Informazione
NOTA: Le notizie che seguono non sono in alcun modo esaustive degli
avvenimenti nella provincia di Kosovo-Metohija, e vengono qui
riportate solo come esempi delle informazioni negate alla pubblica
opinione.
=== * ===
AMMINISTRAZIONE O.N.U. IN KOSMET APRE POSTI DI
FRONTIERA TRA ALBANIA E JUGOSLAVIA
PROTEST OVER OPENING BORDER CROSINGS WITH ALBANIA
BELGRADE, Oct. 17 (Beta) - The Yugoslav Foreign Ministry
protested on Oct 17 to the U.N. Security Council because two border
crosings had been opened between Albania and Yugoslavia in the
Kosovo and Metohija area.
The permanent Yugoslav representative in the U.N., Ambasador Dejan
Sahovic, told the cairman of the Security Council in New York that
the move contravened the provisions of U.N. Security Council
Resolution 1244, especially in view of the fact that the decision to
open border crosings had been made without prior agreement with the
Yugoslav government.
The two border crosings on the AlbanianYugoslav border in the
villages of Orcusa and Kukes were opened on Wednesday.
=== * ===
ANZIANO SERBO AGGREDITO A GNJILANE
+++ SERBE ZUSAMMENGESCHLAGEN
GNJILANE. Laut einer Meldung von INET-News, wurde gestern
ein 75-jähriger Serbe, Zivorad Dokic, aus dem Dorf Zilova in
Gnjilane überfallen und zusammengeschlagen. Dokic ist nach
Gnjilane gekommen, um seine Rentenangelegenheiten zu
regulieren. INET-NEWS +++
Balkan-Telegramm, 18.Oktober 2002 - http://www.amselfeld.com
=== * ===
"POLIZIOTTI" KOSOVARO-ALBANESI MALTRATTANO
PRETE ORTODOSSO SOTTO GLI OCCHI DEI SOLDATI
ITALIANI
+++ ALBANISCHE "POLIZISTEN" MISSHANDELN MÖNCH
KULA, DECANI. Albanische Angehörige der sogenannten "Polizei"
der serbischen Provinz Kosovo und Metochien haben den Abt des
Klosters Visoki Decani mißhandelt. Der Vorfall ereignete sich an
einem Kontrollpunkt an der Grenze der serbischen Provinz zur
Teilrepublik Montenegro. Die albanischen "Polizisten" attackierten
den Abt zunächst verbal und schlugen ihn dann auch. Der Vorfall
ereignete sich unter den Augen italienischer KFOR-Soldaten.
STIMME KOSOVOS +++
Balkan-Telegramm, 19.Oktober 2002 - http://www.amselfeld.com
=== * ===
SOLDATI STATUNITENSI MALTRATTANO PROFUGHI SERBI
E GIORNALISTI A KLOKOT
DIOCESE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN DEEPLY HURT BY
BEHAVIOR OF U.S. KFOR IN KLOKOT
It is unacceptable for KFOR troops to beat unarmed people
COMMUNIQUE
Gracanica, October 19, 2002
The Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raska and Prizren is deeply hurt by
the rough behavior of U.S. KFOR troops in the Serb village of Klokot
following the recent crime by extremists leading to the death of
Svetlana Stankovic. It is absolutely unacceptable to apply force
against unarmed civilians who were only trying to return to their
homes, deeply embittered because of the attack. Especially pathetic
was the humiliation of two Serb women, Radmila Dimic and Dobrila
Milenkovic, who were, according to their own statement, kept
handcuffed for serveral hours. Klokot residents confirmed to the
representative of the Church that the U.S. soldiers beat the Serbs
using sticks and feet.
We are also concerned regarding information by the Independent
Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) that Radio Television
Serbia (RTS) reporters who filmed the incident in Klokot were
reportedly abused and kept for two hours, handcuffed, in the mud.
Such unsuitable behavior on the part of U.S. KFOR troops is
undermining their moral reputation and the trust of the Serbs in
peacekeeping forces. We therefore appeal that this incident be
thoroughly investigated and that measures are taken to prevent
similar excesses from reoccurring.
It is quite incomprehensible that KFOR troops are blocking the Serb
village and abusing its residents, including the family members of the
deceased woman, instead of seeking the perpetrators of the most recent
attack against the Serbs. A similar situation occurred following the
recent attack by Albanian extremists in which five Serb houses were
blown up in July. Kosovo Albanian extremists have killed no fewer
that 12 Serbs from the village of Klokot since the end of war despite
the presence of KFOR forces. Despite claims that the security
situation in the region is improving, the Serb people live in
increasing uncertainty, especially after the recent incident in
Klokot. Regrettably, this is not the first time that Albanian
extremists plant land mines in Serb fields. The claim that the mine
remained in the field from the war in 1999 is unfounded because the
field has been regularly cultivated by Stankovic family since 1999 and
no explosive devices were found in this area after a thorough KFOR
search. That is one reason more why the residends of Klokot were
shocked by the reaction of peacekeepers.
---
Politika, Belgrade
PROTEST BY INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATION OF JOURNALISTS
Unacceptable behavior towards journalists
October 18, 2002
The Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS)
addressed a protest letter yesterday to UNMIK head Michael Steiner
regarding the arrest, abuse and threat of imprisonment of Radio
Television Serbia (RTS) reporter Zarko Joksimovic and photographer
Boban Sekulic by US KFOR troops in the village of Klokot despite
the fact that both possessed valid accreditation.
In the letter NUNS states that Joksimovic and Sekulic were in the
village of Klokot for the purpose of filming a report regarding the
death of Svetlana Stankovic. It advises Steiner that there is no
justification for forcing the two men to lie for two hours on the wet
earth while handcuffed with 20 rifles pointed at them before
they were expelled from Klokot.
UNS emphasizes that the public is justifiably awaiting an
investigation of the incident and emphasizes that UNMIK's task "is
anything but the violation of human rights of residents of Kosovo and
Metohija, and the human and professional rights of Joksimovic and
Sekulic".
=== * ===
LA KFOR ITALIANA ARRESTA CUGINO DI AGIM CEKU (EX
CAPO UCK) PER CONTRABBANDO DI SIGARETTE.
MA VIENE SUBITO RILASCIATO PER MOTIVI CHE NON E' DATO SAPERE
KFOR ARRESTS AGIM CEKU'S BROTHER, EKREM LUKA
PEC, Oct. 22 (Beta) - KFOR arrested the brother of Kosovo
Protection Corps Commander Agim Ceku and Ekrem Luka in Pec on
Oct. 22, on suspicion that they are involved in the smuggling of large
quantities of cigarettes, BETA has learned from ethnic Albanian
sources in Pristina. Luka is the owner of Dukadjini, the biggest
private company in Kosovo.
KFOR arrested another two persons, but their identity has not been
disclosed.
According to well informed sources in Kosovo, Ekrem Luka is a close
friend of Alliance for Future of Kosovo leader Ramush Haradinaj and
other former leaders of the officially disbanded Kosovo Liberation
Army in western Kosovo.
UNMIK: CEKU'S BROTHER NOT ARRESTED
PRISTINA, Oct 23 (Beta) - UNMIK spokesperson Andrea Angeli told
BETA on Oct. 23, that none of four persons, apprehended in Pec on
Oct. 22, was the brother of Kosovo Protection Corps Commander
Agim Ceku. Angeli said that the four persons, found to be in
possession of arms, were released in the afternoon on Oct. 22,
following an injunction by the relevant judge. He added that an
investigation into the matter was underway.
BETA has learned from eyewitnesses that the rumor about Ceku's
brother being arrested had spread because during the arrest, one of
the suspects said: "Don't touch me, I am Agim Ceku's brother."
KOSOVO: ITALIANI KFOR SCOPRONO DEPOSITO ARMI E SIGARETTE (2)
(ANSA) - PRISTINA, 22 OTT - Tra i quattro albaneso-kosovari
arrestati questa mattina dalla polizia militare italiana a Peja c'e'
Ekrem Lluka, 47 anni, proprietario della ''compagnia Dukagjini'',
che e' il piu' grosso gruppo imprenditoriale del Kosovo occidentale.
In carcere e' finito pure un fratello del generale Agim Ceku, ex capo
militare dell'Uck e attuale comandante del Tmk, il corpo di
protezione civile del Kosovo. ''Al momento i quattro arrestati
vengono interrogati dalla polizia italiana inquadrata nella missione
delle Nazioni Unite'' ha detto all'Ansa Andrea Angeli, portavoce
dell'Unmik. Tra il materiale sequestrato, ci sono anche
apparecchiature per la produzione di etichette di sigarette false
trovate in una tipografia del gruppo. La polizia militare italiana ha
effettuato una perquisizione anche presso gli studi di Radio
Dukagjini, un'emittente privata che fa capo all'impresa di Lluka. Gli
arresti di oggi rischiano di provocare tensioni a Peja, zona sotto il
controllo dei militari italiani e dove Ekrem Lluka e' particolarmente
influente.(ANSA) BLL 22/10/2002 16:24
http://www.ansa.it/balcani/kosovo/20021022162432362436.html
KOSOVO: RILASCIATI QUATTRO ARRESTATI DA MILITARI ITALIANI
(ANSA) - PRISTINA, 24 OTT - Sono stati rilasciati dopo poche ore
su decisione di un tribunale locale i quattro albanesi-kosovari
arrestati lo scorso 22 ottobre dalla polizia militare del contingente
italiano della Kfor, forza di pace in Kosovo a guida Nato: lo apprende
oggi l'Ansa da fonti informate. Tra gli arrestati c'era Ekrem Lluka,
47 anni, titolare del piu' importante gruppo imprenditoriale del
Kosovo occidentale, e Selman Ceku, 45 anni, in un primo momento
indicato dagli inquirenti come fratello del generale Agim Ceku, ex
capo militare della guerriglia albanese (Uck) e attuale comandante
del Tmk, il corpo di protezione civile del Kosovo. Le stesse fonti
hanno successivamente rettificato, affermando che in realta' l'uomo e'
solo un cugino del generale Ceku. Gli arresti erano avvenuti dopo che
in uno dei depositi di proprieta' di Lluka erano state ritrovate armi
e 270 tonnellate di sigarette che in un primo momento si era
sospettato fossero di contrabbando. (ANSA). 24/10/2002 17:15
http://www.ansa.it/balcani/kosovo/20021024171532365176.html
=== * ===
AGGREDITO AMMINISTRATORE UNMIK A PRIZREN
RADIO JUGOSLAVIA
Prizren Administrator Attacked By Albanians
October 22, 2002
In Prizren, southern Kosmet, six Albanians beat up the deputy
UNMIK administrator, Julian Bilbao, causing numerous injuries.
According to news agencies, special units of the UNMIK police
intervened, and one policeman was slightly injured. All the
perpetrators were arrested and criminal proceedings are to be
instigated against them.
