dokument denn auch nur als »ein
Element«. Vermutlich wird das Dokument genutzt, um Lilics Aussage über
Milosevics Unschuld aus den Medien zu verdrängen. IWPR gibt an, das
Papier bislang »übersehen zu haben«.
Wenn man die Kooperationspartner des IWPR betrachtet, verstärkt sich
der Verdacht, daß das Institut den Anklägern in die Hände spielt. Zu
diesen Partnern gehören das »Open Society Institute« des
US-amerikanischen Multimillionärs George Soros, der auch das Tribunal
selbst mitfinanziert. Über »US AID« erhält das Institut Mittel der
US-Regierung. Weitere stammen von der US-amerikanischen Organisa-
tion »IREX«, die eigenen Angaben zufolge direkte Unterstützung vom
Außenministerium in Washington erhält. IREX finanziert auch
Journalisten aus dem ehemaligen Jugoslawien, die von Den Haag aus über
den Milosevic-Prozeß berichten.
Ein Assistent von Milosevic kommentierte gegenüber jW: »Carla del
Ponte prahlte kürzlich gegenüber der Presse, sie habe alle
Anklagepunkte beweisen können, nur der Völkermord sei schwerer
nachzuweisen, aber sie werde das in den kommenden Monaten tun. Das war
ihr Versuch, der Öffentlichkeit ihren fehlenden Erfolg zu
verheimlichen, da ihre Position als Chefanklägerin derzeit gefährdet
ist. Milosevics Schuld kann nicht nachgewiesen werden, weil es sie
nicht gibt. Jeder weiß, daß er Extremismus und Verbrechen öffentlich
verurteilte, auch wenn sie von serbischer Seite kamen. Er hat
angekündigt, daß er versuchen werde, die Komplizenschaft der westlichen
Geheimdienste bei den schlimmsten Verbrechen in Bosnien und Kroatien
nachzuweisen.«
Dieses Unternehmen dürfte sich als erfolgreicher erweisen als der
Versuch der Anklage, Beweise für eine Verbindung Milosevics zum
Massaker von Srebrenica zu erbringen. Schon die Kommission unter Cees
Wiebes vom Niederländischen Institut für Kriegsdokumentation
(NIOD), die den wohl umfangreichsten Bericht über den Krieg in Bosnien
erstellte, brachte eben dies zutage. Wiebes hatte ungehinderten Zugang
zu niederländischen Geheimdienstdokumenten und recherchierte bei
Geheimdiensten westlicher Staaten und in Bosnien. Während es in der
Presse hieß, es gebe »keine Hinweise auf eine direkte Verbindung
Milosevics und der serbischen Behörden in Belgrad« in den Überfall auf
Srebrenica, brachte die Untersuchung die direkte Verwicklung
ausländischer Kräfte ans Licht: »Die USA benutzen Islamisten, um die
bosnischen Muslime zu bewaffnen; der Srebrenica-Bericht enttarnt die
Rolle des Pentagons in einem schmutzigen Krieg. Die offizielle
niederländische Untersuchung des Srebrenica-Massakers von 1995 enthält
einen der sensationellsten Berichte über westliche Geheimdienste, die
je veröffentlicht wurden«, so der britische Guardian.
SIEHE AUCH:
-> http://www.jungewelt.de/beilage/index.php?b_id=12
*** sloboda - Freiheit für Milosevic
Junge Welt Beilage vom 18.06.2003 ***
Inhalt:
Es sind noch Zellen frei
Slobodan Milosevic ist der erste Kriegsgefangene der neuen Weltordnung
Jürgen Elsässer
Im Kreuzverhör
Milosevic befragt einen prominenten Zeugen über die Kriegsverbrechen in
Kroatien und Bosnien-Herzegowina
Kein Völkermord
Der bisherige Prozeßverlauf in Den Haag ist für die Anklage ein Fiasko
Matthias Gockel
Fluch des Amselfeldes
Wie Milosevic Jugoslawien durch Serbien retten wollte und doch alles
verlor
Werner Pirker
Abschied von Serbien
Vier Jahre nach dem NATO-Krieg: Kosovo auf dem Weg in die Unabhängigkeit
Rüdiger Göbel
Quislinge in Belgrad
An der Ermordung des serbischen Premiers Zoran Djindjic sollen die
Gegner des Haager Tribunals schuld sein, meinen Djindjics Erbschleicher
Klaus Hartmann
»Das Tribunal ist illegal«
junge Welt sprach mit dem ehemaligen US-amerikanischen Justizminister
Ramsey Clark über den Verlauf des Prozesses
Interview: Cathrin Schütz
Die BRD vor Gericht
Im Prozeß um den Bombenangriff auf die Brücke von Varvarin geht es um
mehr als Schadensersatz
Harald Kampffmeyer
28. Juni - Demo in Den Haag
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ANTONIO MILOSEVIC
«Bisogna aiutare Milosevic ad uscire dall’isolamento, poiché accettando
il piano di pace corre rischi ad opera dei falchi del suo Paese: senza
la cooperazione internazionale sarebbe in pericolo»
Antonio Martino, ministro degli Esteri del 1° governo
Berlusconi. Dichiarazione riportata dall'ANSA dell'11 settembre 1994,
nel corso della guerra in Bosnia, e ripresa adesso nell'ambito scontro
politico interno italiano sul caso "Telekom Serbia" da L'Unita' del 1
settembre 2003 ( vedi:
http://www.unita.it/index.asp??SEZIONE_COD=&TOPIC_ID=28517 )
All'epoca in Italia solo i radicali protestarono, perche' volevano che
la guerra in Bosnia continuasse fino alla disfatta dei serbi.
«Bisogna aiutare Milosevic ad uscire dall’isolamento, poiché accettando
il piano di pace corre rischi ad opera dei falchi del suo Paese: senza
la cooperazione internazionale sarebbe in pericolo»
Antonio Martino, ministro degli Esteri del 1° governo
Berlusconi. Dichiarazione riportata dall'ANSA dell'11 settembre 1994,
nel corso della guerra in Bosnia, e ripresa adesso nell'ambito scontro
politico interno italiano sul caso "Telekom Serbia" da L'Unita' del 1
settembre 2003 ( vedi:
http://www.unita.it/index.asp??SEZIONE_COD=&TOPIC_ID=28517 )
All'epoca in Italia solo i radicali protestarono, perche' volevano che
la guerra in Bosnia continuasse fino alla disfatta dei serbi.
E' USCITA LA NUOVA CASSETTA DI SADDAM
Il nastro di Saddam messo in distribuzione nei giorni scorsi e'
autentico: la conferma viene dalla CIA, casa di produzione
statunitense, nell'ambito della campagna promozionale. Secondo la CIA
la voce che si sente e' proprio quella di Saddam.
Ricordiamo agli appassionati che sono sempre disponibili anche i piu'
recenti video di Osama Bin Laden.
Solo nei migliori negozi.
Il nastro di Saddam messo in distribuzione nei giorni scorsi e'
autentico: la conferma viene dalla CIA, casa di produzione
statunitense, nell'ambito della campagna promozionale. Secondo la CIA
la voce che si sente e' proprio quella di Saddam.
Ricordiamo agli appassionati che sono sempre disponibili anche i piu'
recenti video di Osama Bin Laden.
Solo nei migliori negozi.
Alla Redazione di
"Il Messaggero", Roma
e per conoscenza al
Prof. Predrag Matvejevic
Su "il Messaggero" del 22 agosto appariva l'articolo "Mostar, è rinato
il vecchio ponte" a firma Predrag Matvejevic.
Belle le parole sul Ponte, "alla luce del sole... così luminoso" (ma
anche "alla luna..."), riportate dal prof Matvejevic. Quel sasso
bianco e luminoso è stato di ispirazione per tanti poeti e scrittori,
in primis Ivo Andric, jugoslavo, premio Nobel per la letteratura.
Giustamente Valerio Pelizzari ce lo ricorda
nell'articolo sulla stessa pagina: "Il Ponte di Mostar, rinasce un
sogno".
Siccome però in passato abbiamo dovuto lamentare, in tante occasioni,
la assoluta mancanza di coerenza da parte di Matvejevic, ci siamo ormai
abituati a registrare incongruenze in ognuno dei suoi scritti
riguardanti la tragedia jugoslava. Poco male, per la Bosnia e per la
Jugoslavia, se qualche professore usa promuovere se stesso, fintantoché
trova spazio sulla stampa di ogni orientamento politico... Ma talvolta
Matvejevic distorce deliberatamente la storia ed i concetti, e Camus ha
ben spiegato che "non chiamare le cose con il proprio nome, significa
seminare disgrazia tra la gente".
Scrive il Matvejevic nell'articolo: <<Poi cercarono di danneggiarlo i
"serbi". I "croati" completarono la distruzione... Metto fra
le virgolette i nomi dei due popoli per non confondere i distruttori di
quella straordinaria opera architettonica con quei croati e serbi che
hanno pianto per questo atto vandalico...>> (Sono sempre parole del
Matvejevic)
I serbi, nel caso di Mostar non c'entrano assolutamente niente, nè
quelli con le virgolette, nè quelli senza.
Lo sforzo del professore di scaricare sui serbi (se "il pesce puzza
dalla testa", allora esimio professore, nel contesto le virgolette le
può anche evitare) la responsabilità "originaria" per la distruzione
del Ponte è in linea con il "pensiero unico" sulla guerra fratricida in
Jugoslavia. Questo "pensiero unico", del quale Matvejevic è uno dei
grandi ideologi insieme a troppi intellettuali e professori "di
servizio", imputa ai serbi il "peccato originale" del nazionalismo.
Ma i serbi si ritirarono da Mostar e dintorni prima ancora che
iniziassero gli scontri tra nazionalisti croati e nazionalisti
musulmani bosniaci, nell'ambito dei quali il Ponte fu abbattuto.
Matvejevic volentieri dimentica di ricordare che la "Erzegbosnia"
(come lui stesso definì quella regione, agli inizi delle sue "uscite"
davanti al pubblico italiano, secondo la più ignobile "vulgata"
ustascia) ha partorito i nazionalisti croati più efferati. D'altronde,
anche il loro storico duce Pavelic proviene da quelle parti. Tutti,
tranne gli ignoranti ed i miserabili, sanno DA CHI E DA DOVE partì
l'ordine di organizzare i croati nati in Bosnia ed Erzegovina in unità
speciali, con a capo "un certo" Tihomir Blaskic, per andare in quella
ex repubblica federata jugoslava a fare la guerra e la pulizia etnica
contro i musulmani (bosgnazzi!?) oltrechè contro i serbi.
La faziosità di Matvejevic non ci stupisce. Uno al quale è stata
attribuita una onorificenza (la "Stella Polare Croata" - sic!) da un
presidente che si vantava "sarò l'ultimo presidente della RFS di
Jugoslavia", e ci scriveva poi pure un libro "Come abbiamo distrutto la
Jugoslavia"; uno che in quella occasione ha tenuto a precisare "questo
distintivo rosso che porto all'occhiello non è un residuo del
comunismo" (mentre era candidato con i cossuttiani!); beh, un
professore così andrebbe "bacchettato" proprio come facevano una volta
i professori con gli alunni.
Ivan Pavicevac (Roma)
Andrea Martocchia (Roma)
Giuseppe Catapano (Roma)
Manuela Marianetti (Roma)
Olga Daric (Parigi)
Nada Znirdasic (Parigi)
Bogdan Manojlovic (Parigi)
Gordana Mojasevic (Parigi)
Joseph Kaminski (Parigi)
Rada Wolf (Saint Tropez)
Lusi Milenkovic (Gubbio)
Serena Marchionni (Bologna)
Miriam Pellegrini Ferri (Roma)
Gruppo Atei Materialisti Dialettici - GAMADI (Roma)
Fulvio Grimaldi (Roma)
Sandra Paganini (Roma)
Enrico Vigna (Torino)
Milena Cubrakovic (Roma)
Alessandro Di Meo (Roma)
Gilberto Vlaic (Trieste)
Aldo Bernardini (Roma)
Mirjana Jovanovic (Roma)
"Il Messaggero", Roma
e per conoscenza al
Prof. Predrag Matvejevic
Su "il Messaggero" del 22 agosto appariva l'articolo "Mostar, è rinato
il vecchio ponte" a firma Predrag Matvejevic.
Belle le parole sul Ponte, "alla luce del sole... così luminoso" (ma
anche "alla luna..."), riportate dal prof Matvejevic. Quel sasso
bianco e luminoso è stato di ispirazione per tanti poeti e scrittori,
in primis Ivo Andric, jugoslavo, premio Nobel per la letteratura.