=== * ===
AGGREDITO ANZIANO SERBO A KOSOVO POLJE
+++ SERBE ZUSAMMENGESCHLAGEN
KOSOVO POLJE. Auf dem Bahnhof von Kosovo Polje wurde
am Mittwoch gegen 20 Uhr der 75-jährige Serbe Miodrag Stankovic
zusammengeschlagen. Der alte Mann, wohnhaft in Kosovo Polje,
wurde von zwei ethnisch-albanischen Männern zu Boden geworfen
und anschließend mit Händen und Füßen attackiert. Hierbei wurden
ihm schwere Verletzungen zugefügt. TANJUG/INET-NEWS +++
Balkan-Telegramm, 24.Oktober 2002 - http://www.amselfeld.com
=== * ===
LA KFOR PRIVA GLI STUDENTI SERBI DI PROTEZIONE PER
ANDARE A SCUOLA A MITROVICA
Tanjug - Belgrade
KFOR Escort Canceled For Serbian Students
October 23, 2002
Kosovska Mitrovica, 23 Oct - On Wednesday, KFOR canceled the
escorts for Serbian students from Crkvena Vodica, Obilic, Janjina
Voda, and the villages from central Kosovo. Those students are
attending the schools in Plemetina and Priluzje, so it is unknown how
they will attend the schools in the future, says the head of the
Department of Education in Kosovska Mitrovica, Predrag Stojcetovic.
Stojcetovic pointed out that the parents would not allow the children
to go to school without a KFOR escort, because according to the
parents of Serbian students, their children are not safe on their way
from their homes to the school.
=== * ===
AGGREDITO ANZIANO SERBO A STRPCE
+++ SERBE VON ALBANERN ANGEGRIFFENS
STRPCE. Eine Gruppe bewaffneter ethnischer Albaner haben heute
gegen 15 Uhr den 71-jährigen Serben Bora Serafimovic aus dem
Dorf Pasjane bei Gnjilane angegriffen, während dieser Kühe hütete.
Die Angreifer, aus dem anliegenden Dorf Vlastice, haben den Mann
auf den Boden gestoßen, mehrmals auf den Kopf geschlagen und
anschließend seine Kühe weggeführt. Wegen den schweren
Verletzungen am Kopf wurde Serafimovic in das Krankenhaus von
Vranje verlegt. TANJUG +++
Balkan-Telegramm, 25.Oktober 2002 - http://www.amselfeld.com
=== * ===
REGOLAMENTO DI CONTI POST-ELETTORALE
ALBANISCHE ABRECHNUNGEN IN SUVA REKA
PRIZREN. Der ?Bürgermeister" der Gemeinde Suva Reka, der
Albaner Uka Bitici und zwei seiner Mitarbeiter wurden gestern Abend
aus einem fahrenden Auto heraus von albanischen Terroristen
erschossen. Bitici und seine Mitarbeiter gehörten der Partei des
Albanerführers Rugova an. STIMME KOSOVOS
Balkan-Telegramm, 27.Oktober 2002 - http://www.amselfeld.com
---
http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/dp/Qkosovo-vote-shooting.Rlhy_COR.html
Three shot dead by political opponents after Kosovo vote
-Hysa said celebrating members of the LDK -- which is
expected to win Saturday's election -- ran into
supporters of the rival Party of Democratic Kosovo
(PDK), led by former ethnic Albanian rebel Hashim Thaci.
"A young supporter of the PDK drew a gun and shot at
the mayor and two other people accompanying him. All
three have died," Hysa said.
PRISTINA, Yugoslavia, Oct 27 (AFP) - A senior member
in the party of Kosovo's Albanian president, Ibrahim
Rugova, and two other men were shot dead by political
opponents in western Kosovo on Sunday, a day after
local elections there, officials said.
It was the first politically motivated attack during
the election period.
Kosovo's first local election in 2000, overwhelmingly
won by Rugova's League of Democratic Kosovo (LDK), was
marred by political violence between rival ethnic
Albanian groups.
Ylber Hysa, head of the non-governmental Kosovo Action
for Civic Initiatives (KACI) monitoring the election,
identified the dead LDK official as Uke Bytyci.
Bytyci was mayor of Suva Reka, some 60 kilometres (35
miles) west of provincial capital Pristina.
Hysa said celebrating members of the LDK -- which is
expected to win Saturday's election -- ran into
supporters of the rival Party of Democratic Kosovo
(PDK), led by former ethnic Albanian rebel Hashim
Thaci.
"A young supporter of the PDK drew a gun and shot at
the mayor and two other people accompanying him. All
three have died," Hysa said.
Andrea Angeli, spokesman for the United Nation mission
in Kosovo, confirmed the information.
"There is evidence to indicate that it was an ambush,"
he said from Pristina, adding that police were
investigating the incident.
Michael Steiner, the United Nation's top official in
the province, condemned the shooting as "an appalling
act of calculated murder".
"Callous killing is particularly distressing after
yesterday's municipal elections in Kosovo, which were
conducted so smoothly and without a violent incident,"
Steiner said in a statement.
Angeli said Bytyci and two people with him had been
shot and injured by at least one person in the village
of Lesan, some six kilometres south of Suva Reka.
He said UN police were interrogating a suspect held at
Suva Reka police station.
Although the official results of Kosovo's local
election have yet to be announced by the Organisation
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Hysa's
KACI said the LDK had won the vote in most of the
province's 30 municipalities, including Suva Reka.
The Albanian-dominated southern Serbian province of
Kosovo has been under UN and NATO administration since
1999.
=== * ===
VITTORIO SGARBI PRENDE IN GIRO I SERBI DEL KOSOVO:
"BISOGNEREBBE PROTEGGERE I VOSTRI MONUMENTI"
SERBIAN ORTHODOX DIOCESE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN
KOSOVO AND METOHIJA
For immediate release
Info - Service ERP KIM
RENOWNED ITALIAN ACTIVIST FOR PROTECTION OF
CULTURAL HERITAGE SEEKS PROTECTION OF SERBIAN
ORTHODOX MONASTERIES IN KOSOVO
Sgarbi emphasises responsibility of KFOR for protection of Visoki
Decani and Pec Patriarchate
October 27, 2002
Rome - Italian deputy-minister of culture and a member of
Parliament Hon.Vittorio Sgarbi sent a letter to the new KFOR
commander, Italian general Fabio Mini, proposing special protection
of Serb Orthodox religious monuments in Kosovo. "The situation in
Kosovo and the unavoidable reduction of NATO forces in coming
months are cause for grave concern for the future protection of the
heritage of Serbian Orthodox culture and religion, especially of
Visoki Decani Monastery and the Pec Patriarchate, which are of great
significance for art history," wrote Sgarbi. Sgarbi notes in his
letter that many Orthodox religious monuments in Kosovo are already
damaged, and in many cases irreparably destroyed. "I wish to draw
your attention especially to the precarious situation in which two
pearls in northwestern Kosovo, Visoki Decani and the Pec Patriarchate
Monasteries, are found in comparison with well-guarded Gracanica
Monastery," emphasized Sgarbi. He added that the recent attack on
Serb pensioners in Pec clearly demonstrates the length of the path to
reconciliation between the [Serb and Albanian] communities and the
high degree of violence still reigning in Kosovo. Sgarbi expressed his
hope that Decani Monastery and Pec Patriarchate will be equally well
protected in future as they are now under the Italian military
command.
=== * ===
ARMI PER IL KOSOVO E L'ALBANIA VIA MONTENEGRO
Blic, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
October 26, 2002
Weapons for Kosovo and Albania via Podgorica
Large quantities of infantry weapons, ammunition and military
equipment often end up in well-guarded depots in central
Montenegro, not in Middle Eastern countries; from
there, the weapons are then smuggled into Albania and Kosovo
M.B., a businessman in the Podgorica quarter of Zagoric formerly
dealing in military surplus and equipment, purchased a small quanitity
of weapons and military equipment at the beginning of May of this
year for 25,000 dollars. Instead of being loaded onto ships, about
five truckloads of various weapons ended up in central Montenegro,
where they remain in warehouses today. He has already sold some of
the of the weapons and military equipment "without difficulty" to
parties in Albania and Kosovo. According to Blic's source, as a result
of information on smuggling of weapons and military equipment
provided to Western intelligence agencies the Montenegrin State
Security has been engaged in "intensive activity" in recent months.
International forces are presently conducting little more than formal
control of the border between Kosovo and Albania. Smuggling of
arms, narcotics, white slavery and incursions, that is, unhindered
entrance of various armed groups, are taking place without
obstruction. For example, at the Cafa Morina - Tropoja border
crossing there are only two-three policemen on the Albanian side and
two members of KFOR and one member of the Kosovo Protection
Corps on the Kosovo side of the border. Inspection of documents is a
mere formality; vehicles, transporter trucks and other transportation
is not inspected at all. Only a kilometer and a half from this
crossing there is a cobblestone road going from Tropoja to Bajram Curi
to the village of Junik village in Kosovo where there is no inspection
at all.
This is the road most often used for smuggling of drugs, weapons and
military equipment, and white slaves.
Cigarettes are now generally transported from Greece through
Albania to Kosovo and further toward Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
According to our source, intelligence sources are aware that the same
dealers are involved in all these activities.
The situation is similar at a second border crossing at Cafa - Prushit
from the Albanian side on the road toward Djakovica. Inspection on
the Albanian side is carried out by only one policeman in civilian
clothing, while on the Kosovo side no one is controlling the state
border at all.
=== * ===
CONTADINO SERBO AGGREDITO A KOSOVSKA MITROVICA
Ethnic Albanians beat up Serb in central Kosovo-Metohija
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, Oct 30 (Tanjug) - A group of unidentified ethnic
Albanians beat up Kosovo Serb Ranko Pajevic of the village of Grace
as he was farming his land on Tuesday afternoon, Tanjug was told on
Wednesday. Pajevic was farming his land in the hamlet of Tomic near
Grace in central Kosovo-Metohija, when a group of ethnic Albanians
attacked and seriously injured him.
Ethnic Albanians also stole Pajevic's tractor and fled. Pajevic early
on Wednesday reported the case to UNMIK's police station in
Priluzje.
This is not the only attack ethnic Albanians carried out against
Serbs from this village. Serbs from Grace have repeatedly reported
cases in which their ethnic Albanian neighbors had forcibly seized
their land, stole their cattle or burnt their yield, to Kosovo's
multinational police. Grace is populated by about 250 Serbs.
=== * ===
CHIESTO IL RILASCIO DI TRE SERBI IN GALERA DA ANNI
CON IMPUTAZIONI ASSURDE
http://www.serbia.sr.gov.yu/news/2002-10/31/326512.html
SERBIAN GOVERNMENT
Bozovic demands three Serbs be released
October 31, 2002
Belgrade, Oct. 30, 2002 - Coordinating Centre for Kosovo-Metohija
official Vladimir Bozovic sent a request to the UN's international
prosecutor for Kosovo-Metohija, Michael Hartmann, for the urgent
release of three imprisoned Serbs.
Bozovic revealed the identities of the three imprisoned Serbs to the
Beta news agency: Orahovac municipality President Anjelko
Kolasinac, who has been imprisoned for more than four years; Veselin
Besovic, from Pec, held in prison without evidence for almost three
years; and Slavoljub Jovic, who was, Bozovic claims, arrested
without proof.
The branch of the international criminal council in the Gnjilane
Municipal Court cleared another Serb, Bozidar Stojanovic, of
allegations of murdering an ethnic Albanian, his lawyer Zivojin
Jokanovic said. Stojanovic was previously sentenced to 16 years in
prison.
Stojanovic spent 38 months in detention. His lawyers managed to get a
new trial and prove his innocence. Hartmann was made aware of this
case of negligence. "We personally called on him and the whole
UNMIK judiciary to release the three Serbs," Bozovic said.