Giustamente Valerio Pelizzari ce lo ricorda
nell'articolo sulla stessa pagina: "Il Ponte di Mostar, rinasce un
sogno".
Siccome però in passato abbiamo dovuto lamentare, in tante occasioni,
la assoluta mancanza di coerenza da parte di Matvejevic, ci siamo ormai
abituati a registrare incongruenze in ognuno dei suoi scritti
riguardanti la tragedia jugoslava. Poco male, per la Bosnia e per la
Jugoslavia, se qualche professore usa promuovere se stesso, fintantoché
trova spazio sulla stampa di ogni orientamento politico... Ma talvolta
Matvejevic distorce deliberatamente la storia ed i concetti, e Camus ha
ben spiegato che "non chiamare le cose con il proprio nome, significa
seminare disgrazia tra la gente".
Scrive il Matvejevic nell'articolo: <<Poi cercarono di danneggiarlo i
"serbi". I "croati" completarono la distruzione... Metto fra
le virgolette i nomi dei due popoli per non confondere i distruttori di
quella straordinaria opera architettonica con quei croati e serbi che
hanno pianto per questo atto vandalico...>> (Sono sempre parole del
Matvejevic)
I serbi, nel caso di Mostar non c'entrano assolutamente niente, nè
quelli con le virgolette, nè quelli senza.
Lo sforzo del professore di scaricare sui serbi (se "il pesce puzza
dalla testa", allora esimio professore, nel contesto le virgolette le
può anche evitare) la responsabilità "originaria" per la distruzione
del Ponte è in linea con il "pensiero unico" sulla guerra fratricida in
Jugoslavia. Questo "pensiero unico", del quale Matvejevic è uno dei
grandi ideologi insieme a troppi intellettuali e professori "di
servizio", imputa ai serbi il "peccato originale" del nazionalismo.
Ma i serbi si ritirarono da Mostar e dintorni prima ancora che
iniziassero gli scontri tra nazionalisti croati e nazionalisti
musulmani bosniaci, nell'ambito dei quali il Ponte fu abbattuto.
Matvejevic volentieri dimentica di ricordare che la "Erzegbosnia"
(come lui stesso definì quella regione, agli inizi delle sue "uscite"
davanti al pubblico italiano, secondo la più ignobile "vulgata"
ustascia) ha partorito i nazionalisti croati più efferati. D'altronde,
anche il loro storico duce Pavelic proviene da quelle parti. Tutti,
tranne gli ignoranti ed i miserabili, sanno DA CHI E DA DOVE partì
l'ordine di organizzare i croati nati in Bosnia ed Erzegovina in unità
speciali, con a capo "un certo" Tihomir Blaskic, per andare in quella
ex repubblica federata jugoslava a fare la guerra e la pulizia etnica
contro i musulmani (bosgnazzi!?) oltrechè contro i serbi.
La faziosità di Matvejevic non ci stupisce. Uno al quale è stata
attribuita una onorificenza (la "Stella Polare Croata" - sic!) da un
presidente che si vantava "sarò l'ultimo presidente della RFS di
Jugoslavia", e ci scriveva poi pure un libro "Come abbiamo distrutto la
Jugoslavia"; uno che in quella occasione ha tenuto a precisare "questo
distintivo rosso che porto all'occhiello non è un residuo del
comunismo" (mentre era candidato con i cossuttiani!); beh, un
professore così andrebbe "bacchettato" proprio come facevano una volta
i professori con gli alunni.
Ivan Pavicevac (Roma)
Andrea Martocchia (Roma)
Giuseppe Catapano (Roma)
Manuela Marianetti (Roma)
Olga Daric (Parigi)
Nada Znirdasic (Parigi)
Bogdan Manojlovic (Parigi)
Gordana Mojasevic (Parigi)
Joseph Kaminski (Parigi)
Rada Wolf (Saint Tropez)
Lusi Milenkovic (Gubbio)
Serena Marchionni (Bologna)
Miriam Pellegrini Ferri (Roma)
Gruppo Atei Materialisti Dialettici - GAMADI (Roma)
Fulvio Grimaldi (Roma)
Sandra Paganini (Roma)
Enrico Vigna (Torino)
Milena Cubrakovic (Roma)
Alessandro Di Meo (Roma)
Gilberto Vlaic (Trieste)
Aldo Bernardini (Roma)
Mirjana Jovanovic (Roma)
Il terrorismo "buono" / 5
1. Happy Days, Here Again
(New York Press, Volume 15, Issue 6, February 2002)
2. Taliban heroin profits arming Balkan rebels
(The Daily Telegraph, February 19, 2002)
=== 1 ===
The Bush Administration supports Terrorists in Kosovo, Macedonia and
Chechnya
Happy Days, Here Again
by George Szamuely
New York Press, Volume 15, Issue 6, February 2002
Centre for Research on Globalisation (CRG), globalresearch.ca, 14
February 2002
Forget the war on terrorism. The United States is once again supporting
the drug dealers, gangsters and warlord fundamentalists. The other day
a State Dept. official met Chechnya’s self-declared foreign
minister, Ilyas Akhmadov. The Russians were dismayed. Having thrown
their lot in with the supposed common struggle against terrorism, they
find the Americans giving support to terrorists. Last month, after
a post-Sept. 11 lull, the U.S. stepped up its criticism of human rights
abuses in Chechnya. The Russians professed to be "amazed" that the
United States, as Agence France Presse reported, would meet with
Chechens, "whose direct links with Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda are
being proven with constantly emerging, irrefutable evidence…"
Chechnya has always been seen here as a rerun of Kosovo, which itself
was a rerun of Afghanistan. All the ingredients are there: a spurious
"national liberation" struggle financed by organized crime, drug
trafficking and the global Islamic network; support from Western
governments and human rights groups; Islamic fundamentalism as a
substitute for genuine nationhood; violently enforced clan loyalty;
political legitimacy based on appeals to Islam; and terrorists in
power. Consider Kosovo: The U.S. is currently brokering a deal on the
distribution of power. Leaders of the three leading Kosovo Albanian
parties recently met the head of the U.S. office in Pristina, John
Menzies, and it was proposed that the job of prime minister should
go to Hashim Thaci’s Democratic Party of Kosovo (DPK). Thaci is the
leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Its links to Islamic
terrorism and bin Laden have been amply documented. The KLA
allegedly disbanded after the NATO takeover and reconstituted itself as
a "civil defense force," the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC). Its wages
were paid by the UN.
Last summer, the Bush administration discovered that the KPC was a
terrorist organization after all and that it was fueling a terrorist
insurgency in neighboring Macedonia. The President signed two
decrees depriving "Albanian extremists who were threatening the
stability of Macedonia" of all financial or material support. The
decrees also barred them from entering the United States. This
followed the embarrassing revelation that the U.S. military had
facilitated the escape of NLA terrorists holed up in Arcinovo from the
Macedonian army. According to Hamburger Abendblatt, "Among the
rebels that were withdrawing were 17 ‘instructors’–former US officers
that provided military training for the rebels. Not only that: the
Macedonian security forces claim that 70 percent of the equipment
that the guerrilla fighters took with them are of US production." The
"instructors" were almost certainly members of an outfit called
Military Professional Resources Incorporated (MPRI). It is filled with
former senior U.S. Army personnel and works on contract for the U.S.
government. It had trained and directed the Croatian army during
Operation Storm, in which something like 300,000 Serbs were driven out
of their homes in Krajina. One of the commanders of Operation Storm was
an Albanian, Agim Ceku, who also happens to be the chief of the
Kosovo Protection Corps.
The people Bush banned from entering the United States included Gezim
Ostremi, the KPC’s chief-of-staff; his replacement, Daut Haradinaj; the
commander and deputy commander of the KPC’s elite force, the Rapid
Reaction Corps, plus the leaders of two of its six regional divisions,
Sami Lushtaku and Mustafa Rrustem. The UN expressed shock and surprise
and demanded proof that people on its payroll were terrorists. This
was an odd request. The UN had itself reported a year earlier that the
KPC was a bunch of gangsters.
The U.S. decrees were more rhetoric than reality. As an Irish Times
report put it sarcastically: "Commander Rrustem…earned fame during the
Kosovo war as one of the most successful guerrilla commanders. He
has since become a favourite with NATO commanders, whose glowing
commendations line the walls of his office. Certainly if the Americans
have reservations about him they have yet to show it: on Tuesday
two separate US army teams came to his base to train his men."
There we have it: The KLA-NLA terrorists are funded by U.S. military
aid, the UN peacekeeping budget, Al Qaeda and by drug trafficking and
prostitution. If everything goes according to plan, their leader is
about to be appointed prime minister thanks to U.S. efforts. O what a
lovely war! Now on to Central Asia.
Washington now has 13 bases in nine countries ringing Afghanistan and
in the Gulf. Agreements are in place to use airfields in Tajikistan. An
air base is being built in Kyrgyzstan to hold 3000 troops. Gen.
Tommy Franks vows to crush the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.
Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones promises $160 million in
aid. Some 1500 U.S. servicemen are already stationed there; 3000
American troops are in Kyrgyzstan. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul
Wolfowitz says the bases will serve to facilitate cooperation and
training with the local military. In other words, the U.S. will, as
in the Balkans, play the Islamists and anti-Islamists off against each
other and reduce the countries to abject dependence. If the fates of
Kosovo and Macedonia are anything to go by, the Soviet Union era
will soon seem like a glorious one.
Copyright New York Press 2002. Reprinted for fair use only.
The URL of this article is:
http://globalresearch.ca/articles/SZA202A.html
=== 2 ===
http://www.nationalpost.com/search/story.html?f=/stories/20020219/
98481.html&qs=jennings
February 19, 2002
Taliban heroin profits arming Balkan rebels
Albanian extremists: Weapons order could equip force
of up to 2,000
Christian Jennings
The Daily Telegraph
SKOPJE, Macedonia - Heroin from huge stockpiles in
Afghanistan is beginning to pour into European
capitals, with much of the profit being used to buy
arms for Albanian rebels seeking to start a new round
of conflict in the southern Balkans.
Senior drug trade analysts from the United Nations
Drug Control Program in Vienna and Western police
officials say much of the heroin being sold in
countries such as Austria, Germany and Switzerland is
coming from stocks in Afghanistan, much of it
controlled by al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters.
European drug squad officers say Albanian and Kosovo
Albanian dealers are ruthlessly trying to seize
control of the European heroin market, worth up to
$27-billion a year, and have taken over the trade in
at least six European countries.
Western intelligence officials in Kosovo, Macedonia
and Switzerland say Albanian gangs have used
$7-million of their heroin profits since last October
to re-equip rebels in Macedonia who gave up their
weapons to NATO troops.
Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan's interim leader, hopes to
replace opium growing in Afghanistan, which provides
90% of the heroin in Europe, with cultivation of
agricultural staples.
But Thomas Pietschmann, a senior researcher with the
UN's drug control program, said bumper crops in
Afghanistan in 1999 and 2000 meant there were
stockpiles of heroin and opium worth $68-billion to
$114-billion.
"This is enough to keep every addict in Europe
supplied for three years, even if another poppy is not
grown in Afghanistan, and leave some over for the
increasing market in Russia,'' Dr. Pietschmann said.
Police chiefs are particularly worried about the
arrival of a new brand of heroin from Afghanistan and
Pakistan. It is 80% pure and known as Heroin No. 4 or
white heroin.
Recently, there have been large seizures of white
heroin along the eastern boundary of the European
Union, which stretches from Poland, Germany and
Finland southward to Turkey. It has all come from
Afghanistan and Pakistan via Central Asia.
Police say Albanian criminal gangs have taken over the
heroin trade along this border, muscling in on
gangland turf formerly controlled by Russians,
Ukrainians, Czechs and Turks.
"The rebels in Macedonia, former [Kosovo Liberation
Army] freedom fighters in Kosovo and extremist
Albanians in southern Serbia are all part of the
network of Albanian and Kosovo Albanian families who
control criminal networks in Switzerland, Austria,
Germany and elsewhere,'' said a Western intelligence
official in the province.
"Albanians account for up to 90% of our problems with
drugs and drug dealings,'' said Thomas Koeppel, a
senior Swiss police official involved in the drug war.
Norwegian police made their country's largest heroin
haul last month, arresting three former KLA
guerrillas.
This month, the Drugs Investigative Committee in
Bavaria announced seven Albanians at the centre of a
drug ring that spanned Europe had been arrested in a
multinational operation. The haul included 55
kilograms en route to Scandinavia, via Italy, Austria
and Switzerland.
The smugglers had already moved at least 90 kilograms
to other suppliers.
Albanian extremists from Macedonia and Kosovo have
used part of the profits to buy new weapons since last
October. They have used arms dealers in Belgrade,
Bulgaria, Macedonia and Bosnia, and sometimes also
Swiss and Serb middle men.
Western defence intelligence officials say many of the
weapons have been smuggled into northern Macedonia and
Albania.
Arms trade experts say the deals include at least 20
SA-18 and SA-7 shoulder-held anti-aircraft missile
systems.
The missiles could tip the balance of the dormant
conflict in Macedonia by giving rebels the ability to
shoot down the Macedonian army's Mi-24 Hind helicopter
gunships and Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack jets
The rest of the weapons on the Albanians' shopping
list include Chinese and Yugoslav 120mm and 82mm
mortars, Yugoslav RBR M79 anti-tank rockets,
large-calibre machine guns, grenade launchers, up to
1,500 assault rifles, high-calibre M93 sniper rifles
and millions of rounds of ammunition.
Military experts believe this is enough to arm a force
of up to 2,000.
Thousands of Albanian rebels from the National
Liberation Army (NLA) in Macedonia handed their
weapons over to NATO troops last fall after seven
months of fighting with Macedonian government forces.
The disarmament program was part of an internationally
sponsored peace deal designed to head off the prospect
of a fifth Balkan war.
Although rebel leaders from the former NLA have
renounced violence, a hardline breakaway element
calling itself the Albanian National Army has
threatened more trouble this spring.
1. Happy Days, Here Again
(New York Press, Volume 15, Issue 6, February 2002)
2. Taliban heroin profits arming Balkan rebels
(The Daily Telegraph, February 19, 2002)
=== 1 ===
The Bush Administration supports Terrorists in Kosovo, Macedonia and
Chechnya
Happy Days, Here Again
by George Szamuely
New York Press, Volume 15, Issue 6, February 2002
Centre for Research on Globalisation (CRG), globalresearch.ca, 14
February 2002
Forget the war on terrorism. The United States is once again supporting
the drug dealers, gangsters and warlord fundamentalists. The other day
a State Dept. official met Chechnya’s self-declared foreign
minister, Ilyas Akhmadov. The Russians were dismayed. Having thrown
their lot in with the supposed common struggle against terrorism, they
find the Americans giving support to terrorists. Last month, after
a post-Sept. 11 lull, the U.S. stepped up its criticism of human rights
abuses in Chechnya. The Russians professed to be "amazed" that the
United States, as Agence France Presse reported, would meet with
Chechens, "whose direct links with Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda are
being proven with constantly emerging, irrefutable evidence…"
Chechnya has always been seen here as a rerun of Kosovo, which itself
was a rerun of Afghanistan. All the ingredients are there: a spurious
"national liberation" struggle financed by organized crime, drug
trafficking and the global Islamic network; support from Western
governments and human rights groups; Islamic fundamentalism as a
substitute for genuine nationhood; violently enforced clan loyalty;
political legitimacy based on appeals to Islam; and terrorists in
power. Consider Kosovo: The U.S. is currently brokering a deal on the
distribution of power. Leaders of the three leading Kosovo Albanian
parties recently met the head of the U.S. office in Pristina, John
Menzies, and it was proposed that the job of prime minister should
go to Hashim Thaci’s Democratic Party of Kosovo (DPK). Thaci is the
leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Its links to Islamic
terrorism and bin Laden have been amply documented. The KLA
allegedly disbanded after the NATO takeover and reconstituted itself as
a "civil defense force," the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC). Its wages
were paid by the UN.
Last summer, the Bush administration discovered that the KPC was a
terrorist organization after all and that it was fueling a terrorist
insurgency in neighboring Macedonia. The President signed two
decrees depriving "Albanian extremists who were threatening the
stability of Macedonia" of all financial or material support. The
decrees also barred them from entering the United States. This
followed the embarrassing revelation that the U.S. military had
facilitated the escape of NLA terrorists holed up in Arcinovo from the
Macedonian army. According to Hamburger Abendblatt, "Among the
rebels that were withdrawing were 17 ‘instructors’–former US officers
that provided military training for the rebels. Not only that: the
Macedonian security forces claim that 70 percent of the equipment
that the guerrilla fighters took with them are of US production." The
"instructors" were almost certainly members of an outfit called
Military Professional Resources Incorporated (MPRI). It is filled with
former senior U.S. Army personnel and works on contract for the U.S.
government. It had trained and directed the Croatian army during
Operation Storm, in which something like 300,000 Serbs were driven out
of their homes in Krajina. One of the commanders of Operation Storm was
an Albanian, Agim Ceku, who also happens to be the chief of the
Kosovo Protection Corps.
The people Bush banned from entering the United States included Gezim
Ostremi, the KPC’s chief-of-staff; his replacement, Daut Haradinaj; the
commander and deputy commander of the KPC’s elite force, the Rapid
Reaction Corps, plus the leaders of two of its six regional divisions,
Sami Lushtaku and Mustafa Rrustem. The UN expressed shock and surprise
and demanded proof that people on its payroll were terrorists. This
was an odd request. The UN had itself reported a year earlier that the
KPC was a bunch of gangsters.
The U.S. decrees were more rhetoric than reality. As an Irish Times
report put it sarcastically: "Commander Rrustem…earned fame during the
Kosovo war as one of the most successful guerrilla commanders. He
has since become a favourite with NATO commanders, whose glowing
commendations line the walls of his office. Certainly if the Americans
have reservations about him they have yet to show it: on Tuesday
two separate US army teams came to his base to train his men."
There we have it: The KLA-NLA terrorists are funded by U.S. military
aid, the UN peacekeeping budget, Al Qaeda and by drug trafficking and
prostitution. If everything goes according to plan, their leader is
about to be appointed prime minister thanks to U.S. efforts. O what a
lovely war! Now on to Central Asia.
Washington now has 13 bases in nine countries ringing Afghanistan and
in the Gulf. Agreements are in place to use airfields in Tajikistan. An
air base is being built in Kyrgyzstan to hold 3000 troops. Gen.
Tommy Franks vows to crush the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.
Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones promises $160 million in
aid. Some 1500 U.S. servicemen are already stationed there; 3000
American troops are in Kyrgyzstan. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul
Wolfowitz says the bases will serve to facilitate cooperation and
training with the local military. In other words, the U.S. will, as
in the Balkans, play the Islamists and anti-Islamists off against each
other and reduce the countries to abject dependence. If the fates of
Kosovo and Macedonia are anything to go by, the Soviet Union era
will soon seem like a glorious one.
Copyright New York Press 2002. Reprinted for fair use only.
The URL of this article is:
http://globalresearch.ca/articles/SZA202A.html
=== 2 ===
http://www.nationalpost.com/search/story.html?f=/stories/20020219/
98481.html&qs=jennings
February 19, 2002
Taliban heroin profits arming Balkan rebels
Albanian extremists: Weapons order could equip force
of up to 2,000
Christian Jennings
The Daily Telegraph
SKOPJE, Macedonia - Heroin from huge stockpiles in
Afghanistan is beginning to pour into European
capitals, with much of the profit being used to buy
arms for Albanian rebels seeking to start a new round
of conflict in the southern Balkans.
Senior drug trade analysts from the United Nations
Drug Control Program in Vienna and Western police
officials say much of the heroin being sold in
countries such as Austria, Germany and Switzerland is
coming from stocks in Afghanistan, much of it
controlled by al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters.
European drug squad officers say Albanian and Kosovo
Albanian dealers are ruthlessly trying to seize
control of the European heroin market, worth up to
$27-billion a year, and have taken over the trade in
at least six European countries.
Western intelligence officials in Kosovo, Macedonia
and Switzerland say Albanian gangs have used
$7-million of their heroin profits since last October
to re-equip rebels in Macedonia who gave up their
weapons to NATO troops.
Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan's interim leader, hopes to
replace opium growing in Afghanistan, which provides
90% of the heroin in Europe, with cultivation of
agricultural staples.
But Thomas Pietschmann, a senior researcher with the
UN's drug control program, said bumper crops in
Afghanistan in 1999 and 2000 meant there were
stockpiles of heroin and opium worth $68-billion to
$114-billion.
"This is enough to keep every addict in Europe
supplied for three years, even if another poppy is not
grown in Afghanistan, and leave some over for the
increasing market in Russia,'' Dr. Pietschmann said.
Police chiefs are particularly worried about the
arrival of a new brand of heroin from Afghanistan and
Pakistan. It is 80% pure and known as Heroin No. 4 or
white heroin.
Recently, there have been large seizures of white
heroin along the eastern boundary of the European
Union, which stretches from Poland, Germany and
Finland southward to Turkey. It has all come from
Afghanistan and Pakistan via Central Asia.
Police say Albanian criminal gangs have taken over the
heroin trade along this border, muscling in on
gangland turf formerly controlled by Russians,
Ukrainians, Czechs and Turks.
"The rebels in Macedonia, former [Kosovo Liberation
Army] freedom fighters in Kosovo and extremist
Albanians in southern Serbia are all part of the
network of Albanian and Kosovo Albanian families who
control criminal networks in Switzerland, Austria,
Germany and elsewhere,'' said a Western intelligence
official in the province.
"Albanians account for up to 90% of our problems with
drugs and drug dealings,'' said Thomas Koeppel, a
senior Swiss police official involved in the drug war.
Norwegian police made their country's largest heroin
haul last month, arresting three former KLA
guerrillas.
This month, the Drugs Investigative Committee in
Bavaria announced seven Albanians at the centre of a
drug ring that spanned Europe had been arrested in a
multinational operation. The haul included 55
kilograms en route to Scandinavia, via Italy, Austria
and Switzerland.
The smugglers had already moved at least 90 kilograms
to other suppliers.
Albanian extremists from Macedonia and Kosovo have
used part of the profits to buy new weapons since last
October. They have used arms dealers in Belgrade,
Bulgaria, Macedonia and Bosnia, and sometimes also
Swiss and Serb middle men.
Western defence intelligence officials say many of the
weapons have been smuggled into northern Macedonia and
Albania.
Arms trade experts say the deals include at least 20
SA-18 and SA-7 shoulder-held anti-aircraft missile
systems.
The missiles could tip the balance of the dormant
conflict in Macedonia by giving rebels the ability to
shoot down the Macedonian army's Mi-24 Hind helicopter
gunships and Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack jets
The rest of the weapons on the Albanians' shopping
list include Chinese and Yugoslav 120mm and 82mm
mortars, Yugoslav RBR M79 anti-tank rockets,
large-calibre machine guns, grenade launchers, up to
1,500 assault rifles, high-calibre M93 sniper rifles
and millions of rounds of ammunition.
Military experts believe this is enough to arm a force
of up to 2,000.
Thousands of Albanian rebels from the National
Liberation Army (NLA) in Macedonia handed their
weapons over to NATO troops last fall after seven
months of fighting with Macedonian government forces.
The disarmament program was part of an internationally
sponsored peace deal designed to head off the prospect
of a fifth Balkan war.
Although rebel leaders from the former NLA have
renounced violence, a hardline breakaway element
calling itself the Albanian National Army has
threatened more trouble this spring.
Croazia/Slovenia: se li vedesse Tito...