=== * ===
AVVIATE LE ESUMAZIONI DEI CADAVERI SCOPERTI NEL
CIMITERO ORTODOSSO DI PRIZREN - LA STAMPA
OCCIDENTALE *NON* PARLA DI FOSSE COMUNI
SERBIAN ORTHODOX DIOCESE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN
KOSOVO AND METOHIJA
Information Service
Newsletter, Oct 30, 2002
SRNA Serbian News Agency
27 BODIES EXHUMED
PRISTINA, OCTOBER 29 (SRNA) - "Members of the Yugoslav
Government's expert team exhumed the remains of 27 people, most
probably Serbs killed during 1999, at the Orthodox cemetery in
Prizren yesterday and today," Vukasin Otasevic, a team member,
told SRNA this evening. "We will continue with exhumations
tomorrow; we cannot say how many bodies there may be at this time,"
said Otasevic. He added that he expects successful cooperation with
members of UNMIK's expert team, led by the head of the
Office for Missing and Kidnapped Persons, Jose Pablo Baraibar, to
continue. He expressed the hope that Serbian Government's expert
team will complete exhumations at several additional locations by the
end of the year. "Exhumations at the Orthodox cemetery in Prizren
began upon our initiative but are being conducted under the
organization of UNMIK's Office for Missing and Kidnapped
Persons," said Otasevic.
30 BODIES FOUND IN PRIZREN CEMETARY
PRIZREN, Oct 30 (Beta)- Thirty unidentified bodies have been found
during three days of exhumation at the Orthodox Christian cemetery
in Prizren, said Kosovo expert team chief, pathologist Slavisa
Dobricanin.
There are no more unexamined graves in this location, said
Dobricanin, adding that the first results show that the bodies are
Serbian.
Exhumations in several more locations in Kosovo, especially in the
Djakovica municipality, will be carried out by the end of the year.
=== * ===
AGGREDITO SERBO PRESSO GRACE
Radio Yugoslavia
A SERB BEATEN BY ALBANIANS
VUCITRN, October 30
Ranko Pajevic, a Serb from the village of Grace, northern Kosmet, has
been beaten up by a group of unidentified Albanians, Tanjug learns.
The agency reports that while working in the field, Pajevic was
attacked by a group of Albanians and sustained heavy bodily injuries.
http://www.mfa.gov.yu/Pressframe14.htm
ETHNIC ALBANIANS BEAT UP SERB IN CENTRAL
KOSOVO-METOHIJA
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, Oct 30 (Tanjug) - A group of
unidentified ethnic Albanians beat up Kosovo Serb
Ranko Pajevic of the village of Grace as he was
farming his land on Tuesday afternoon, Tanjug was told
on Wednesday. Pajevic was farming his land in the
hamlet of Tomic near Grace in central Kosovo-Metohija,
when a group of ethnic Albanians attacked and
seriously injured him.
Ethnic Albanians also stole Pajevic's tractor and
fled. Pajevic early on Wednesday reported the case to
UNMIK's police station in Priluzje. This is not the
only attack ethnic Albanians carried out against Serbs
from this village. Serbs from Grace have repeatedly
reported cases in which their ethnic Albanian
neighbors had forcibly seized their land, stole their
cattle or burnt their yield, to Kosovo's multinational
police. Grace is populated by about 250 Serbs.
=== * ===
ANCHE AD OBILIC LA KFOR ELIMINA LA PROTEZIONE PER
GLI SCOLARI SERBI - IMPEDITA LA FREQUENTAZIONE
DELLE SCUOLE
POLITIKA (Belgrade daily)
KFOR QUITS ESCORTING SCHOOLCHILDREN IN OBILIC
MUNICIPALITY
October 30, 2002
For more than a week schoolchildren of four primary and three
secondary schools have not attended their classes, since KFOR has
suspended escorting them. According to Radmila Premovic, the
principle of the primary school Branko Radicevic, pupils have
not attended the classes for some ten days. The classes have stopped,
as Norwegian KFOR has not escorted primary and secondary
schoolchildren, who commute to their schools for some 10 kilometres
through Albanian populated places. According to the principle, KFOR
as a reason stated that their base has been moved to the village of
Lebane. KFOR recently has also stopped protecting school premises.
Radio Yugoslavia
October 30, 2002
Some 1,200 Serb pupils living in enclaves in central Kosmet have not
been attending school for 10 days now due to the safety situation, the
head of the Education Ministry Department for Kosovska Mitrovica,
Predrag Stojcetovic, said. He said that KFOR had ceased to escort Serb
children from Vucitrn, Obilic, Crkvena Vodica, Babin Most and
Plemetina on their way to school. The head of the MP club of the Serb
POVRATAK coalition, Rada Trajkovic, called on institutions and
organizations in charge of children's rights to react in order that a
solution be found.
ABOUT 1200 SERB STUDENTS MISSING CLASSES IN
KOSOVO AND METOHIJA
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, Oct 30 (Tanjug) - About 1200 Serb
students who live in enclaves in central Kosovo and Metohija have
been compelled to miss out on their classes for the past 10 days
because they cannot travel to their schools in safety, Ministry of
Education Kosovska Mitrovica Department chief Predrag Stojcevic
told Tanjug on Wednesday.
Stojcevic said the local international peacekeeping force KFOR
in the UN-administered southern Serbian province had suspended
escorts for Serb children from Vucitrn, Obilic, Crkvene Vodice,
Babin Most, and Plemetina on their way to and from school.
Kosovo-Metohija parliament Serb coalition Return whip
Rada Trajkovic gave a statement to Tanjug, in which she called on
all institutions and organizations in charge of children's rights
to react so that a safe life and regular classes can be secured for
Serb children in Kosovo and Metohija.
=== * ===
ITALIANI ED ALBANESI ARRESTATI A TIRANA IN POSSESSO
DI 18 CHILI DI EROINA
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/
ap/20021101/ap_wo_en_po/albania_drugs_1
Police detain Italians and Albanians with heroin
Fri Nov 1,11:17 AM ET
TIRANA, Albania - Police have cracked an Italian-Albanian drug
ring, arresting several people and seizing eight kilograms (18 pounds)
of heroin, the biggest drug haul in the last three months, an Interior
Ministry official said Friday.
A ministry spokesman, Florian Serjani, said that police detained the
suspects - Albanians and Italians - on Thursday at a hotel in the port
town of Durres, 30 kilometers (18 miles) west of the capital, Tirana.
He would not say how many people were detained and declined to
provide further details.
But an Albanian newspaper, Shekulli, quoted unnamed police in
Durres as saying that police had cracked a mafia network that
transports drugs from Albania to Italy.
Three Italians and six Albanians were detained, the daily reported.
Albania is a transit country for drug trafficking rings that are
active across the Balkans.
=== * ===
A KOSOVSKA MITROVICA LE STRADE VENGONO
RIBATTEZZATE CON I NOMI DELLE FIGURE
DI SPICCO DEL NAZIFASCISMO
Politika, Belgrade
November 1, 2002
SERB STREETS RENAMED AFTER BALISTS*
(Balists, or Balli Combetar, members of a pro-Nazi Albanian
nationalist organization in WW2)
Only John Kennedy and Tetovska Streets unchanged
Kosovska Mitrovica, October 31
Assemblymen of the mono-national municipal assembly of Kosovska
Mitrovica have voted unanimously to change the names of almost 260
streets and publci squares in this city on the Ibar River. Obviously
their only criterion was to replace streets bearing the names of Serbs
and other non-Albanians with the names of dead Albanian
terrorists from the ranks of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army
and notorious Balists during World War II.
The UNMIK administration did nothing to attempt to prevent the
name changes which, it should be added, are written exclusively in
Albanian in the southern, Albanian part of the city. The changing of
street names in Kosovska Mitrovica comes after the Albanians first
renamed all towns in the southern Serbian province, and then all the
street names, even in Serb enclaves where there are no Albanians. For
example, in Kosovska Mitrovica, Pasiceva Street became Milos
Kopilic Street. Karadjordjeva Street received the name of the
notorious Drenica region terrorist Adem Jashari, Duciceva Street now
bears the name Arta (golden), Railroad Street bears the name of
Bislim Bajgora, Hajduk-Stanka Street has been renamed Drenicka
Street, Drvarska Street has become Bujanska Conference Street, while
Kosovo-Maiden Street has now been renamed after the Bitoljski
Congress. Ramiz Sadiku Street has also changed its name and now
bears the name of Xhafer Deva, a notorious Balist who greeted the
fascist forces in Kosovska Mitrovica in World War II. The street
leading from the bus station which is located on the edge of the
southern, Albanian part of the city and leads to Srbica, is now called
Bloody Bridge Street. However, it was not enough for the
assemblymen to rename the streets by giving them names of terrorists
of the so-called KLA and Balists from World War II so they also gave
them names of cities in Albania. Thus some streets are now called
Shkodra, Tirana, Tropoja, Kukes... The only streets which did not
offend and are not nationalistic in tone are John Kennedy
Street and Tetovska Street. As well, it should be noted that the
assemblymen of the mono-national municipal assembly of Kosovska
Mitrovica have neglected to name at least some of the 260 streets in
the city on the Ibar River after well-known scientists, writers or
other
figures of renown in the world or at least in the region.
B. Radomirovic
=== * ===
L'INVIATO SPECIALE ONU JOSE CUTILEIRO RICONOSCE LA
SITUAZIONE INACCETTABILE DAL PUNTO DI VISTA DEI
DIRITTI UMANI IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA
CUTILEIRO DISSATISFIED WITH HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD IN KOSOVO
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, Nov 3 (Tanjug) - The special human
rights envoy Jose Cutileiro said on Sunday that the human rights
record in Kosovo and Metohija has not improved.
In terms of improvement of the status of human rights, nothing
has changed since February last year when he visited Kosovo the
last time, Cutileiro told reporters in Kosovska Mitrovica,
following talks with a member of the presidency of Kosovo
parliament Oliver Ivanovic. He said he was particularly dissatisfied
with the fact that the process of return of Serbs to Kosovo and
Metohija was weak and not yet sustainable.
avvenimenti nella provincia di Kosovo-Metohija, e vengono qui
riportate solo come esempi delle informazioni negate alla pubblica
opinione.
=== * ===
AMMINISTRAZIONE O.N.U. IN KOSMET APRE POSTI DI
FRONTIERA TRA ALBANIA E JUGOSLAVIA
PROTEST OVER OPENING BORDER CROSINGS WITH ALBANIA
BELGRADE, Oct. 17 (Beta) - The Yugoslav Foreign Ministry
protested on Oct 17 to the U.N. Security Council because two border
crosings had been opened between Albania and Yugoslavia in the
Kosovo and Metohija area.
The permanent Yugoslav representative in the U.N., Ambasador Dejan
Sahovic, told the cairman of the Security Council in New York that
the move contravened the provisions of U.N. Security Council
Resolution 1244, especially in view of the fact that the decision to
open border crosings had been made without prior agreement with the
Yugoslav government.
The two border crosings on the AlbanianYugoslav border in the
villages of Orcusa and Kukes were opened on Wednesday.