(english / italiano)
=== ITALIANO ===
http://www.ansa.it/balcani/slovenia/slovenia.shtml
http://www.ansa.it/balcani/croazia/croazia.shtml
SLOVENIA-CROAZIA: LUBIANA INSISTE PER CORRIDOIO MARITTIMO
(ANSA) - LUBIANA, 28 AGO
SLOVENIA-CROAZIA: LUBIANA RICHIAMA AMBASCIATORE A ZAGABRIA
(ANSA) - LUBIANA, 01 SET
SLOVENIA-CROAZIA: TENSIONI PER ZONA ECONOMICA E FRONTIERA
(ANSA) - LUBIANA, 1 SET
CROAZIA-SLOVENIA: NESSUNA SCHIARITA PER ZONA ADRIATICO/ ANSA
(ANSA) - ZAGABRIA, 2 SET - L'accesso della Slovenia alle acque
internazionali e l'annuncio della zona economica che la Croazia vuole
proclamare nell'Adriatico entro la fine dell'anno, hanno provocato la
piu' grave crisi nei rapporti tra Lubiana e Zagabria dalla loro
indipendenza nel 1991, arrivando al richiamo ''per consultazioni''
dell'ambasciatore sloveno a Zagabria. L'annuncio della zona
economica, istituita probabilmente insieme all'Italia, aveva gia'
provocato nelle scorse settimane quella che e' stata definita una
"guerra delle note diplomatiche'' per le proteste di Lubiana secondo
cui non e' possibile la proclamazione di una tale area senza il
contributo di tutti i paesi interessati. A far scattare il
richiamo dell'ambasciatore sloveno sono state le dichiarazioni del
ministro degli esteri croato Tonino Picula, pubblicate domenica sul
quotidiano di Spalato 'Slobodna Dalmacija'. ''La Slovenia - ha detto
Picula - non ha uno sbocco diretto alle acque internazionali e
l'accordo sulla frontiera (marittima, ndr) siglato nel 2001 non ha
alcun effetto legale''. Picula si riferiva all'accordo raggiunto
dai primi ministri dei due paesi nel 2001, approvato dal parlamento
sloveno ma che, per opposizione dell'opinione pubblica, non e' mai
stato nemmeno presentato al parlamento croato. Spiegando ieri la
decisione di richiamare l'ambasciatore a Zagabria, il ministro degli
esteri sloveno Dimitri Rupel ha detto che ''le dicharazioni di Picula
potrebbero provocare un reale peggioramento dei rapporti
sloveno-croati'' ed ha aggiunto che Lubiana ''sta pensando di
riconsiderare il proprio appoggio all'ingresso della Croazia nella
Nato e nell'Unione europea''. Curiosamente, quasi come se non
riconoscesse l'autorita' del ministro degli esteri, il premier croato
Ivica Racan ha dichiarato stasera di voler sperare che dietro le
dichiarazioni di Rupel non corrispondano all'atteggiamento dei
cittadini e del governo sloveno e che il ''suon delle armi politiche
e' estremamente inappropriato'', auspicando che si tratti di un
malinteso che si possa rapidamente chiarire. Ieri, il presidente
croato Stipe Mesic aveva espresso il suo ''sincero rammarico'',
mentre il ministro Picula ha soltanto ribadito che nelle sue
dichiarazioni non ha detto ''nulla che non fosse gia' noto''. Fonti
del governo hanno fatto sapere di essere ''spiacevolmente sorprese
per le dichiarazioni smisurate e senza fondamento e per il tono
radicalmente litigioso di Rupel'' aggiungendo che per quanto riguarda
la zona economica nell'Adriatico non e' stata ancora presa una
decisone ufficiale e che ''la questione e' oggetto di seri colloqui
con i paesi vicini''. A fine luglio, durante un incontro a
Zagabria tra i sottosegretari agli esteri Roberto Antonione e Ivan
Simonovic, l'Italia e la Croazia hanno discusso della tutela delle
risorse ambientali ed economiche dell'Adriatico e dell'ipotesi di una
zona economica che porterebbe ai due paesi il controllo della
navigazione e il diritto di stabilire le quote di pesca nelle
rispettive zone. Il presidente della Regione Friuli-Venezia
Giulia Riccardo Illy, in visita oggi a Lubiana, ha sostenuto le
ragioni di Lubiana affermando la necessita' di preservare ''una
fascia di acque internazionali in Adriatico e la libera circolazione
di tutte le navi di qualunque Paese''. Dopo l'incontro con Illy,
Rupel ha lanciato una proposta alla Croazia di proclamare ''una zona
ecologica comune nell'Adriatico che non ha bisogno di frontiere''.
(ANSA) COR*VD 02/09/2003 20:01
=== ENGLISH ===
Da: Rick Rozoff
Data: Lun 1 Set 2003 21:25:41 Europe/Rome
A: antinato@...
Oggetto: [yugoslaviainfo] Slovenia Balks At Croatian Attempt To 'Damage
Its Strategic Interests'
http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/af/Qslovenia-croatia.RmVZ_DS1.html
Slovenia threatens to drop support for Croatia's EU
bid over Adriatic row
-Croatia and Italy propose to divide the Adriatic Sea
bordering their territorial waters into two exclusive
economic zones, leaving Slovenia without direct access
to international shipping waters leading to the
Mediterranean.
The two former Yugoslav states have since independence
in 1991 been locked in a dispute over their shared
border at Piran Bay on the Adriatic.
-Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula was quoted in
the press here Sunday as saying the 2001 deal on the
Adriatic was dead and Slovenia should accept it has no
direct access to international shipping waters.
LJUBLJANA, Sept 1 (AFP) - Slovenia on Monday
threatened to withdraw its support for Croatia's
European Union aspirations in response to Zagreb's
plans to proclaim an exclusive economic zone in the
Adriatic Sea.
"We are coming to the point at which Slovenia will
have to re-consider its policy (of backing Croatia's
accession to the EU)", Slovenian Foreign Minister
Dimitrij Rupel said.
The Slovenian government on Sunday recalled its
ambassador to Zagreb, Peter Bekes, "for consultations"
amid outrage at Croatia's plans to lay claim to a
large part of the Adriatic.
Croatia and Italy propose to divide the Adriatic Sea
bordering their territorial waters into two exclusive
economic zones, leaving Slovenia without direct access
to international shipping waters leading to the
Mediterranean.
This has brought to a head a long-standing row between
Croatia and Slovenia over access to the Adriatic.
The two former Yugoslav states have since independence
in 1991 been locked in a dispute over their shared
border at Piran Bay on the Adriatic.
The two governments reached a deal in 2001 that
granted Slovenia direct access to international
shipping waters in the Adriatic, but this was later
rejected by the Croatian parliament.
Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula was quoted in
the press here Sunday as saying the 2001 deal on the
Adriatic was dead and Slovenia should accept it has no
direct access to international shipping waters.
Slovenia, which is set to join the EU in May 2004, had
so far supported Croatia's bid to join the bloc in the
next wave of enlargement.
But Rupel Monday accused Zagreb of trying to damage
Slovenia's strategic interests.
"That is an attempt to damage Slovenia's economic and
political interests and creating complicated relations
on the border between the enlarged EU and Croatia," he
said.
"The Croatian minister's statements are unacceptable
and could provoke a serious worsening in relations,"
he added.
Rupel said experts from both countries are expected to
meet in Ljubljana on September 16 to discuss the
matter.
Slovenia's coastline is just over 42 kilometres (26
miles) long, while Croatia's is more than 1,000
kilometres (600 miles) long.
---
Croatian government won't react yet to attacks from Slovenia
http://www.hina.hr/nws-bin/genews.cgi?TOP=ehot&NID=ehot/politika/
H9019243.2yc
CROATIAN GOVERNMENT WON'T REACT YET TO ATTACKS FROM SLOVENIA
HNA
HR-POLITICS-Politika
ZAGREB, Sept 1 (Hina) - The Croatian government will not react to
the latest attacks from Slovenia today, while the foreign ministry
will most likely define its stand on Tuesday, after Ljubljana has
officially notified Zagreb, a source at the government said on Monday.
#L#
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said the diplomatic
corps was likely to be convened at the foreign ministry in the coming
days to be briefed about Croatia's standpoints.
Earlier today, Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said his
Croatian counterpart Tonino Picula's claims that Slovenia did not have
access to the open sea and that a border deal was legally invalid were
"unacceptable" and could deteriorate relations between the two
countries.
Rupel went on to say that Slovenia might reconsider its support to
Croatia's bids to join the European Union and NATO.
The source at the Croatian government said the government had been
"unpleasantly surprised by the unfounded, tactless and radically
quarrelsome tone of Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel's
statements".
The Croatian government "wishes to believe that this is not the
stance of the Slovene government, and the Croatian government doesn't
want to participate in such a quarrel," said the source. It added the
proclamation of an economic zone in the Adriatic was a matter for
serious discussion, something Slovenia had been refusing for the past
two months by offering talks at the expert level or a row.
(hina) ha sb
ISSN 1334-0034 / Masthead / © Copyright Hina 2003. All rights reserved
---
Da: Rick Rozoff
Data: Mar 2 Set 2003 18:03:20 Europe/Rome
Oggetto: [yugoslaviainfo] Slovenia Recalls Ambassador In Coastal
Dispute With Croatia
http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2003/09/4-SEE/see-020903.asp
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
September 2, 2003
SLOVENIA RECALLS ITS AMBASSADOR FROM CROATIA
-Croatia is planning to declare an exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) in the Adriatic that would cut Slovenia off
from international waters.
The Slovenian Foreign Ministry announced on 31 August
that it has recalled its ambassador to Croatia "for
consultations," RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian
Languages Service reported. Foreign Minister Dimitrij
Rupel said the next day that remarks made by his
Croatian counterpart, Tonino Picula, to the daily
"Slobodna Dalmacija" to the effect that the 2001
agreement on the maritime and land borders between the
two countries has not been signed or ratified and
hence is not legally binding, were unacceptable.
Croatia is planning to declare an exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) in the Adriatic that would cut Slovenia off
from international waters. Ljubljana opposes the move
on the grounds that it will prejudice the final
demarcation of the maritime frontier). The recall of
the Slovenian ambassador suggests that relations
between the two former Yugoslav republics are at their
lowest point since the two states declared
independence from Belgrade in June 1991. PM
Da: Rick Rozoff
Data: Mer 3 Set 2003 11:47:27 Europe/Rome
Oggetto: Croatia, Slovenia: Balkans NATO Aspirants Heading Toward
Border War?
1) Slovenia Balks At Croatian Attempt To 'Damage Its
Strategic Interests'
2) Slovenia Recalls Ambassador In Coastal Dispute With
Croatia
3) Croatian Government Says It Won't React To 'Attacks
From Slovenia'; Slovenia Threatens To Thwart Croatia's
NATO, EU Memberships
http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/af/Qslovenia-croatia.RmVZ_DS1.html
Slovenia threatens to drop support for Croatia's EU
bid over Adriatic row
-Croatia and Italy propose to divide the Adriatic Sea
bordering their territorial waters into two exclusive
economic zones, leaving Slovenia without direct access
to international shipping waters leading to the
Mediterranean.
The two former Yugoslav states have since independence
in 1991 been locked in a dispute over their shared
border at Piran Bay on the Adriatic.
-Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula was quoted in
the press here Sunday as saying the 2001 deal on the
Adriatic was dead and Slovenia should accept it has no
direct access to international shipping waters.
LJUBLJANA, Sept 1 (AFP) - Slovenia on Monday
threatened to withdraw its support for Croatia's
European Union aspirations in response to Zagreb's
plans to proclaim an exclusive economic zone in the
Adriatic Sea.
"We are coming to the point at which Slovenia will
have to re-consider its policy (of backing Croatia's
accession to the EU)", Slovenian Foreign Minister
Dimitrij Rupel said.
The Slovenian government on Sunday recalled its
ambassador to Zagreb, Peter Bekes, "for consultations"
amid outrage at Croatia's plans to lay claim to a
large part of the Adriatic.
Croatia and Italy propose to divide the Adriatic Sea
bordering their territorial waters into two exclusive
economic zones, leaving Slovenia without direct access
to international shipping waters leading to the
Mediterranean.
This has brought to a head a long-standing row between
Croatia and Slovenia over access to the Adriatic.
The two former Yugoslav states have since independence
in 1991 been locked in a dispute over their shared
border at Piran Bay on the Adriatic.
The two governments reached a deal in 2001 that
granted Slovenia direct access to international
shipping waters in the Adriatic, but this was later
rejected by the Croatian parliament.
Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula was quoted in
the press here Sunday as saying the 2001 deal on the
Adriatic was dead and Slovenia should accept it has no
direct access to international shipping waters.
Slovenia, which is set to join the EU in May 2004, had
so far supported Croatia's bid to join the bloc in the
next wave of enlargement.
But Rupel Monday accused Zagreb of trying to damage
Slovenia's strategic interests.
"That is an attempt to damage Slovenia's economic and
political interests and creating complicated relations
on the border between the enlarged EU and Croatia," he
said.
"The Croatian minister's statements are unacceptable
and could provoke a serious worsening in relations,"
he added.
Rupel said experts from both countries are expected to
meet in Ljubljana on September 16 to discuss the
matter.
Slovenia's coastline is just over 42 kilometres (26
miles) long, while Croatia's is more than 1,000
kilometres (600 miles) long.
-------------------------------------------------------
http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2003/09/4-SEE/see-020903.asp
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
September 2, 2003
SLOVENIA RECALLS ITS AMBASSADOR FROM CROATIA
-Croatia is planning to declare an exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) in the Adriatic that would cut Slovenia off
from international waters.