=== * ===
ANZIANO SERBO AGGREDITO A GNJILANE
+++ SERBE ZUSAMMENGESCHLAGEN
GNJILANE. Laut einer Meldung von INET-News, wurde gestern
ein 75-jähriger Serbe, Zivorad Dokic, aus dem Dorf Zilova in
Gnjilane überfallen und zusammengeschlagen. Dokic ist nach
Gnjilane gekommen, um seine Rentenangelegenheiten zu
regulieren. INET-NEWS +++
Balkan-Telegramm, 18.Oktober 2002 - http://www.amselfeld.com
=== * ===
"POLIZIOTTI" KOSOVARO-ALBANESI MALTRATTANO
PRETE ORTODOSSO SOTTO GLI OCCHI DEI SOLDATI
ITALIANI
+++ ALBANISCHE "POLIZISTEN" MISSHANDELN MÖNCH
KULA, DECANI. Albanische Angehörige der sogenannten "Polizei"
der serbischen Provinz Kosovo und Metochien haben den Abt des
Klosters Visoki Decani mißhandelt. Der Vorfall ereignete sich an
einem Kontrollpunkt an der Grenze der serbischen Provinz zur
Teilrepublik Montenegro. Die albanischen "Polizisten" attackierten
den Abt zunächst verbal und schlugen ihn dann auch. Der Vorfall
ereignete sich unter den Augen italienischer KFOR-Soldaten.
STIMME KOSOVOS +++
Balkan-Telegramm, 19.Oktober 2002 - http://www.amselfeld.com
=== * ===
SOLDATI STATUNITENSI MALTRATTANO PROFUGHI SERBI
E GIORNALISTI A KLOKOT
DIOCESE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN DEEPLY HURT BY
BEHAVIOR OF U.S. KFOR IN KLOKOT
It is unacceptable for KFOR troops to beat unarmed people
COMMUNIQUE
Gracanica, October 19, 2002
The Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raska and Prizren is deeply hurt by
the rough behavior of U.S. KFOR troops in the Serb village of Klokot
following the recent crime by extremists leading to the death of
Svetlana Stankovic. It is absolutely unacceptable to apply force
against unarmed civilians who were only trying to return to their
homes, deeply embittered because of the attack. Especially pathetic
was the humiliation of two Serb women, Radmila Dimic and Dobrila
Milenkovic, who were, according to their own statement, kept
handcuffed for serveral hours. Klokot residents confirmed to the
representative of the Church that the U.S. soldiers beat the Serbs
using sticks and feet.
We are also concerned regarding information by the Independent
Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) that Radio Television
Serbia (RTS) reporters who filmed the incident in Klokot were
reportedly abused and kept for two hours, handcuffed, in the mud.
Such unsuitable behavior on the part of U.S. KFOR troops is
undermining their moral reputation and the trust of the Serbs in
peacekeeping forces. We therefore appeal that this incident be
thoroughly investigated and that measures are taken to prevent
similar excesses from reoccurring.
It is quite incomprehensible that KFOR troops are blocking the Serb
village and abusing its residents, including the family members of the
deceased woman, instead of seeking the perpetrators of the most recent
attack against the Serbs. A similar situation occurred following the
recent attack by Albanian extremists in which five Serb houses were
blown up in July. Kosovo Albanian extremists have killed no fewer
that 12 Serbs from the village of Klokot since the end of war despite
the presence of KFOR forces. Despite claims that the security
situation in the region is improving, the Serb people live in
increasing uncertainty, especially after the recent incident in
Klokot. Regrettably, this is not the first time that Albanian
extremists plant land mines in Serb fields. The claim that the mine
remained in the field from the war in 1999 is unfounded because the
field has been regularly cultivated by Stankovic family since 1999 and
no explosive devices were found in this area after a thorough KFOR
search. That is one reason more why the residends of Klokot were
shocked by the reaction of peacekeepers.
---
Politika, Belgrade
PROTEST BY INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATION OF JOURNALISTS
Unacceptable behavior towards journalists
October 18, 2002
The Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS)
addressed a protest letter yesterday to UNMIK head Michael Steiner
regarding the arrest, abuse and threat of imprisonment of Radio
Television Serbia (RTS) reporter Zarko Joksimovic and photographer
Boban Sekulic by US KFOR troops in the village of Klokot despite
the fact that both possessed valid accreditation.
In the letter NUNS states that Joksimovic and Sekulic were in the
village of Klokot for the purpose of filming a report regarding the
death of Svetlana Stankovic. It advises Steiner that there is no
justification for forcing the two men to lie for two hours on the wet
earth while handcuffed with 20 rifles pointed at them before
they were expelled from Klokot.
UNS emphasizes that the public is justifiably awaiting an
investigation of the incident and emphasizes that UNMIK's task "is
anything but the violation of human rights of residents of Kosovo and
Metohija, and the human and professional rights of Joksimovic and
Sekulic".
=== * ===
LA KFOR ITALIANA ARRESTA CUGINO DI AGIM CEKU (EX
CAPO UCK) PER CONTRABBANDO DI SIGARETTE.
MA VIENE SUBITO RILASCIATO PER MOTIVI CHE NON E' DATO SAPERE
KFOR ARRESTS AGIM CEKU'S BROTHER, EKREM LUKA
PEC, Oct. 22 (Beta) - KFOR arrested the brother of Kosovo
Protection Corps Commander Agim Ceku and Ekrem Luka in Pec on
Oct. 22, on suspicion that they are involved in the smuggling of large
quantities of cigarettes, BETA has learned from ethnic Albanian
sources in Pristina. Luka is the owner of Dukadjini, the biggest
private company in Kosovo.
KFOR arrested another two persons, but their identity has not been
disclosed.
According to well informed sources in Kosovo, Ekrem Luka is a close
friend of Alliance for Future of Kosovo leader Ramush Haradinaj and
other former leaders of the officially disbanded Kosovo Liberation
Army in western Kosovo.
UNMIK: CEKU'S BROTHER NOT ARRESTED
PRISTINA, Oct 23 (Beta) - UNMIK spokesperson Andrea Angeli told
BETA on Oct. 23, that none of four persons, apprehended in Pec on
Oct. 22, was the brother of Kosovo Protection Corps Commander
Agim Ceku. Angeli said that the four persons, found to be in
possession of arms, were released in the afternoon on Oct. 22,
following an injunction by the relevant judge. He added that an
investigation into the matter was underway.
BETA has learned from eyewitnesses that the rumor about Ceku's
brother being arrested had spread because during the arrest, one of
the suspects said: "Don't touch me, I am Agim Ceku's brother."
KOSOVO: ITALIANI KFOR SCOPRONO DEPOSITO ARMI E SIGARETTE (2)
(ANSA) - PRISTINA, 22 OTT - Tra i quattro albaneso-kosovari
arrestati questa mattina dalla polizia militare italiana a Peja c'e'
Ekrem Lluka, 47 anni, proprietario della ''compagnia Dukagjini'',
che e' il piu' grosso gruppo imprenditoriale del Kosovo occidentale.
In carcere e' finito pure un fratello del generale Agim Ceku, ex capo
militare dell'Uck e attuale comandante del Tmk, il corpo di
protezione civile del Kosovo. ''Al momento i quattro arrestati
vengono interrogati dalla polizia italiana inquadrata nella missione
delle Nazioni Unite'' ha detto all'Ansa Andrea Angeli, portavoce
dell'Unmik. Tra il materiale sequestrato, ci sono anche
apparecchiature per la produzione di etichette di sigarette false
trovate in una tipografia del gruppo. La polizia militare italiana ha
effettuato una perquisizione anche presso gli studi di Radio
Dukagjini, un'emittente privata che fa capo all'impresa di Lluka. Gli
arresti di oggi rischiano di provocare tensioni a Peja, zona sotto il
controllo dei militari italiani e dove Ekrem Lluka e' particolarmente
influente.(ANSA) BLL 22/10/2002 16:24
http://www.ansa.it/balcani/kosovo/20021022162432362436.html
KOSOVO: RILASCIATI QUATTRO ARRESTATI DA MILITARI ITALIANI
(ANSA) - PRISTINA, 24 OTT - Sono stati rilasciati dopo poche ore
su decisione di un tribunale locale i quattro albanesi-kosovari
arrestati lo scorso 22 ottobre dalla polizia militare del contingente
italiano della Kfor, forza di pace in Kosovo a guida Nato: lo apprende
oggi l'Ansa da fonti informate. Tra gli arrestati c'era Ekrem Lluka,
47 anni, titolare del piu' importante gruppo imprenditoriale del
Kosovo occidentale, e Selman Ceku, 45 anni, in un primo momento
indicato dagli inquirenti come fratello del generale Agim Ceku, ex
capo militare della guerriglia albanese (Uck) e attuale comandante
del Tmk, il corpo di protezione civile del Kosovo. Le stesse fonti
hanno successivamente rettificato, affermando che in realta' l'uomo e'
solo un cugino del generale Ceku. Gli arresti erano avvenuti dopo che
in uno dei depositi di proprieta' di Lluka erano state ritrovate armi
e 270 tonnellate di sigarette che in un primo momento si era
sospettato fossero di contrabbando. (ANSA). 24/10/2002 17:15
http://www.ansa.it/balcani/kosovo/20021024171532365176.html
=== * ===
AGGREDITO AMMINISTRATORE UNMIK A PRIZREN
RADIO JUGOSLAVIA
Prizren Administrator Attacked By Albanians
October 22, 2002
In Prizren, southern Kosmet, six Albanians beat up the deputy
UNMIK administrator, Julian Bilbao, causing numerous injuries.
According to news agencies, special units of the UNMIK police
intervened, and one policeman was slightly injured. All the
perpetrators were arrested and criminal proceedings are to be
instigated against them.
=== * ===
AGGREDITO ANZIANO SERBO A KOSOVO POLJE
+++ SERBE ZUSAMMENGESCHLAGEN
KOSOVO POLJE. Auf dem Bahnhof von Kosovo Polje wurde
am Mittwoch gegen 20 Uhr der 75-jährige Serbe Miodrag Stankovic
zusammengeschlagen. Der alte Mann, wohnhaft in Kosovo Polje,
wurde von zwei ethnisch-albanischen Männern zu Boden geworfen
und anschließend mit Händen und Füßen attackiert. Hierbei wurden
ihm schwere Verletzungen zugefügt. TANJUG/INET-NEWS +++
Balkan-Telegramm, 24.Oktober 2002 - http://www.amselfeld.com
=== * ===
LA KFOR PRIVA GLI STUDENTI SERBI DI PROTEZIONE PER
ANDARE A SCUOLA A MITROVICA
Tanjug - Belgrade
KFOR Escort Canceled For Serbian Students
October 23, 2002
Kosovska Mitrovica, 23 Oct - On Wednesday, KFOR canceled the
escorts for Serbian students from Crkvena Vodica, Obilic, Janjina
Voda, and the villages from central Kosovo. Those students are
attending the schools in Plemetina and Priluzje, so it is unknown how
they will attend the schools in the future, says the head of the
Department of Education in Kosovska Mitrovica, Predrag Stojcetovic.
Stojcetovic pointed out that the parents would not allow the children
to go to school without a KFOR escort, because according to the
parents of Serbian students, their children are not safe on their way
from their homes to the school.