The Slovenian Foreign Ministry announced on 31 August
that it has recalled its ambassador to Croatia "for
consultations," RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian
Languages Service reported. Foreign Minister Dimitrij
Rupel said the next day that remarks made by his
Croatian counterpart, Tonino Picula, to the daily
"Slobodna Dalmacija" to the effect that the 2001
agreement on the maritime and land borders between the
two countries has not been signed or ratified and
hence is not legally binding, were unacceptable.
Croatia is planning to declare an exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) in the Adriatic that would cut Slovenia off
from international waters. Ljubljana opposes the move
on the grounds that it will prejudice the final
demarcation of the maritime frontier). The recall of
the Slovenian ambassador suggests that relations
between the two former Yugoslav republics are at their
lowest point since the two states declared
independence from Belgrade in June 1991. PM
-------------------------------------------------------
http://www.seeurope.net/en/Story.php?StoryID=43130&LangID=1
Seeurope.net
September 3, 2003
Croatian Gov’t Won't React Yet To Attacks From
Slovenia
-Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said his
Croatian counterpart Tonino Picula's claims that
Slovenia did not have access to the open sea and that
a border deal was legally invalid were "unacceptable"
and could deteriorate relations between the two
countries.
Rupel went on to say that Slovenia might reconsider
its support to Croatia's bids to join the European
Union and NATO, HINA reported.
The Croatian government will not react to the latest
attacks from Slovenia on Monday, while the foreign
ministry will most likely define its stand on Tuesday,
after Ljubljana has officially notified Zagreb, a
source at the government said on Monday.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said
the diplomatic corps was likely to be convened at the
foreign ministry in the coming days to be briefed
about Croatia's standpoints.
Earlier on Monady, Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij
Rupel said his Croatian counterpart Tonino Picula's
claims that Slovenia did not have access to the open
sea and that a border deal was legally invalid were
"unacceptable" and could deteriorate relations between
the two countries.
Rupel went on to say that Slovenia might reconsider
its support to Croatia's bids to join the European
Union and NATO, HINA reported.
The source at the Croatian government said the
government had been "unpleasantly surprised by the
unfounded, tactless and radically quarrelsome tone of
Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel's statements".
The Croatian government "wishes to believe that this
is not the stance of the Slovene government, and the
Croatian government doesn't want to participate in
such a quarrel," said the source. It added the
proclamation of an economic zone in the Adriatic was a
matter for serious discussion, something Slovenia had
been refusing for the past two months by offering
talks at the expert level or a row.
(english / italiano)
=== ITALIANO ===
http://www.ansa.it/balcani/slovenia/slovenia.shtml
http://www.ansa.it/balcani/croazia/croazia.shtml
SLOVENIA-CROAZIA: LUBIANA INSISTE PER CORRIDOIO MARITTIMO
(ANSA) - LUBIANA, 28 AGO
SLOVENIA-CROAZIA: LUBIANA RICHIAMA AMBASCIATORE A ZAGABRIA
(ANSA) - LUBIANA, 01 SET
SLOVENIA-CROAZIA: TENSIONI PER ZONA ECONOMICA E FRONTIERA
(ANSA) - LUBIANA, 1 SET
CROAZIA-SLOVENIA: NESSUNA SCHIARITA PER ZONA ADRIATICO/ ANSA
(ANSA) - ZAGABRIA, 2 SET - L'accesso della Slovenia alle acque
internazionali e l'annuncio della zona economica che la Croazia vuole
proclamare nell'Adriatico entro la fine dell'anno, hanno provocato la
piu' grave crisi nei rapporti tra Lubiana e Zagabria dalla loro
indipendenza nel 1991, arrivando al richiamo ''per consultazioni''
dell'ambasciatore sloveno a Zagabria. L'annuncio della zona
economica, istituita probabilmente insieme all'Italia, aveva gia'
provocato nelle scorse settimane quella che e' stata definita una
"guerra delle note diplomatiche'' per le proteste di Lubiana secondo
cui non e' possibile la proclamazione di una tale area senza il
contributo di tutti i paesi interessati. A far scattare il
richiamo dell'ambasciatore sloveno sono state le dichiarazioni del
ministro degli esteri croato Tonino Picula, pubblicate domenica sul
quotidiano di Spalato 'Slobodna Dalmacija'. ''La Slovenia - ha detto
Picula - non ha uno sbocco diretto alle acque internazionali e
l'accordo sulla frontiera (marittima, ndr) siglato nel 2001 non ha
alcun effetto legale''. Picula si riferiva all'accordo raggiunto
dai primi ministri dei due paesi nel 2001, approvato dal parlamento
sloveno ma che, per opposizione dell'opinione pubblica, non e' mai
stato nemmeno presentato al parlamento croato. Spiegando ieri la
decisione di richiamare l'ambasciatore a Zagabria, il ministro degli
esteri sloveno Dimitri Rupel ha detto che ''le dicharazioni di Picula
potrebbero provocare un reale peggioramento dei rapporti
sloveno-croati'' ed ha aggiunto che Lubiana ''sta pensando di
riconsiderare il proprio appoggio all'ingresso della Croazia nella
Nato e nell'Unione europea''. Curiosamente, quasi come se non
riconoscesse l'autorita' del ministro degli esteri, il premier croato
Ivica Racan ha dichiarato stasera di voler sperare che dietro le
dichiarazioni di Rupel non corrispondano all'atteggiamento dei
cittadini e del governo sloveno e che il ''suon delle armi politiche
e' estremamente inappropriato'', auspicando che si tratti di un
malinteso che si possa rapidamente chiarire. Ieri, il presidente
croato Stipe Mesic aveva espresso il suo ''sincero rammarico'',
mentre il ministro Picula ha soltanto ribadito che nelle sue
dichiarazioni non ha detto ''nulla che non fosse gia' noto''. Fonti
del governo hanno fatto sapere di essere ''spiacevolmente sorprese
per le dichiarazioni smisurate e senza fondamento e per il tono
radicalmente litigioso di Rupel'' aggiungendo che per quanto riguarda
la zona economica nell'Adriatico non e' stata ancora presa una
decisone ufficiale e che ''la questione e' oggetto di seri colloqui
con i paesi vicini''. A fine luglio, durante un incontro a
Zagabria tra i sottosegretari agli esteri Roberto Antonione e Ivan
Simonovic, l'Italia e la Croazia hanno discusso della tutela delle
risorse ambientali ed economiche dell'Adriatico e dell'ipotesi di una
zona economica che porterebbe ai due paesi il controllo della
navigazione e il diritto di stabilire le quote di pesca nelle
rispettive zone. Il presidente della Regione Friuli-Venezia
Giulia Riccardo Illy, in visita oggi a Lubiana, ha sostenuto le
ragioni di Lubiana affermando la necessita' di preservare ''una
fascia di acque internazionali in Adriatico e la libera circolazione
di tutte le navi di qualunque Paese''. Dopo l'incontro con Illy,
Rupel ha lanciato una proposta alla Croazia di proclamare ''una zona
ecologica comune nell'Adriatico che non ha bisogno di frontiere''.
(ANSA) COR*VD 02/09/2003 20:01
=== ENGLISH ===
Da: Rick Rozoff
Data: Lun 1 Set 2003 21:25:41 Europe/Rome
A: antinato@...
Oggetto: [yugoslaviainfo] Slovenia Balks At Croatian Attempt To 'Damage
Its Strategic Interests'
http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/af/Qslovenia-croatia.RmVZ_DS1.html
Slovenia threatens to drop support for Croatia's EU
bid over Adriatic row
-Croatia and Italy propose to divide the Adriatic Sea
bordering their territorial waters into two exclusive
economic zones, leaving Slovenia without direct access
to international shipping waters leading to the
Mediterranean.
The two former Yugoslav states have since independence
in 1991 been locked in a dispute over their shared
border at Piran Bay on the Adriatic.
-Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula was quoted in
the press here Sunday as saying the 2001 deal on the
Adriatic was dead and Slovenia should accept it has no
direct access to international shipping waters.
LJUBLJANA, Sept 1 (AFP) - Slovenia on Monday
threatened to withdraw its support for Croatia's
European Union aspirations in response to Zagreb's
plans to proclaim an exclusive economic zone in the
Adriatic Sea.
"We are coming to the point at which Slovenia will
have to re-consider its policy (of backing Croatia's
accession to the EU)", Slovenian Foreign Minister
Dimitrij Rupel said.
The Slovenian government on Sunday recalled its
ambassador to Zagreb, Peter Bekes, "for consultations"
amid outrage at Croatia's plans to lay claim to a
large part of the Adriatic.
Croatia and Italy propose to divide the Adriatic Sea
bordering their territorial waters into two exclusive
economic zones, leaving Slovenia without direct access
to international shipping waters leading to the
Mediterranean.
This has brought to a head a long-standing row between
Croatia and Slovenia over access to the Adriatic.
The two former Yugoslav states have since independence
in 1991 been locked in a dispute over their shared
border at Piran Bay on the Adriatic.
The two governments reached a deal in 2001 that
granted Slovenia direct access to international
shipping waters in the Adriatic, but this was later
rejected by the Croatian parliament.
Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula was quoted in
the press here Sunday as saying the 2001 deal on the
Adriatic was dead and Slovenia should accept it has no
direct access to international shipping waters.
Slovenia, which is set to join the EU in May 2004, had
so far supported Croatia's bid to join the bloc in the
next wave of enlargement.
But Rupel Monday accused Zagreb of trying to damage
Slovenia's strategic interests.
"That is an attempt to damage Slovenia's economic and
political interests and creating complicated relations
on the border between the enlarged EU and Croatia," he
said.
"The Croatian minister's statements are unacceptable
and could provoke a serious worsening in relations,"
he added.
Rupel said experts from both countries are expected to
meet in Ljubljana on September 16 to discuss the
matter.
Slovenia's coastline is just over 42 kilometres (26
miles) long, while Croatia's is more than 1,000
kilometres (600 miles) long.
---
Croatian government won't react yet to attacks from Slovenia
http://www.hina.hr/nws-bin/genews.cgi?TOP=ehot&NID=ehot/politika/
H9019243.2yc
CROATIAN GOVERNMENT WON'T REACT YET TO ATTACKS FROM SLOVENIA
HNA
HR-POLITICS-Politika
ZAGREB, Sept 1 (Hina) - The Croatian government will not react to
the latest attacks from Slovenia today, while the foreign ministry
will most likely define its stand on Tuesday, after Ljubljana has
officially notified Zagreb, a source at the government said on Monday.
#L#
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said the diplomatic
corps was likely to be convened at the foreign ministry in the coming
days to be briefed about Croatia's standpoints.
Earlier today, Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said his
Croatian counterpart Tonino Picula's claims that Slovenia did not have
access to the open sea and that a border deal was legally invalid were
"unacceptable" and could deteriorate relations between the two
countries.
Rupel went on to say that Slovenia might reconsider its support to
Croatia's bids to join the European Union and NATO.
The source at the Croatian government said the government had been
"unpleasantly surprised by the unfounded, tactless and radically
quarrelsome tone of Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel's
statements".
The Croatian government "wishes to believe that this is not the
stance of the Slovene government, and the Croatian government doesn't
want to participate in such a quarrel," said the source. It added the
proclamation of an economic zone in the Adriatic was a matter for
serious discussion, something Slovenia had been refusing for the past
two months by offering talks at the expert level or a row.
(hina) ha sb
ISSN 1334-0034 / Masthead / © Copyright Hina 2003. All rights reserved
---
Da: Rick Rozoff
Data: Mar 2 Set 2003 18:03:20 Europe/Rome
Oggetto: [yugoslaviainfo] Slovenia Recalls Ambassador In Coastal
Dispute With Croatia
http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2003/09/4-SEE/see-020903.asp
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
September 2, 2003
SLOVENIA RECALLS ITS AMBASSADOR FROM CROATIA
-Croatia is planning to declare an exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) in the Adriatic that would cut Slovenia off
from international waters.
The Slovenian Foreign Ministry announced on 31 August
that it has recalled its ambassador to Croatia "for
consultations," RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian
Languages Service reported. Foreign Minister Dimitrij
Rupel said the next day that remarks made by his
Croatian counterpart, Tonino Picula, to the daily
"Slobodna Dalmacija" to the effect that the 2001
agreement on the maritime and land borders between the
two countries has not been signed or ratified and
hence is not legally binding, were unacceptable.
Croatia is planning to declare an exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) in the Adriatic that would cut Slovenia off
from international waters. Ljubljana opposes the move
on the grounds that it will prejudice the final
demarcation of the maritime frontier). The recall of
the Slovenian ambassador suggests that relations
between the two former Yugoslav republics are at their
lowest point since the two states declared
independence from Belgrade in June 1991. PM
Da: Rick Rozoff
Data: Mer 3 Set 2003 11:47:27 Europe/Rome
Oggetto: Croatia, Slovenia: Balkans NATO Aspirants Heading Toward
Border War?
1) Slovenia Balks At Croatian Attempt To 'Damage Its
Strategic Interests'
2) Slovenia Recalls Ambassador In Coastal Dispute With
Croatia
3) Croatian Government Says It Won't React To 'Attacks
From Slovenia'; Slovenia Threatens To Thwart Croatia's
NATO, EU Memberships
http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/af/Qslovenia-croatia.RmVZ_DS1.html
Slovenia threatens to drop support for Croatia's EU
bid over Adriatic row
-Croatia and Italy propose to divide the Adriatic Sea
bordering their territorial waters into two exclusive
economic zones, leaving Slovenia without direct access
to international shipping waters leading to the
Mediterranean.
The two former Yugoslav states have since independence
in 1991 been locked in a dispute over their shared
border at Piran Bay on the Adriatic.
-Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula was quoted in
the press here Sunday as saying the 2001 deal on the
Adriatic was dead and Slovenia should accept it has no
direct access to international shipping waters.
LJUBLJANA, Sept 1 (AFP) - Slovenia on Monday
threatened to withdraw its support for Croatia's
European Union aspirations in response to Zagreb's
plans to proclaim an exclusive economic zone in the
Adriatic Sea.
"We are coming to the point at which Slovenia will
have to re-consider its policy (of backing Croatia's
accession to the EU)", Slovenian Foreign Minister
Dimitrij Rupel said.
The Slovenian government on Sunday recalled its
ambassador to Zagreb, Peter Bekes, "for consultations"
amid outrage at Croatia's plans to lay claim to a
large part of the Adriatic.
Croatia and Italy propose to divide the Adriatic Sea
bordering their territorial waters into two exclusive
economic zones, leaving Slovenia without direct access
to international shipping waters leading to the
Mediterranean.
This has brought to a head a long-standing row between
Croatia and Slovenia over access to the Adriatic.
The two former Yugoslav states have since independence
in 1991 been locked in a dispute over their shared
border at Piran Bay on the Adriatic.
The two governments reached a deal in 2001 that
granted Slovenia direct access to international
shipping waters in the Adriatic, but this was later
rejected by the Croatian parliament.
Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula was quoted in
the press here Sunday as saying the 2001 deal on the
Adriatic was dead and Slovenia should accept it has no
direct access to international shipping waters.
Slovenia, which is set to join the EU in May 2004, had
so far supported Croatia's bid to join the bloc in the
next wave of enlargement.
But Rupel Monday accused Zagreb of trying to damage
Slovenia's strategic interests.
"That is an attempt to damage Slovenia's economic and
political interests and creating complicated relations
on the border between the enlarged EU and Croatia," he
said.
"The Croatian minister's statements are unacceptable
and could provoke a serious worsening in relations,"
he added.
Rupel said experts from both countries are expected to
meet in Ljubljana on September 16 to discuss the
matter.
Slovenia's coastline is just over 42 kilometres (26
miles) long, while Croatia's is more than 1,000
kilometres (600 miles) long.
-------------------------------------------------------
http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2003/09/4-SEE/see-020903.asp
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
September 2, 2003
SLOVENIA RECALLS ITS AMBASSADOR FROM CROATIA
-Croatia is planning to declare an exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) in the Adriatic that would cut Slovenia off
from international waters.
The Slovenian Foreign Ministry announced on 31 August
that it has recalled its ambassador to Croatia "for
consultations," RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian
Languages Service reported. Foreign Minister Dimitrij
Rupel said the next day that remarks made by his
Croatian counterpart, Tonino Picula, to the daily
"Slobodna Dalmacija" to the effect that the 2001
agreement on the maritime and land borders between the
two countries has not been signed or ratified and
hence is not legally binding, were unacceptable.
Croatia is planning to declare an exclusive economic
zone (EEZ) in the Adriatic that would cut Slovenia off
from international waters. Ljubljana opposes the move
on the grounds that it will prejudice the final
demarcation of the maritime frontier). The recall of
the Slovenian ambassador suggests that relations
between the two former Yugoslav republics are at their
lowest point since the two states declared
independence from Belgrade in June 1991. PM
-------------------------------------------------------
http://www.seeurope.net/en/Story.php?StoryID=43130&LangID=1
Seeurope.net
September 3, 2003
Croatian Gov’t Won't React Yet To Attacks From
Slovenia
-Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said his
Croatian counterpart Tonino Picula's claims that
Slovenia did not have access to the open sea and that
a border deal was legally invalid were "unacceptable"
and could deteriorate relations between the two
countries.
Rupel went on to say that Slovenia might reconsider
its support to Croatia's bids to join the European
Union and NATO, HINA reported.
The Croatian government will not react to the latest
attacks from Slovenia on Monday, while the foreign
ministry will most likely define its stand on Tuesday,
after Ljubljana has officially notified Zagreb, a
source at the government said on Monday.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said
the diplomatic corps was likely to be convened at the
foreign ministry in the coming days to be briefed
about Croatia's standpoints.
Earlier on Monady, Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij
Rupel said his Croatian counterpart Tonino Picula's
claims that Slovenia did not have access to the open
sea and that a border deal was legally invalid were
"unacceptable" and could deteriorate relations between
the two countries.
Rupel went on to say that Slovenia might reconsider
its support to Croatia's bids to join the European
Union and NATO, HINA reported.
The source at the Croatian government said the
government had been "unpleasantly surprised by the
unfounded, tactless and radically quarrelsome tone of
Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel's statements".
The Croatian government "wishes to believe that this
is not the stance of the Slovene government, and the
Croatian government doesn't want to participate in
such a quarrel," said the source. It added the
proclamation of an economic zone in the Adriatic was a
matter for serious discussion, something Slovenia had
been refusing for the past two months by offering
talks at the expert level or a row.
Trasversale verde / ZeTra
1. SERBIA: SERBS LEAVING SANDZAK
(IWPR No. 353, July 26, 2002)
2. At danger point
Interview with Dusan Janjic, Chairman of the Forum for Ethnic
Relations - Vecernje Novosti, September 29, 2002
3. French diplomacy keeps dealing with separatist leader
(Tanjug Nov. 28, 2002)
4. "Bosniaks" (i.e. slav muslims extremist leaderships) in Sandzak
region seek "recognition" (i.e. secession)
(Links to pro-separatist propaganda by Radio Free Europe, November 2002)
5. AUGUST 2003: TENSION RISES
Various links and dispatches
=== 1 ===
IWPR'S BALKAN CRISIS REPORT, No. 353, July 26, 2002
SERBIA: SERBS LEAVING SANDZAK
Departure of Serbs from Sandzak believed to be triggered by policies of
Bosniak nationalists
By IWPR staff in London
Serbs are beginning to leave the predominantly Muslim Sandzak region of
south-west Serbia after losing public sector jobs, local Serb
representatives say.
Some Serbs estimate that around 1,000 members of the community in the
largest town in the region, Novi Pazar, have left over the last couple
of years. New For Sale signs appear on Serb homes and land throughout
the region almost daily.
More departures could have serious implications for the stability of
the country, with some predicting a possible nationalist Serb backlash.
The exodus is believed to have been prompted by the predominantly
Muslim Party of Democratic Action, SDA, which has dismissed Serb
managers in state companies and local authorities since coming to power
two years ago.
Federal Minister for National and Ethnic Communities Rasim Ljajic, who
leads the moderate Bosniak Coalition for Sandzak, told IWPR that "th
reasons for Serb departures are economic but one certainly shouldn't
overlook other reasons linked to the actions of the SDA."
Head of the Serbian Radical Party, SRS, municipal committee Milan
Veselinovic is more blunt, "The extremist statements and actions of the
SDA have resulted in a situation in which over 70 Serb houses in the
very centre of Novi Pazar have been sold in the past two years. There
the Serb proportion of the population has dropped from 22 to around 17
per cent."
The SDA led by Sulejman Ugljanin has long called for Sandzak to be made
a republic and in the past prominent party members have also talked of
secession from Serbia and annexation to Bosnia.
Widely-publicised statements made by Ugljanin in the 1990s include "the
Muslims are well-armed, they just lack tanks" (Globus, October 1992)
and "Sandzak would become a new, Muslim autonomous region in Serbia
that will even secede" (Novosti, November 1990).
This was a period when convoys of Bosniaks - which is how local Muslims
describe themselves - were fleeing Sandzak for Sarajevo or Turkey,
fearing that the war in neighbouring Bosnia would spread and they would
be targeted by the Milosevic regime.
However, while there is no longer public talk of a republic,
Milosevic's fall in 2000 and a general change in Belgrade's policy
direction does not appear to have done much to alter SDA thinking.
In June this year, a public statement from a session of the regional
executive body the Bosniak National Council of Sandzak, which has close
links with the SDA, said, "There are no reasons for us to ingratiate
ourselves either to Belgrade or Podgorica, or the international
community because Sandzak must be a separate territorial unit".
Participants at the session also declared that they must not give up on
an illegal referendum held in 1991, in which a clear majority voted for
autonomy.
Serb directors in Novi Pazar to lose their jobs include the head of the
town's culture centre Dusan Raicevic; Raco Vuckovic of the Toplane
heating company; Elektroras director Mile Cvetic; and Miroljub
Djokanovic, director of the firm, Vojin Popovic.
In turn, appointments to local government at the end of 2000 saw
Ugljanin's personal secretary Vasvija Gusinac become mayor of Sandzak,
his brother, Sadik, head of the executive committee and driver, Nedzib
Hodzic, deputy major.
The only Serb in authority, municipal secretary Milijan Belic "is just
for decor and the local Serbs do not recognise him as their
representative," said Radenko Jokovic, head of the United Peoples
Party, SNS, in the Raska district.
Like Ljajic, the head of the Liberal Bosniak Organisation, Kasim
Zoranic, said the major motivation behind the Serb withdrawal was
economic, "The price of real-estate in Novi Pazar is three times higher
than that in other parts of Serbia."
An apartment in Novi Pazar costs approximately 750 euros per square
metre compared with 400 euros in the central Serbian cities of Kraljevo
and Kragujevac.
A Serb who had shifted from Novi Pazar to Kragujevac, and who insisted
on anonymity, agreed that there was a range of motives for Serb
departures.
"There was always some tension felt at work. There was no open
pressure but one could feel insecurity and some kind of fear in the
air. Maybe more a feeling of uncertainty of what could happen and what
the Novi Pazar authorities could do," he said.
"On the other hand the difference in the price of a flat sold in Novi
Pazar and one bought in Kragujevac is quite alluring especially for
those who are in a difficult financial situation."
Whatever lies behind the Serb departures, SDA-ruled local authorities
are showing no interest.
Assistant to the head of the Novi Pazar municipal executive committee
Kimeta Ramovic recently told a Sandzak news agency that they had
neither information nor any comment on the migration.
That local Serbs have lost the backing they enjoyed during Milosevic's
rule has been made clear by the fact that the current Serbian
leadership has not held a single meeting with them since they came to
power.
Such complacency is astonishing as there's a danger that if more Serbs
leave Sandzak, Bosniak nationalists could press for their demands for
autonomy provoking another Balkan crisis.
---
Balkan Crisis Report is supported by the Department for International
Development, the European Commission, the Swedish International
Development and Cooperation Agency, The Netherlands Ministry for
Foreign Affairs, and other funders. IWPR also acknowledges general
support from the Ford Foundation. For more
infos: www.iwpr.net
=== 2 ===
Subject: [yugoslaviainfo] Raska/Sandzak: At Danger Point
Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 19:20:08 -0500 (CDT)
From: Predrag Tosic
To: yugoslaviainfo <Ova adresa el. pošte je zaštićena od spambotova. Omogućite JavaScript da biste je videli.>
[ Raska (pronounced 'Rashka') or Sandzak (pronounced 'Sanjak') is a
region where Serbia and Montenegro meet;
most of Raska's municipalities are on Serbia's side of the border, i.e.
in south-west Serbia. This region traditionally rural,
underdeveloped and ethnically mixed.