=== * ===
AGGREDITO ANZIANO SERBO A STRPCE
+++ SERBE VON ALBANERN ANGEGRIFFENS
STRPCE. Eine Gruppe bewaffneter ethnischer Albaner haben heute
gegen 15 Uhr den 71-jährigen Serben Bora Serafimovic aus dem
Dorf Pasjane bei Gnjilane angegriffen, während dieser Kühe hütete.
Die Angreifer, aus dem anliegenden Dorf Vlastice, haben den Mann
auf den Boden gestoßen, mehrmals auf den Kopf geschlagen und
anschließend seine Kühe weggeführt. Wegen den schweren
Verletzungen am Kopf wurde Serafimovic in das Krankenhaus von
Vranje verlegt. TANJUG +++
Balkan-Telegramm, 25.Oktober 2002 - http://www.amselfeld.com
=== * ===
REGOLAMENTO DI CONTI POST-ELETTORALE
ALBANISCHE ABRECHNUNGEN IN SUVA REKA
PRIZREN. Der ?Bürgermeister" der Gemeinde Suva Reka, der
Albaner Uka Bitici und zwei seiner Mitarbeiter wurden gestern Abend
aus einem fahrenden Auto heraus von albanischen Terroristen
erschossen. Bitici und seine Mitarbeiter gehörten der Partei des
Albanerführers Rugova an. STIMME KOSOVOS
Balkan-Telegramm, 27.Oktober 2002 - http://www.amselfeld.com
---
http://www.ptd.net/webnews/wed/dp/Qkosovo-vote-shooting.Rlhy_COR.html
Three shot dead by political opponents after Kosovo vote
-Hysa said celebrating members of the LDK -- which is
expected to win Saturday's election -- ran into
supporters of the rival Party of Democratic Kosovo
(PDK), led by former ethnic Albanian rebel Hashim Thaci.
"A young supporter of the PDK drew a gun and shot at
the mayor and two other people accompanying him. All
three have died," Hysa said.
PRISTINA, Yugoslavia, Oct 27 (AFP) - A senior member
in the party of Kosovo's Albanian president, Ibrahim
Rugova, and two other men were shot dead by political
opponents in western Kosovo on Sunday, a day after
local elections there, officials said.
It was the first politically motivated attack during
the election period.
Kosovo's first local election in 2000, overwhelmingly
won by Rugova's League of Democratic Kosovo (LDK), was
marred by political violence between rival ethnic
Albanian groups.
Ylber Hysa, head of the non-governmental Kosovo Action
for Civic Initiatives (KACI) monitoring the election,
identified the dead LDK official as Uke Bytyci.
Bytyci was mayor of Suva Reka, some 60 kilometres (35
miles) west of provincial capital Pristina.
Hysa said celebrating members of the LDK -- which is
expected to win Saturday's election -- ran into
supporters of the rival Party of Democratic Kosovo
(PDK), led by former ethnic Albanian rebel Hashim
Thaci.
"A young supporter of the PDK drew a gun and shot at
the mayor and two other people accompanying him. All
three have died," Hysa said.
Andrea Angeli, spokesman for the United Nation mission
in Kosovo, confirmed the information.
"There is evidence to indicate that it was an ambush,"
he said from Pristina, adding that police were
investigating the incident.
Michael Steiner, the United Nation's top official in
the province, condemned the shooting as "an appalling
act of calculated murder".
"Callous killing is particularly distressing after
yesterday's municipal elections in Kosovo, which were
conducted so smoothly and without a violent incident,"
Steiner said in a statement.
Angeli said Bytyci and two people with him had been
shot and injured by at least one person in the village
of Lesan, some six kilometres south of Suva Reka.
He said UN police were interrogating a suspect held at
Suva Reka police station.
Although the official results of Kosovo's local
election have yet to be announced by the Organisation
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Hysa's
KACI said the LDK had won the vote in most of the
province's 30 municipalities, including Suva Reka.
The Albanian-dominated southern Serbian province of
Kosovo has been under UN and NATO administration since
1999.
=== * ===
VITTORIO SGARBI PRENDE IN GIRO I SERBI DEL KOSOVO:
"BISOGNEREBBE PROTEGGERE I VOSTRI MONUMENTI"
SERBIAN ORTHODOX DIOCESE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN
KOSOVO AND METOHIJA
For immediate release
Info - Service ERP KIM
RENOWNED ITALIAN ACTIVIST FOR PROTECTION OF
CULTURAL HERITAGE SEEKS PROTECTION OF SERBIAN
ORTHODOX MONASTERIES IN KOSOVO
Sgarbi emphasises responsibility of KFOR for protection of Visoki
Decani and Pec Patriarchate
October 27, 2002
Rome - Italian deputy-minister of culture and a member of
Parliament Hon.Vittorio Sgarbi sent a letter to the new KFOR
commander, Italian general Fabio Mini, proposing special protection
of Serb Orthodox religious monuments in Kosovo. "The situation in
Kosovo and the unavoidable reduction of NATO forces in coming
months are cause for grave concern for the future protection of the
heritage of Serbian Orthodox culture and religion, especially of
Visoki Decani Monastery and the Pec Patriarchate, which are of great
significance for art history," wrote Sgarbi. Sgarbi notes in his
letter that many Orthodox religious monuments in Kosovo are already
damaged, and in many cases irreparably destroyed. "I wish to draw
your attention especially to the precarious situation in which two
pearls in northwestern Kosovo, Visoki Decani and the Pec Patriarchate
Monasteries, are found in comparison with well-guarded Gracanica
Monastery," emphasized Sgarbi. He added that the recent attack on
Serb pensioners in Pec clearly demonstrates the length of the path to
reconciliation between the [Serb and Albanian] communities and the
high degree of violence still reigning in Kosovo. Sgarbi expressed his
hope that Decani Monastery and Pec Patriarchate will be equally well
protected in future as they are now under the Italian military
command.
=== * ===
ARMI PER IL KOSOVO E L'ALBANIA VIA MONTENEGRO
Blic, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
October 26, 2002
Weapons for Kosovo and Albania via Podgorica
Large quantities of infantry weapons, ammunition and military
equipment often end up in well-guarded depots in central
Montenegro, not in Middle Eastern countries; from
there, the weapons are then smuggled into Albania and Kosovo
M.B., a businessman in the Podgorica quarter of Zagoric formerly
dealing in military surplus and equipment, purchased a small quanitity
of weapons and military equipment at the beginning of May of this
year for 25,000 dollars. Instead of being loaded onto ships, about
five truckloads of various weapons ended up in central Montenegro,
where they remain in warehouses today. He has already sold some of
the of the weapons and military equipment "without difficulty" to
parties in Albania and Kosovo. According to Blic's source, as a result
of information on smuggling of weapons and military equipment
provided to Western intelligence agencies the Montenegrin State
Security has been engaged in "intensive activity" in recent months.
International forces are presently conducting little more than formal
control of the border between Kosovo and Albania. Smuggling of
arms, narcotics, white slavery and incursions, that is, unhindered
entrance of various armed groups, are taking place without
obstruction. For example, at the Cafa Morina - Tropoja border
crossing there are only two-three policemen on the Albanian side and
two members of KFOR and one member of the Kosovo Protection
Corps on the Kosovo side of the border. Inspection of documents is a
mere formality; vehicles, transporter trucks and other transportation
is not inspected at all. Only a kilometer and a half from this
crossing there is a cobblestone road going from Tropoja to Bajram Curi
to the village of Junik village in Kosovo where there is no inspection
at all.
This is the road most often used for smuggling of drugs, weapons and
military equipment, and white slaves.
Cigarettes are now generally transported from Greece through
Albania to Kosovo and further toward Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
According to our source, intelligence sources are aware that the same
dealers are involved in all these activities.
The situation is similar at a second border crossing at Cafa - Prushit
from the Albanian side on the road toward Djakovica. Inspection on
the Albanian side is carried out by only one policeman in civilian
clothing, while on the Kosovo side no one is controlling the state
border at all.
=== * ===
CONTADINO SERBO AGGREDITO A KOSOVSKA MITROVICA
Ethnic Albanians beat up Serb in central Kosovo-Metohija
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, Oct 30 (Tanjug) - A group of unidentified ethnic
Albanians beat up Kosovo Serb Ranko Pajevic of the village of Grace
as he was farming his land on Tuesday afternoon, Tanjug was told on
Wednesday. Pajevic was farming his land in the hamlet of Tomic near
Grace in central Kosovo-Metohija, when a group of ethnic Albanians
attacked and seriously injured him.
Ethnic Albanians also stole Pajevic's tractor and fled. Pajevic early
on Wednesday reported the case to UNMIK's police station in
Priluzje.
This is not the only attack ethnic Albanians carried out against
Serbs from this village. Serbs from Grace have repeatedly reported
cases in which their ethnic Albanian neighbors had forcibly seized
their land, stole their cattle or burnt their yield, to Kosovo's
multinational police. Grace is populated by about 250 Serbs.
=== * ===
CHIESTO IL RILASCIO DI TRE SERBI IN GALERA DA ANNI
CON IMPUTAZIONI ASSURDE
http://www.serbia.sr.gov.yu/news/2002-10/31/326512.html
SERBIAN GOVERNMENT
Bozovic demands three Serbs be released
October 31, 2002
Belgrade, Oct. 30, 2002 - Coordinating Centre for Kosovo-Metohija
official Vladimir Bozovic sent a request to the UN's international
prosecutor for Kosovo-Metohija, Michael Hartmann, for the urgent
release of three imprisoned Serbs.
Bozovic revealed the identities of the three imprisoned Serbs to the
Beta news agency: Orahovac municipality President Anjelko
Kolasinac, who has been imprisoned for more than four years; Veselin
Besovic, from Pec, held in prison without evidence for almost three
years; and Slavoljub Jovic, who was, Bozovic claims, arrested
without proof.
The branch of the international criminal council in the Gnjilane
Municipal Court cleared another Serb, Bozidar Stojanovic, of
allegations of murdering an ethnic Albanian, his lawyer Zivojin
Jokanovic said. Stojanovic was previously sentenced to 16 years in
prison.
Stojanovic spent 38 months in detention. His lawyers managed to get a
new trial and prove his innocence. Hartmann was made aware of this
case of negligence. "We personally called on him and the whole
UNMIK judiciary to release the three Serbs," Bozovic said.
=== * ===
AVVIATE LE ESUMAZIONI DEI CADAVERI SCOPERTI NEL
CIMITERO ORTODOSSO DI PRIZREN - LA STAMPA
OCCIDENTALE *NON* PARLA DI FOSSE COMUNI
SERBIAN ORTHODOX DIOCESE OF RASKA AND PRIZREN
KOSOVO AND METOHIJA
Information Service
Newsletter, Oct 30, 2002
SRNA Serbian News Agency
27 BODIES EXHUMED
PRISTINA, OCTOBER 29 (SRNA) - "Members of the Yugoslav
Government's expert team exhumed the remains of 27 people, most
probably Serbs killed during 1999, at the Orthodox cemetery in
Prizren yesterday and today," Vukasin Otasevic, a team member,
told SRNA this evening. "We will continue with exhumations
tomorrow; we cannot say how many bodies there may be at this time,"
said Otasevic. He added that he expects successful cooperation with
members of UNMIK's expert team, led by the head of the
Office for Missing and Kidnapped Persons, Jose Pablo Baraibar, to
continue. He expressed the hope that Serbian Government's expert
team will complete exhumations at several additional locations by the
end of the year. "Exhumations at the Orthodox cemetery in Prizren
began upon our initiative but are being conducted under the
organization of UNMIK's Office for Missing and Kidnapped
Persons," said Otasevic.
30 BODIES FOUND IN PRIZREN CEMETARY
PRIZREN, Oct 30 (Beta)- Thirty unidentified bodies have been found
during three days of exhumation at the Orthodox Christian cemetery
in Prizren, said Kosovo expert team chief, pathologist Slavisa
Dobricanin.
There are no more unexamined graves in this location, said
Dobricanin, adding that the first results show that the bodies are
Serbian.
Exhumations in several more locations in Kosovo, especially in the
Djakovica municipality, will be carried out by the end of the year.
=== * ===
AGGREDITO SERBO PRESSO GRACE
Radio Yugoslavia
A SERB BEATEN BY ALBANIANS
VUCITRN, October 30
Ranko Pajevic, a Serb from the village of Grace, northern Kosmet, has
been beaten up by a group of unidentified Albanians, Tanjug learns.
The agency reports that while working in the field, Pajevic was
attacked by a group of Albanians and sustained heavy bodily injuries.
http://www.mfa.gov.yu/Pressframe14.htm
ETHNIC ALBANIANS BEAT UP SERB IN CENTRAL
KOSOVO-METOHIJA
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, Oct 30 (Tanjug) - A group of
unidentified ethnic Albanians beat up Kosovo Serb
Ranko Pajevic of the village of Grace as he was
farming his land on Tuesday afternoon, Tanjug was told
on Wednesday. Pajevic was farming his land in the
hamlet of Tomic near Grace in central Kosovo-Metohija,
when a group of ethnic Albanians attacked and
seriously injured him.
Ethnic Albanians also stole Pajevic's tractor and
fled. Pajevic early on Wednesday reported the case to
UNMIK's police station in Priluzje. This is not the
only attack ethnic Albanians carried out against Serbs
from this village. Serbs from Grace have repeatedly
reported cases in which their ethnic Albanian
neighbors had forcibly seized their land, stole their
cattle or burnt their yield, to Kosovo's multinational
police. Grace is populated by about 250 Serbs.
=== * ===
ANCHE AD OBILIC LA KFOR ELIMINA LA PROTEZIONE PER
GLI SCOLARI SERBI - IMPEDITA LA FREQUENTAZIONE
DELLE SCUOLE
POLITIKA (Belgrade daily)
KFOR QUITS ESCORTING SCHOOLCHILDREN IN OBILIC
MUNICIPALITY
October 30, 2002
For more than a week schoolchildren of four primary and three
secondary schools have not attended their classes, since KFOR has
suspended escorting them. According to Radmila Premovic, the
principle of the primary school Branko Radicevic, pupils have
not attended the classes for some ten days. The classes have stopped,
as Norwegian KFOR has not escorted primary and secondary
schoolchildren, who commute to their schools for some 10 kilometres
through Albanian populated places. According to the principle, KFOR
as a reason stated that their base has been moved to the village of
Lebane. KFOR recently has also stopped protecting school premises.
Radio Yugoslavia
October 30, 2002
Some 1,200 Serb pupils living in enclaves in central Kosmet have not
been attending school for 10 days now due to the safety situation, the
head of the Education Ministry Department for Kosovska Mitrovica,
Predrag Stojcetovic, said. He said that KFOR had ceased to escort Serb
children from Vucitrn, Obilic, Crkvena Vodica, Babin Most and
Plemetina on their way to school. The head of the MP club of the Serb
POVRATAK coalition, Rada Trajkovic, called on institutions and
organizations in charge of children's rights to react in order that a
solution be found.
ABOUT 1200 SERB STUDENTS MISSING CLASSES IN
KOSOVO AND METOHIJA
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, Oct 30 (Tanjug) - About 1200 Serb
students who live in enclaves in central Kosovo and Metohija have
been compelled to miss out on their classes for the past 10 days
because they cannot travel to their schools in safety, Ministry of
Education Kosovska Mitrovica Department chief Predrag Stojcevic
told Tanjug on Wednesday.
Stojcevic said the local international peacekeeping force KFOR
in the UN-administered southern Serbian province had suspended
escorts for Serb children from Vucitrn, Obilic, Crkvene Vodice,
Babin Most, and Plemetina on their way to and from school.
Kosovo-Metohija parliament Serb coalition Return whip
Rada Trajkovic gave a statement to Tanjug, in which she called on
all institutions and organizations in charge of children's rights
to react so that a safe life and regular classes can be secured for
Serb children in Kosovo and Metohija.
=== * ===
ITALIANI ED ALBANESI ARRESTATI A TIRANA IN POSSESSO
DI 18 CHILI DI EROINA
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/
ap/20021101/ap_wo_en_po/albania_drugs_1
Police detain Italians and Albanians with heroin
Fri Nov 1,11:17 AM ET
TIRANA, Albania - Police have cracked an Italian-Albanian drug
ring, arresting several people and seizing eight kilograms (18 pounds)
of heroin, the biggest drug haul in the last three months, an Interior
Ministry official said Friday.
A ministry spokesman, Florian Serjani, said that police detained the
suspects - Albanians and Italians - on Thursday at a hotel in the port
town of Durres, 30 kilometers (18 miles) west of the capital, Tirana.
He would not say how many people were detained and declined to
provide further details.
But an Albanian newspaper, Shekulli, quoted unnamed police in
Durres as saying that police had cracked a mafia network that
transports drugs from Albania to Italy.
Three Italians and six Albanians were detained, the daily reported.
Albania is a transit country for drug trafficking rings that are
active across the Balkans.
=== * ===
A KOSOVSKA MITROVICA LE STRADE VENGONO
RIBATTEZZATE CON I NOMI DELLE FIGURE
DI SPICCO DEL NAZIFASCISMO
Politika, Belgrade
November 1, 2002
SERB STREETS RENAMED AFTER BALISTS*
(Balists, or Balli Combetar, members of a pro-Nazi Albanian
nationalist organization in WW2)
Only John Kennedy and Tetovska Streets unchanged
Kosovska Mitrovica, October 31
Assemblymen of the mono-national municipal assembly of Kosovska
Mitrovica have voted unanimously to change the names of almost 260
streets and publci squares in this city on the Ibar River. Obviously
their only criterion was to replace streets bearing the names of Serbs
and other non-Albanians with the names of dead Albanian
terrorists from the ranks of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army
and notorious Balists during World War II.
The UNMIK administration did nothing to attempt to prevent the
name changes which, it should be added, are written exclusively in
Albanian in the southern, Albanian part of the city. The changing of
street names in Kosovska Mitrovica comes after the Albanians first
renamed all towns in the southern Serbian province, and then all the
street names, even in Serb enclaves where there are no Albanians. For
example, in Kosovska Mitrovica, Pasiceva Street became Milos
Kopilic Street. Karadjordjeva Street received the name of the
notorious Drenica region terrorist Adem Jashari, Duciceva Street now
bears the name Arta (golden), Railroad Street bears the name of
Bislim Bajgora, Hajduk-Stanka Street has been renamed Drenicka
Street, Drvarska Street has become Bujanska Conference Street, while
Kosovo-Maiden Street has now been renamed after the Bitoljski
Congress. Ramiz Sadiku Street has also changed its name and now
bears the name of Xhafer Deva, a notorious Balist who greeted the
fascist forces in Kosovska Mitrovica in World War II. The street
leading from the bus station which is located on the edge of the
southern, Albanian part of the city and leads to Srbica, is now called
Bloody Bridge Street. However, it was not enough for the
assemblymen to rename the streets by giving them names of terrorists
of the so-called KLA and Balists from World War II so they also gave
them names of cities in Albania. Thus some streets are now called
Shkodra, Tirana, Tropoja, Kukes... The only streets which did not
offend and are not nationalistic in tone are John Kennedy
Street and Tetovska Street. As well, it should be noted that the
assemblymen of the mono-national municipal assembly of Kosovska
Mitrovica have neglected to name at least some of the 260 streets in
the city on the Ibar River after well-known scientists, writers or
other
figures of renown in the world or at least in the region.
B. Radomirovic
=== * ===
L'INVIATO SPECIALE ONU JOSE CUTILEIRO RICONOSCE LA
SITUAZIONE INACCETTABILE DAL PUNTO DI VISTA DEI
DIRITTI UMANI IN KOSOVO-METOHIJA
CUTILEIRO DISSATISFIED WITH HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD IN KOSOVO
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, Nov 3 (Tanjug) - The special human
rights envoy Jose Cutileiro said on Sunday that the human rights
record in Kosovo and Metohija has not improved.
In terms of improvement of the status of human rights, nothing
has changed since February last year when he visited Kosovo the
last time, Cutileiro told reporters in Kosovska Mitrovica,
following talks with a member of the presidency of Kosovo
parliament Oliver Ivanovic. He said he was particularly dissatisfied
with the fact that the process of return of Serbs to Kosovo and
Metohija was weak and not yet sustainable.
IMPEDITA INIZIATIVA SULLA JUGOSLAVIA AL SFE DI FIRENZE
"Un'altra Europa e' possibile": questo lo slogan del Social Forum
Europeo, che si svolgera' a Firenze dal 6 al 10 novembre 2002. Ma di
quale "altra Europa" si tratta? La domanda acquista un significato
limpido e pressante nel momento in cui la partecipazione al Forum e'
stata negata a dei sindacalisti jugoslavi, quelli della "Zastava" di
Kragujevac, che possono essere considerati "testimonianza vivente" degli
effetti micidiali del neo-liberismo in Europa ed in particolare in quei
paesi europei definiti "in transizione".
La "Zastava" di Kragujevac e' stata bombardata e distrutta da governi
neo-liberisti; la sua produzione e' stata bloccata, gli operai
licenziati o messi in cassa-integrazione, l'intero complesso e' stato
messo in liquidazione da un governo neo-liberista; l'azienda e' stata
recentissimamente inglobata in una ditta statunitense, secondo il piu'
classico modello neo-liberista e nel dettame della "globalizzazione".
Di tutto questo, delle conseguenze di tutto questo per le famiglie dei
lavoratori e per la popolazione tutta, i sindacalisti jugoslavi a
Firenze non potranno parlare; viceversa, tra gli interventi programmati
nei seminari del "Forum" ci e' stata segnalata la presenza di personaggi
di punta per l'affermazione della ideologia neo-liberista in Jugoslavia,
come Sonja Licht-Biserko, rappresentante in Serbia della Fondazione
Soros: propaganda ultra-liberista all'interno del Forum europeo contro
il neo-liberismo.
(I. Slavo)
---
Subject: da Alma - SOCIAL FORUM DI FIRENZE
Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2002 08:26:26 +0100
From: "Rossi Alma" <alma@...>
SOSPESA L'INIZIATIVA CON I SINDACALISTI DELLA ZASTAVA PROGRAMMATA PER IL
7 NOVEMBRE A FIRENZE IN OCCASIONE DEL FORUM SOCIALE EUROPEO.
purtroppo dobbiamo registare l'ennesimo boicottaggio del Social Forum.
L'ambasciata Italiana di belgrado non concede i visti ai delegati della
Zastava ed alla esponente del sindacato metalmeccanici nazionale
Jugoslavo.