Some experts predict it may be the next trouble spot. 'Vecernje
Novosti', a Belgrade daily, published an interview with Dusan Janjic,
an expert on inter-ethnic relation RE.: the current
situations and prospects for the future of the Raska region. The term
'Bosniak' herewith pertains to Slavic Muslims, who speak Serbian or
Serbo-Croatian, and inhabit both south-eastern Serbia and northern
Montenegro; most of this people identify themselves closely with the
Bosnian Muslims, hence the name
(which has not been universally adopted). ]
Vecernje Novosti - September 29, 2002
AT DANGER POINT
Interview with Dusan Janjic, Chairman of
the Forum for Ethnic Relations, by Jelena Jovovic
The promenades and the coffee shops in Sandzak will soon be divided
and it all will happen faster than it did in Bosnia. The first armed
incidents will break out -- political murders. If the authorities do
nothing, Sandzak will flare up in a year.
Dusan Janjic, chairman of the Forum for Ethnic Relations, recently
publicly raised this alarming warning. We asked him to explain his
prediction in more detail for Novosti.
Here is his answer:
"To a great extent, Sandzak today is noting an illegal economy,
organized crime (still on a moderate scale so far), and an extremely
powerful linkage among people in so-called small businesses along the
Novi Pazar-Kosmet-Macedonia-Istanbul axis, inherited from the Milosevic
regime. Within this
mosaic, the major impact of the war environment, the sanctions, and the
flow of big money from abroad have created ideal conditions for the
clash of two extreme ideologies -- Bosniak and Serbian extremism. The
first is on the rise, the second is in decline. Fortunately, that
clash has not yet had bloody consequences, but it is showing a tendency
toward escalation.
Janjic thinks that the previous government consciously encouraged
that situation, but also controlled it with the help of State Security
and the narrow interests of various political elites. That lasted
until 5 October 2000. The DOS victory did not resolve the problem of
a disrupted and dangerous Sandzak and it is still far from resolved.
What Is Government Waiting for?
[Jovovic] Who is responsible for this situation?
[Janjic] Everyone -- especially those whose job it is -- knows that
organized crime has created both political and financial power. The
narrow groups that control enormous amounts of money are getting very
rich. Unfortunately, the republic government did not react seriously
to that problem. Neither is there any control over the flow of money
today. However, there is also no adequate control over weapons,
smuggling, prostitution. . .
[Jovovic] From where, and how, is money reaching Sandzak?
[Janjic] The network of international non-governmental and
humanitarian organizations in this region is very dense. There are
more of them per capita in Novi Pazar than in much larger Belgrade.
Most of them are from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and
the Emirates. . . They appear as para-institutions for the
financing of Bosniak parties and institutions. The Serbian Government
has not done what it should have done here. But it should have
publicly presented information on how much, from where, for what
purpose, and to what addresses money is
reaching Sandzak from non-governmental and humanitarian organizations.
The recent incident at a handball match and the fight after the triumph
of our basketball team in Indianapolis are a serious indicator of a
crisis in Sandzak that can only take on dangerous
dimensions in the next round. Even after these events, the Serbian
Government, unfortunately, has not adopted adequate measures.
Conflict Among Bosniaks
[Jovovic] Which and what kind of measures?
[Janjic] I think that the current situation could still be resolved
through political means. The next crisis will certainly be deeper,
and then everything could escalate. There is also conflict within the
Bosniak community. Sulejman Ugljanin's
and Rasim Ljajic's factions are fighting for domination. Both are
focusing on the status of Sandzak in Serbia, as well as the position of
this region in Yugoslavia -- that is, the future statehood union of
Serbia and Montenegro. That issue is
legitimate, but it has been opened in a mistaken way. In addition,
the solution of a future statehood union absolutely does not suit the
financially stronger groups, primarily
because of unified customs and control over goods and money. Besides
that, Rozaje, Plav, Bijelo Polje -- where there are tensions between
Bosniaks and Albanians -- are also
hot points.
[Jovovic] How might the presidential election in Serbia be
reflected in the circumstances in Sandzak?
[Janjic] The outcome of the presidential election in Serbia could
be the first danger point, and the results of the parliamentary
elections in Montenegro could also influence the
situation here. It is not difficult to guess for whom the members of
ethnic communities in Sandzak will vote. It is more difficult to say
what the state of Serbia will do in this region after Tuesday, when,
perhaps, the new president of Serbia will be known.
Ugljanin Overlooked
"Sandzak has no Hamas or Serbian Eagles, no notorious State
Security from the previous region, and does not even have Milosevic or
the influence of Vojislav Seselj," said Janjic. "But it does have at
least three conditions for a political crisis,
and even violence. Serbia has not imposed serious governmental,
political, and economic reforms here and it is has not dealt fairly
with Ugljanin. It is inexplicable and very problematic how Ugljanin,
as the leader of an important Bosniak political force, was overlooked
in the distribution of
authority in Serbia and bypassed in the parliament and the government.
Then there is the local government here.
Although numerous humanitarian organizations have their missions here,
the local government does not have money to revive and build, but it
does have the mechanisms to adopt statutes, to introduce the Bosniak
language, and to change the flag. In addition to that, nobody must
allow the Serbian community to be punished today because it was formerly
instrumentalized by Milosevic.
=== 3 ===
French ambassador to Yugoslavia meets with Ugljanin
NOVI PAZAR, Nov 28 (Tanjug) - Bosniac National Council of Sandzak
(BNVS) leader Suleiman Ugljanin and French Ambassador to Yugoslavia
Gabriel Keller said on Thursday that the success of the Serbian
presidential elections would contribute to the development of
democratic institutions,
stabilization of the political situation and the continuation of the
democratic reforms. BNSV said in a statement that Ugljanin and Keller
also discussed the position of the Serbian government towards local
self-rule in the Sandzak municipalities, the Constitutional Charter,
problems in the implementation of the minority law and the Dec 8
presidential elections.
=== 4 ===
*** Bosniaks in Sandzak region seek recognition: Part 1
A movement is afoot among Bosniaks in Serbia's ethnically mixed Sandzak
region to hold an internationally supervised referendum on the area's
status. This comes amid occasional violent clashes between Bosniaks and
Serbs and heightened attention from the international community. This
is the first of a two-part report.
Novi Pazar, Serbia; 28 November 2002
by Jolyon Naegele / Radio Free Europe
http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2002/11/28112002155832.asp
*** Sandzak's Bosniaks Search For Identity: Part 2
Sandzak is a restive, multiethnic mountainous region straddling
Serbia's mountainous border with Montenegro and wedged between Bosnia
and Kosovo. Sandzak managed to escape the five wars over the past 11
years elsewhere in ex-Yugoslavia. In this second of a two-part series
on the region, RFE/RL examines how questions of ethnic, linguistic, and
religious identity shape Sandzak and its relations with Sarajevo and
Belgrade.
Novi Pazar, Serbia; 29 November 2002
by Jolyon Naegele / Radio Free Europe
http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2002/11/29112002174948.asp
=== 5 ===
*** Novi Pazar media fail to honor day of mourning
Following the terrorist attack on Serb children in the village of
Gorazdevac by Albanian terrorists, which shocked both domestic and
global public, the government of the Republic of Serbia decided to
proclaim August 15, 2003 an official day of mourning in Serbia.
However, in Novi Pazar some local media failed to honor the decree of
the government of Serbia and are broadcasting their normal programming
including popular and folk music.
Raska District Human Rights Committee
Public communiqué no. 26-08 2003, August 15, 2003
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/decani/message/76594
*** New nationalistic provocations in Novi Pazar
A new incident occurred today in Novi Pazar. At the Novi Pazar-Rad
football match fans of the Novi Pazar team shouted slogans clearly and
directly supporting the act of terrorism by Albanian terrorists a few
days ago. The fans shouted "Hashim Thaci," "KLA, KLA", "Kill the Serb,
kill the Serb," "Independent Kosovo", "This is Turkey," "We will not
give you Kosovo" and many other abusive slogans and songs.
Raska District Human Rights Committee
Public communiqué no. 27-08 2003, August 16, 2003
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/decani/message/76606
---
http://www.b92.net/english/news/index.php?nav_id=24246&style=headlines
B92, August 17, 2003
Border authorities attacked, policeman slightly wounded
NOVI PAZAR -- Sunday -- A policeman suffered minor
injuries last night when an explosion occurred at the
Mehov Krs control and security station close to Novi
Pazar, near the Serbian border with Montenegro.
Speaking to Radio B92, a Novi Pazar Medical Centre
employee said that policeman Boban Stasevic sustained
just scratches to the chest and has been discharged.
Also speaking to B92, Novi Pazar District Court's
investigative judge Milomir Jovicevic said: "Around
10:00 p.m. a person, or persons, threw explosives,
probably homemade bombs, at the police booth.
"After hurling the bombs, the attackers fled in an
unknown direction, leaving the police and customs
booths obviously damaged. Security workers, policemen
and customs officers responded with gunfire and an
investigation has now begun. It is not known who the
attackers are".
http://www.tanjug.co.yu/
EYug.htm#No%20results%20yet%20of%20investigation%20on%20explosion%20at%2
0boundary%20between%20Serbia,%20Montenegro
Tanjug, August 18, 2003
No results yet of investigation on explosion at
boundary between Serbia, Montenegro
20:32 NOVI PAZAR , Aug 18 (Tanjug) - The authorities
have not yet made public any results of the
investigation of the explosion of three bombs Saturday
evening at Mehov Krs, on the boundary between Serbia
and Montenegro.
Police officer Boban Stasevic, who was injured in the
explosion, has been released from hospital, but has
given no statements to the media.
1. SERBIA: SERBS LEAVING SANDZAK
(IWPR No. 353, July 26, 2002)
2. At danger point
Interview with Dusan Janjic, Chairman of the Forum for Ethnic
Relations - Vecernje Novosti, September 29, 2002
3. French diplomacy keeps dealing with separatist leader
(Tanjug Nov. 28, 2002)
4. "Bosniaks" (i.e. slav muslims extremist leaderships) in Sandzak
region seek "recognition" (i.e. secession)
(Links to pro-separatist propaganda by Radio Free Europe, November 2002)
5. AUGUST 2003: TENSION RISES
Various links and dispatches
=== 1 ===
IWPR'S BALKAN CRISIS REPORT, No. 353, July 26, 2002
SERBIA: SERBS LEAVING SANDZAK
Departure of Serbs from Sandzak believed to be triggered by policies of
Bosniak nationalists
By IWPR staff in London
Serbs are beginning to leave the predominantly Muslim Sandzak region of
south-west Serbia after losing public sector jobs, local Serb
representatives say.
Some Serbs estimate that around 1,000 members of the community in the
largest town in the region, Novi Pazar, have left over the last couple
of years. New For Sale signs appear on Serb homes and land throughout
the region almost daily.
More departures could have serious implications for the stability of
the country, with some predicting a possible nationalist Serb backlash.
The exodus is believed to have been prompted by the predominantly
Muslim Party of Democratic Action, SDA, which has dismissed Serb
managers in state companies and local authorities since coming to power
two years ago.
Federal Minister for National and Ethnic Communities Rasim Ljajic, who
leads the moderate Bosniak Coalition for Sandzak, told IWPR that "th
reasons for Serb departures are economic but one certainly shouldn't
overlook other reasons linked to the actions of the SDA."
Head of the Serbian Radical Party, SRS, municipal committee Milan
Veselinovic is more blunt, "The extremist statements and actions of the
SDA have resulted in a situation in which over 70 Serb houses in the
very centre of Novi Pazar have been sold in the past two years. There
the Serb proportion of the population has dropped from 22 to around 17
per cent."
The SDA led by Sulejman Ugljanin has long called for Sandzak to be made
a republic and in the past prominent party members have also talked of
secession from Serbia and annexation to Bosnia.
Widely-publicised statements made by Ugljanin in the 1990s include "the
Muslims are well-armed, they just lack tanks" (Globus, October 1992)
and "Sandzak would become a new, Muslim autonomous region in Serbia
that will even secede" (Novosti, November 1990).
This was a period when convoys of Bosniaks - which is how local Muslims
describe themselves - were fleeing Sandzak for Sarajevo or Turkey,
fearing that the war in neighbouring Bosnia would spread and they would
be targeted by the Milosevic regime.
However, while there is no longer public talk of a republic,
Milosevic's fall in 2000 and a general change in Belgrade's policy
direction does not appear to have done much to alter SDA thinking.
In June this year, a public statement from a session of the regional
executive body the Bosniak National Council of Sandzak, which has close
links with the SDA, said, "There are no reasons for us to ingratiate
ourselves either to Belgrade or Podgorica, or the international
community because Sandzak must be a separate territorial unit".
Participants at the session also declared that they must not give up on
an illegal referendum held in 1991, in which a clear majority voted for
autonomy.