I visti erano stati richiesti 15 giorni fa dalla Cgil di Brescia con
preghiera di sollecito per garantire la presenza dei rappresentanti
sindacali della Jugoslavia di partecipare ad un ciclo di iniziative che
si sarebbero svolte in Italia dal 4 al 12 di Novembre.
Una procedura identica a quella utilizzata in tante altre occasioni, con
addirittura un maggiore anticipo (in altre occasioni la richiesta,
successivamente accolta, era stata anche di 5-6 giorni).
L'Ambasciata Italiana a Belgrado, nonostante a conoscenza che la
richiesta di visto riguardava il periodo dal 4 al 12 di novembre,
comunica ai sindacalisti Jugoslavi di presentarsi all'ambasciata
il giorno 7 novembre.
Non già per concedere loro il visto ma per essere sottoposti ad un
colloquio dal quale poi sarebbe dipesa la decisione di rilasciare o
meno il visto, comunque non prima del 12 novembre.
Una atteggiamento chiaramente provocatorio. L'ambasciata sapeva bene
che la richiesta di visto, motivata, riguardava un periodo precedente, e
che la richiesta era fatta appositamente per permettere ai sindacalisti
Jugoslavi di essere presenti ad un ciclo di iniziative già programmato.
Nonostante questo si è operato esplicitamente per non permettere che
ciò evvenisse.
Pretestuosi anche gli argomenti utilizzati per giustificare questa
stravagante procedura.
Dall'ufficio visti, sollecitato successivamente, oltre che da noi, anche
da interventi di parlamentari di Rifondazione e dal compagno Vinci
deputato europeo, ci è stato risposto che l'appuntamento per il
giorno 7 è stato programmato per evitare a chi doveva presentarsi
per ottenere il visto, lunghe ed estenuanti code.
Ma perchè, visto che la richiesta era che la delegazione Jugoslava fosse
in Italia il giorno 4, l'appuntamento è stato convocato per il 7 con la
promessa che il visto sarebbe stato loro concesso il 12 ??.
E perchè l'Ambasciata non ha ritenuto necessario avvisare di ciò il
richiedente (cioè la Cgil di Brescia)???
Tra le motivazioni di questa lungaggine ci è stata segnalata
dall'ambasciata di Belgrado la necessità di tenere sotto controllo un
fenomeno di emigrazione ormai sempre più elevato (non gli è neppure
venuto il dubbio che ciò è causato proprio dai bombardamenti
effettuati sulla serbia, ed ora che fanno .. si stupiscono che la gente
cerchi di scappare dalla miseria che gli
occidentali hanno coscentemente prodotto in quel paese), trattando
quindi la delegazione sindacale Jugoslava al pari di "Clandestini" che
cercavano di scappare nel ricco occidente.
Altra motivazione era quella di contrastare il diffondersi dei "falsi
visti".... (sic). Ma se il visto viene chiesto all'ambasciata ... ??? è
falso anche quello ???.
Ci dicono che uguale atteggiamento è stato tenuto da altre ambasciate.
Una conferma in più di come in tanti stiano operando per il
boicottaggio del Social Forum Europeo.
Non si potrà quindi tenere la prevista conferenza sulle condizioni della
classe operaia in Jugoslavia convocata per il 7 novembre. Ce ne
rammarichiamo, sopratutto perchè questa sospensione è "subita" ed è la
conseguenza dell'arroganza di una amministrazione Consolare tutta
piegata, non già ad assistere gli interessi e le iniziative dei
cittadini
Italiani (in questo caso la possibilità di avare in Italia una
delegazione
per partecipare ad iniziative sindacali pubbliche), e perchè viene
meno la possibilità di un utilissimo confronto con rappresentanti di
una realtà oggi in lotta per la difesa dei diritti e contro l'invasività
di una agressione economica (dopo quella militare) iperliberista che
sta distruggendo ogni tutela del lavoro e del salario, ogni dignità,
con l'obiettivo di asservire alle leggi nel nuovo mercato globalizzato
un'intero territorio e la sua forza lavoro.
Alma Rossi - email - alma@...
indirizzo internet del Coordinamento RSU - http://www.ecn.org/coord.rsu/
"Un'altra Europa e' possibile": questo lo slogan del Social Forum
Europeo, che si svolgera' a Firenze dal 6 al 10 novembre 2002. Ma di
quale "altra Europa" si tratta? La domanda acquista un significato
limpido e pressante nel momento in cui la partecipazione al Forum e'
stata negata a dei sindacalisti jugoslavi, quelli della "Zastava" di
Kragujevac, che possono essere considerati "testimonianza vivente" degli
effetti micidiali del neo-liberismo in Europa ed in particolare in quei
paesi europei definiti "in transizione".
La "Zastava" di Kragujevac e' stata bombardata e distrutta da governi
neo-liberisti; la sua produzione e' stata bloccata, gli operai
licenziati o messi in cassa-integrazione, l'intero complesso e' stato
messo in liquidazione da un governo neo-liberista; l'azienda e' stata
recentissimamente inglobata in una ditta statunitense, secondo il piu'
classico modello neo-liberista e nel dettame della "globalizzazione".
Di tutto questo, delle conseguenze di tutto questo per le famiglie dei
lavoratori e per la popolazione tutta, i sindacalisti jugoslavi a
Firenze non potranno parlare; viceversa, tra gli interventi programmati
nei seminari del "Forum" ci e' stata segnalata la presenza di personaggi
di punta per l'affermazione della ideologia neo-liberista in Jugoslavia,
come Sonja Licht-Biserko, rappresentante in Serbia della Fondazione
Soros: propaganda ultra-liberista all'interno del Forum europeo contro
il neo-liberismo.
(I. Slavo)
---
Subject: da Alma - SOCIAL FORUM DI FIRENZE
Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2002 08:26:26 +0100
From: "Rossi Alma" <alma@...>
SOSPESA L'INIZIATIVA CON I SINDACALISTI DELLA ZASTAVA PROGRAMMATA PER IL
7 NOVEMBRE A FIRENZE IN OCCASIONE DEL FORUM SOCIALE EUROPEO.
purtroppo dobbiamo registare l'ennesimo boicottaggio del Social Forum.
L'ambasciata Italiana di belgrado non concede i visti ai delegati della
Zastava ed alla esponente del sindacato metalmeccanici nazionale
Jugoslavo.
I visti erano stati richiesti 15 giorni fa dalla Cgil di Brescia con
preghiera di sollecito per garantire la presenza dei rappresentanti
sindacali della Jugoslavia di partecipare ad un ciclo di iniziative che
si sarebbero svolte in Italia dal 4 al 12 di Novembre.
Una procedura identica a quella utilizzata in tante altre occasioni, con
addirittura un maggiore anticipo (in altre occasioni la richiesta,
successivamente accolta, era stata anche di 5-6 giorni).
L'Ambasciata Italiana a Belgrado, nonostante a conoscenza che la
richiesta di visto riguardava il periodo dal 4 al 12 di novembre,
comunica ai sindacalisti Jugoslavi di presentarsi all'ambasciata
il giorno 7 novembre.
Non già per concedere loro il visto ma per essere sottoposti ad un
colloquio dal quale poi sarebbe dipesa la decisione di rilasciare o
meno il visto, comunque non prima del 12 novembre.
Una atteggiamento chiaramente provocatorio. L'ambasciata sapeva bene
che la richiesta di visto, motivata, riguardava un periodo precedente, e
che la richiesta era fatta appositamente per permettere ai sindacalisti
Jugoslavi di essere presenti ad un ciclo di iniziative già programmato.
Nonostante questo si è operato esplicitamente per non permettere che
ciò evvenisse.
Pretestuosi anche gli argomenti utilizzati per giustificare questa
stravagante procedura.
Dall'ufficio visti, sollecitato successivamente, oltre che da noi, anche
da interventi di parlamentari di Rifondazione e dal compagno Vinci
deputato europeo, ci è stato risposto che l'appuntamento per il
giorno 7 è stato programmato per evitare a chi doveva presentarsi
per ottenere il visto, lunghe ed estenuanti code.
Ma perchè, visto che la richiesta era che la delegazione Jugoslava fosse
in Italia il giorno 4, l'appuntamento è stato convocato per il 7 con la
promessa che il visto sarebbe stato loro concesso il 12 ??.
E perchè l'Ambasciata non ha ritenuto necessario avvisare di ciò il
richiedente (cioè la Cgil di Brescia)???
Tra le motivazioni di questa lungaggine ci è stata segnalata
dall'ambasciata di Belgrado la necessità di tenere sotto controllo un
fenomeno di emigrazione ormai sempre più elevato (non gli è neppure
venuto il dubbio che ciò è causato proprio dai bombardamenti
effettuati sulla serbia, ed ora che fanno .. si stupiscono che la gente
cerchi di scappare dalla miseria che gli
occidentali hanno coscentemente prodotto in quel paese), trattando
quindi la delegazione sindacale Jugoslava al pari di "Clandestini" che
cercavano di scappare nel ricco occidente.
Altra motivazione era quella di contrastare il diffondersi dei "falsi
visti".... (sic). Ma se il visto viene chiesto all'ambasciata ... ??? è
falso anche quello ???.
Ci dicono che uguale atteggiamento è stato tenuto da altre ambasciate.
Una conferma in più di come in tanti stiano operando per il
boicottaggio del Social Forum Europeo.
Non si potrà quindi tenere la prevista conferenza sulle condizioni della
classe operaia in Jugoslavia convocata per il 7 novembre. Ce ne
rammarichiamo, sopratutto perchè questa sospensione è "subita" ed è la
conseguenza dell'arroganza di una amministrazione Consolare tutta
piegata, non già ad assistere gli interessi e le iniziative dei
cittadini
Italiani (in questo caso la possibilità di avare in Italia una
delegazione
per partecipare ad iniziative sindacali pubbliche), e perchè viene
meno la possibilità di un utilissimo confronto con rappresentanti di
una realtà oggi in lotta per la difesa dei diritti e contro l'invasività
di una agressione economica (dopo quella militare) iperliberista che
sta distruggendo ogni tutela del lavoro e del salario, ogni dignità,
con l'obiettivo di asservire alle leggi nel nuovo mercato globalizzato
un'intero territorio e la sua forza lavoro.
Alma Rossi - email - alma@...
indirizzo internet del Coordinamento RSU - http://www.ecn.org/coord.rsu/
Questo testo in formato HTML:
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/files/vola_16_11.html
Questo testo in formato WORD (volantino):
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/files/vola_16_11.doc
--- CONVEGNO ---
Coordinamento Nazionale per la Jugoslavia
Italijanska Koordinacija za Jugoslaviju
Trieste 16 novembre 2002 ore 10.30
(Trattoria sociale di Contovello-Trieste, Contovello 152)
Convegno
Sulle macerie del Muro di Berlino parlavano di pace e di progresso.
In tutti questi anni abbiamo visto invece solamente un crescendo di
guerre e di miserie: dall'Iraq all'Afghanistan alla Palestina, per
ritornare di nuovo all'Iraq
... PASSANDO SEMPRE PER LA JUGOSLAVIA...
In Jugoslavia, al centro dell'Europa, l'aggressione e' stata
inininterrotta e la spoliazione procede oggi a gonfie vele. Quale e'
la vera situazione economica e sociale sul terreno, al di la' della
disinformazione o dell'omerta' dei mass-media? Come far procedere le
tante iniziative di solidarieta' verso la popolazione bombardata?