Serb directors in Novi Pazar to lose their jobs include the head of the
town's culture centre Dusan Raicevic; Raco Vuckovic of the Toplane
heating company; Elektroras director Mile Cvetic; and Miroljub
Djokanovic, director of the firm, Vojin Popovic.
In turn, appointments to local government at the end of 2000 saw
Ugljanin's personal secretary Vasvija Gusinac become mayor of Sandzak,
his brother, Sadik, head of the executive committee and driver, Nedzib
Hodzic, deputy major.
The only Serb in authority, municipal secretary Milijan Belic "is just
for decor and the local Serbs do not recognise him as their
representative," said Radenko Jokovic, head of the United Peoples
Party, SNS, in the Raska district.
Like Ljajic, the head of the Liberal Bosniak Organisation, Kasim
Zoranic, said the major motivation behind the Serb withdrawal was
economic, "The price of real-estate in Novi Pazar is three times higher
than that in other parts of Serbia."
An apartment in Novi Pazar costs approximately 750 euros per square
metre compared with 400 euros in the central Serbian cities of Kraljevo
and Kragujevac.
A Serb who had shifted from Novi Pazar to Kragujevac, and who insisted
on anonymity, agreed that there was a range of motives for Serb
departures.
"There was always some tension felt at work. There was no open
pressure but one could feel insecurity and some kind of fear in the
air. Maybe more a feeling of uncertainty of what could happen and what
the Novi Pazar authorities could do," he said.
"On the other hand the difference in the price of a flat sold in Novi
Pazar and one bought in Kragujevac is quite alluring especially for
those who are in a difficult financial situation."
Whatever lies behind the Serb departures, SDA-ruled local authorities
are showing no interest.
Assistant to the head of the Novi Pazar municipal executive committee
Kimeta Ramovic recently told a Sandzak news agency that they had
neither information nor any comment on the migration.
That local Serbs have lost the backing they enjoyed during Milosevic's
rule has been made clear by the fact that the current Serbian
leadership has not held a single meeting with them since they came to
power.
Such complacency is astonishing as there's a danger that if more Serbs
leave Sandzak, Bosniak nationalists could press for their demands for
autonomy provoking another Balkan crisis.
---
Balkan Crisis Report is supported by the Department for International
Development, the European Commission, the Swedish International
Development and Cooperation Agency, The Netherlands Ministry for
Foreign Affairs, and other funders. IWPR also acknowledges general
support from the Ford Foundation. For more
infos: www.iwpr.net
=== 2 ===
Subject: [yugoslaviainfo] Raska/Sandzak: At Danger Point
Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 19:20:08 -0500 (CDT)
From: Predrag Tosic
To: yugoslaviainfo <Ova adresa el. pošte je zaštićena od spambotova. Omogućite JavaScript da biste je videli.>
[ Raska (pronounced 'Rashka') or Sandzak (pronounced 'Sanjak') is a
region where Serbia and Montenegro meet;
most of Raska's municipalities are on Serbia's side of the border, i.e.
in south-west Serbia. This region traditionally rural,
underdeveloped and ethnically mixed.
Some experts predict it may be the next trouble spot. 'Vecernje
Novosti', a Belgrade daily, published an interview with Dusan Janjic,
an expert on inter-ethnic relation RE.: the current
situations and prospects for the future of the Raska region. The term
'Bosniak' herewith pertains to Slavic Muslims, who speak Serbian or
Serbo-Croatian, and inhabit both south-eastern Serbia and northern
Montenegro; most of this people identify themselves closely with the
Bosnian Muslims, hence the name
(which has not been universally adopted). ]
Vecernje Novosti - September 29, 2002
AT DANGER POINT
Interview with Dusan Janjic, Chairman of
the Forum for Ethnic Relations, by Jelena Jovovic
The promenades and the coffee shops in Sandzak will soon be divided
and it all will happen faster than it did in Bosnia. The first armed
incidents will break out -- political murders. If the authorities do
nothing, Sandzak will flare up in a year.
Dusan Janjic, chairman of the Forum for Ethnic Relations, recently
publicly raised this alarming warning. We asked him to explain his
prediction in more detail for Novosti.
Here is his answer:
"To a great extent, Sandzak today is noting an illegal economy,
organized crime (still on a moderate scale so far), and an extremely
powerful linkage among people in so-called small businesses along the
Novi Pazar-Kosmet-Macedonia-Istanbul axis, inherited from the Milosevic
regime. Within this
mosaic, the major impact of the war environment, the sanctions, and the
flow of big money from abroad have created ideal conditions for the
clash of two extreme ideologies -- Bosniak and Serbian extremism. The
first is on the rise, the second is in decline. Fortunately, that
clash has not yet had bloody consequences, but it is showing a tendency
toward escalation.
Janjic thinks that the previous government consciously encouraged
that situation, but also controlled it with the help of State Security
and the narrow interests of various political elites. That lasted
until 5 October 2000. The DOS victory did not resolve the problem of
a disrupted and dangerous Sandzak and it is still far from resolved.
What Is Government Waiting for?
[Jovovic] Who is responsible for this situation?
[Janjic] Everyone -- especially those whose job it is -- knows that
organized crime has created both political and financial power. The
narrow groups that control enormous amounts of money are getting very
rich. Unfortunately, the republic government did not react seriously
to that problem. Neither is there any control over the flow of money
today. However, there is also no adequate control over weapons,
smuggling, prostitution. . .
[Jovovic] From where, and how, is money reaching Sandzak?
[Janjic] The network of international non-governmental and
humanitarian organizations in this region is very dense. There are
more of them per capita in Novi Pazar than in much larger Belgrade.
Most of them are from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and
the Emirates. . . They appear as para-institutions for the
financing of Bosniak parties and institutions. The Serbian Government
has not done what it should have done here. But it should have
publicly presented information on how much, from where, for what
purpose, and to what addresses money is
reaching Sandzak from non-governmental and humanitarian organizations.
The recent incident at a handball match and the fight after the triumph
of our basketball team in Indianapolis are a serious indicator of a
crisis in Sandzak that can only take on dangerous
dimensions in the next round. Even after these events, the Serbian
Government, unfortunately, has not adopted adequate measures.
Conflict Among Bosniaks
[Jovovic] Which and what kind of measures?
[Janjic] I think that the current situation could still be resolved
through political means. The next crisis will certainly be deeper,
and then everything could escalate. There is also conflict within the
Bosniak community. Sulejman Ugljanin's
and Rasim Ljajic's factions are fighting for domination. Both are
focusing on the status of Sandzak in Serbia, as well as the position of
this region in Yugoslavia -- that is, the future statehood union of
Serbia and Montenegro. That issue is
legitimate, but it has been opened in a mistaken way. In addition,
the solution of a future statehood union absolutely does not suit the
financially stronger groups, primarily
because of unified customs and control over goods and money. Besides
that, Rozaje, Plav, Bijelo Polje -- where there are tensions between
Bosniaks and Albanians -- are also
hot points.
[Jovovic] How might the presidential election in Serbia be
reflected in the circumstances in Sandzak?
[Janjic] The outcome of the presidential election in Serbia could
be the first danger point, and the results of the parliamentary
elections in Montenegro could also influence the
situation here. It is not difficult to guess for whom the members of
ethnic communities in Sandzak will vote. It is more difficult to say
what the state of Serbia will do in this region after Tuesday, when,
perhaps, the new president of Serbia will be known.
Ugljanin Overlooked
"Sandzak has no Hamas or Serbian Eagles, no notorious State
Security from the previous region, and does not even have Milosevic or
the influence of Vojislav Seselj," said Janjic. "But it does have at
least three conditions for a political crisis,
and even violence. Serbia has not imposed serious governmental,
political, and economic reforms here and it is has not dealt fairly
with Ugljanin. It is inexplicable and very problematic how Ugljanin,
as the leader of an important Bosniak political force, was overlooked
in the distribution of
authority in Serbia and bypassed in the parliament and the government.
Then there is the local government here.
Although numerous humanitarian organizations have their missions here,
the local government does not have money to revive and build, but it
does have the mechanisms to adopt statutes, to introduce the Bosniak
language, and to change the flag. In addition to that, nobody must
allow the Serbian community to be punished today because it was formerly
instrumentalized by Milosevic.
=== 3 ===
French ambassador to Yugoslavia meets with Ugljanin
NOVI PAZAR, Nov 28 (Tanjug) - Bosniac National Council of Sandzak
(BNVS) leader Suleiman Ugljanin and French Ambassador to Yugoslavia
Gabriel Keller said on Thursday that the success of the Serbian
presidential elections would contribute to the development of
democratic institutions,
stabilization of the political situation and the continuation of the
democratic reforms. BNSV said in a statement that Ugljanin and Keller
also discussed the position of the Serbian government towards local
self-rule in the Sandzak municipalities, the Constitutional Charter,
problems in the implementation of the minority law and the Dec 8
presidential elections.
=== 4 ===
*** Bosniaks in Sandzak region seek recognition: Part 1
A movement is afoot among Bosniaks in Serbia's ethnically mixed Sandzak
region to hold an internationally supervised referendum on the area's
status. This comes amid occasional violent clashes between Bosniaks and
Serbs and heightened attention from the international community. This
is the first of a two-part report.
Novi Pazar, Serbia; 28 November 2002
by Jolyon Naegele / Radio Free Europe
http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2002/11/28112002155832.asp
*** Sandzak's Bosniaks Search For Identity: Part 2
Sandzak is a restive, multiethnic mountainous region straddling
Serbia's mountainous border with Montenegro and wedged between Bosnia
and Kosovo. Sandzak managed to escape the five wars over the past 11
years elsewhere in ex-Yugoslavia. In this second of a two-part series
on the region, RFE/RL examines how questions of ethnic, linguistic, and
religious identity shape Sandzak and its relations with Sarajevo and
Belgrade.
Novi Pazar, Serbia; 29 November 2002
by Jolyon Naegele / Radio Free Europe
http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2002/11/29112002174948.asp
=== 5 ===
*** Novi Pazar media fail to honor day of mourning
Following the terrorist attack on Serb children in the village of
Gorazdevac by Albanian terrorists, which shocked both domestic and
global public, the government of the Republic of Serbia decided to
proclaim August 15, 2003 an official day of mourning in Serbia.
However, in Novi Pazar some local media failed to honor the decree of
the government of Serbia and are broadcasting their normal programming
including popular and folk music.
Raska District Human Rights Committee
Public communiqué no. 26-08 2003, August 15, 2003
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/decani/message/76594
*** New nationalistic provocations in Novi Pazar
A new incident occurred today in Novi Pazar. At the Novi Pazar-Rad
football match fans of the Novi Pazar team shouted slogans clearly and
directly supporting the act of terrorism by Albanian terrorists a few
days ago. The fans shouted "Hashim Thaci," "KLA, KLA", "Kill the Serb,
kill the Serb," "Independent Kosovo", "This is Turkey," "We will not
give you Kosovo" and many other abusive slogans and songs.
Raska District Human Rights Committee
Public communiqué no. 27-08 2003, August 16, 2003
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/decani/message/76606
---
http://www.b92.net/english/news/index.php?nav_id=24246&style=headlines
B92, August 17, 2003
Border authorities attacked, policeman slightly wounded
NOVI PAZAR -- Sunday -- A policeman suffered minor
injuries last night when an explosion occurred at the
Mehov Krs control and security station close to Novi
Pazar, near the Serbian border with Montenegro.
Speaking to Radio B92, a Novi Pazar Medical Centre
employee said that policeman Boban Stasevic sustained
just scratches to the chest and has been discharged.
Also speaking to B92, Novi Pazar District Court's
investigative judge Milomir Jovicevic said: "Around
10:00 p.m. a person, or persons, threw explosives,
probably homemade bombs, at the police booth.
"After hurling the bombs, the attackers fled in an
unknown direction, leaving the police and customs
booths obviously damaged. Security workers, policemen
and customs officers responded with gunfire and an
investigation has now begun. It is not known who the
attackers are".
http://www.tanjug.co.yu/
EYug.htm#No%20results%20yet%20of%20investigation%20on%20explosion%20at%2
0boundary%20between%20Serbia,%20Montenegro
Tanjug, August 18, 2003
No results yet of investigation on explosion at
boundary between Serbia, Montenegro
20:32 NOVI PAZAR , Aug 18 (Tanjug) - The authorities
have not yet made public any results of the
investigation of the explosion of three bombs Saturday
evening at Mehov Krs, on the boundary between Serbia
and Montenegro.
Police officer Boban Stasevic, who was injured in the
explosion, has been released from hospital, but has
given no statements to the media.
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