Interventi programmati:
* Igor Canciani (PRC Trieste): Introduzione al convegno
* Andrea Catone (CNJ / Most za Beograd, Bari): "Imperialismo e
guerre: l'aggressione alla RFJ"
* Gordana Pavlovic (Ass. Decja Istina, Belgrado): "La situazione
sociale nella RFJ due anni dopo il 5-10-2000"
* Vladimir Kapuralin (Partito Socialista Operaio, Pola): "La
situazione economica e sociale nelle repubbliche ex-jugoslave oggi. Il
caso croato"
* Lino Anelli (CGIL Lombardia): "Il caso Zastava"
* Fabio Sebastiani (Liberazione, Roma): "Le iniziative di
solidarieta'"
* Renato Kneipp (CGIL Trieste): "L'immigrazione jugoslava a Trieste"
* Ivan Pavicevac (CNJ / "Voce Jugoslava" su Radio Citta' Aperta,
Roma): "La disinformazione di guerra: il caso jugoslavo"
Presiede: Gilberto Vlaic (CNJ / ZASTAVA Trieste)
Organizzano:
Coordinamento Nazionale per Jugoslavia, Gruppo ZASTAVA Trieste
Partecipa:
PRC - Federazione di Trieste
L'iniziativa durera' tutta la giornata.
C'e' la possibilita' di pranzare in loco a prezzi modici (si prega di
prenotare al numero: 040-225168)
Per ulteriori informazioni:
338-9116688 - 339-6587490 - <jugocoord@l...>
Coordinamento Nazionale per la Jugoslavia - https://www.cnj.it/
Gruppo ZASTAVA Trieste - http://digilander.libero.it/zastavatrieste/
--- INFORMAZIONI LOGISTICHE ---
Coordinamento Nazionale per la Jugoslavia
Italijanska Koordinacija za Jugoslaviju
Trieste 16 novembre 2002 ore 10.30
(Trattoria sociale di Contovello-Trieste, Contovello 152)
Convegno: "... PASSANDO SEMPRE PER LA JUGOSLAVIA..."
INFORMAZIONI LOGISTICHE
Per chi arriva in macchina:
Dall'autostrada, passato il casello di Monfalcone, si percorrono altri
6-7 Km circa di superstrada verso Trieste. Si esce allo svincolo di
Sgonico.
Prendere a sinistra in direzione Trieste; dopo un chilometro circa si
entra a Prosecco; in centro paese girare a destra per Trieste e dopo
500 metri si e' a Contovello, di fronte alla Trattoria Sociale /
Drustvena Gostilna di Contovello / Kontovel. Chiunque sia del posto sa
indicarla.
Per chi viene da Fernetti: uscire a Prosecco e seguire le indicazioni
Prosecco/Contovello, poi come sopra.
Per chi arriva in treno:
Gli autobus urbani per arrivare a Contovello sono il 42 e il 44 con
capolinea in piazza Oberdan, a circa 300 metri dalla stazione
ferroviaria. Il tragitto dura circa 15 minuti. Chiedere all'autista di
scendere alla Trattoria Sociale di Contovello.
Partenze autobus n. 42 da Piazza Oberdan:
8.25 8.40 9.05 9.50 10.30 11.10 11.50
Partenze autobus n. 44 da Piazza Oberdan:
8.45 9.25 10.05 10.45 11.25
Per chi dovesse pernottare:
Di seguito riportiamo la lista delle pensioni economiche con qualche
disponibilita' di posti per la notte del 15 e/o per la notte del 16;
chi dovesse prenotare deve farlo con urgenza. Le pensioni sono tutte
vicinissime alla stazione e a Piazza Oberdan.
Nuovo Albergo Centro
Via Roma 11, tel. 040-3478790
(solo camere doppie: 42 euro senza bagno, 62 con bagno)
Rittmeyer
Via de Rittmeyer 2, tel. 040-762233
(24 euro singola senza bagno, 40 doppia senza bagno, 55 doppia con
bagno)
Affittacamere
Via Roma 13, tel. 040-636249
(26 euro singola senza bagno, 40 doppia senza bagno)
C'e' poi l'Ostello della Gioventu', a circa mezzora di autobus dalla
Stazione Centrale. Attenzione! L'Ostello chiude alle 23:30, l'ultimo
autobus che lo collega alla citta' termina il servizio attorno alle
21:00.
Ostello Tergeste
Viale Miramare 331, tel. 040-567722.
Costo 12 euro + 5.5 euro (tessera)
---
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/files/vola_16_11.html
Questo testo in formato WORD (volantino):
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/files/vola_16_11.doc
--- CONVEGNO ---
Coordinamento Nazionale per la Jugoslavia
Italijanska Koordinacija za Jugoslaviju
Trieste 16 novembre 2002 ore 10.30
(Trattoria sociale di Contovello-Trieste, Contovello 152)
Convegno
Sulle macerie del Muro di Berlino parlavano di pace e di progresso.
In tutti questi anni abbiamo visto invece solamente un crescendo di
guerre e di miserie: dall'Iraq all'Afghanistan alla Palestina, per
ritornare di nuovo all'Iraq
... PASSANDO SEMPRE PER LA JUGOSLAVIA...
In Jugoslavia, al centro dell'Europa, l'aggressione e' stata
inininterrotta e la spoliazione procede oggi a gonfie vele. Quale e'
la vera situazione economica e sociale sul terreno, al di la' della
disinformazione o dell'omerta' dei mass-media? Come far procedere le
tante iniziative di solidarieta' verso la popolazione bombardata?
Interventi programmati:
* Igor Canciani (PRC Trieste): Introduzione al convegno
* Andrea Catone (CNJ / Most za Beograd, Bari): "Imperialismo e
guerre: l'aggressione alla RFJ"
* Gordana Pavlovic (Ass. Decja Istina, Belgrado): "La situazione
sociale nella RFJ due anni dopo il 5-10-2000"
* Vladimir Kapuralin (Partito Socialista Operaio, Pola): "La
situazione economica e sociale nelle repubbliche ex-jugoslave oggi. Il
caso croato"
* Lino Anelli (CGIL Lombardia): "Il caso Zastava"
* Fabio Sebastiani (Liberazione, Roma): "Le iniziative di
solidarieta'"
* Renato Kneipp (CGIL Trieste): "L'immigrazione jugoslava a Trieste"
* Ivan Pavicevac (CNJ / "Voce Jugoslava" su Radio Citta' Aperta,
Roma): "La disinformazione di guerra: il caso jugoslavo"
Presiede: Gilberto Vlaic (CNJ / ZASTAVA Trieste)
Organizzano:
Coordinamento Nazionale per Jugoslavia, Gruppo ZASTAVA Trieste
Partecipa:
PRC - Federazione di Trieste
L'iniziativa durera' tutta la giornata.
C'e' la possibilita' di pranzare in loco a prezzi modici (si prega di
prenotare al numero: 040-225168)
Per ulteriori informazioni:
338-9116688 - 339-6587490 - <jugocoord@l...>
Coordinamento Nazionale per la Jugoslavia - https://www.cnj.it/
Gruppo ZASTAVA Trieste - http://digilander.libero.it/zastavatrieste/
--- INFORMAZIONI LOGISTICHE ---
Coordinamento Nazionale per la Jugoslavia
Italijanska Koordinacija za Jugoslaviju
Trieste 16 novembre 2002 ore 10.30
(Trattoria sociale di Contovello-Trieste, Contovello 152)
Convegno: "... PASSANDO SEMPRE PER LA JUGOSLAVIA..."
INFORMAZIONI LOGISTICHE
Per chi arriva in macchina:
Dall'autostrada, passato il casello di Monfalcone, si percorrono altri
6-7 Km circa di superstrada verso Trieste. Si esce allo svincolo di
Sgonico.
Prendere a sinistra in direzione Trieste; dopo un chilometro circa si
entra a Prosecco; in centro paese girare a destra per Trieste e dopo
500 metri si e' a Contovello, di fronte alla Trattoria Sociale /
Drustvena Gostilna di Contovello / Kontovel. Chiunque sia del posto sa
indicarla.
Per chi viene da Fernetti: uscire a Prosecco e seguire le indicazioni
Prosecco/Contovello, poi come sopra.
Per chi arriva in treno:
Gli autobus urbani per arrivare a Contovello sono il 42 e il 44 con
capolinea in piazza Oberdan, a circa 300 metri dalla stazione
ferroviaria. Il tragitto dura circa 15 minuti. Chiedere all'autista di
scendere alla Trattoria Sociale di Contovello.
Partenze autobus n. 42 da Piazza Oberdan:
8.25 8.40 9.05 9.50 10.30 11.10 11.50
Partenze autobus n. 44 da Piazza Oberdan:
8.45 9.25 10.05 10.45 11.25
Per chi dovesse pernottare:
Di seguito riportiamo la lista delle pensioni economiche con qualche
disponibilita' di posti per la notte del 15 e/o per la notte del 16;
chi dovesse prenotare deve farlo con urgenza. Le pensioni sono tutte
vicinissime alla stazione e a Piazza Oberdan.
Nuovo Albergo Centro
Via Roma 11, tel. 040-3478790
(solo camere doppie: 42 euro senza bagno, 62 con bagno)
Rittmeyer
Via de Rittmeyer 2, tel. 040-762233
(24 euro singola senza bagno, 40 doppia senza bagno, 55 doppia con
bagno)
Affittacamere
Via Roma 13, tel. 040-636249
(26 euro singola senza bagno, 40 doppia senza bagno)
C'e' poi l'Ostello della Gioventu', a circa mezzora di autobus dalla
Stazione Centrale. Attenzione! L'Ostello chiude alle 23:30, l'ultimo
autobus che lo collega alla citta' termina il servizio attorno alle
21:00.
Ostello Tergeste
Viale Miramare 331, tel. 040-567722.
Costo 12 euro + 5.5 euro (tessera)
---
1. From "SLOBODA" Association, 2/11/2002
2. ICTY Responsible for life and health of President Milosevic (3/11)
3. Milosevic exhausted, war crimes trial adjourned (DW 1/11)
4. Milosevic trial halted as health worry grows (Reuters 1/11)
5. Judges say Milosevic's ill health threatens war crimes trial (AFP
1/11)
6. Milosevic complains about closed court sessions (AFP 23/10)
AN IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM "SLOBODA" ASSOCIATION:
Subject: Information on our web sites
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 2002 20:08:47 +0100
From: "Vladimir Krsljanin" <vlada@...>
Message from SLOBODA (Freedom) Association - Yugoslav Committee for
the Defense of Slobodan Milosevic:
Due to enormous financial difficulties that follow our work in
assisting struggle of President Milosevic at The Hague for freedom,
truth and dignity of his people, all our web sites are temporarily
disconnected.
Thanks to many hours of work of ICDSM members and supporters in USA,
the web site of the International Committee to Defend Slobodan
Milosevic has been reconstructed and can now be reached at the
following temporary address:
http://emperor.vwh.net/icdsm/index.htm
If you are able to help our struggle by your donations, please go to:
http://emperor.vwh.net/icdsm/donations.htm
=== 1 ===
Subject: STOP THE MURDER! FREE MILOSEVIC! corrected
Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2002 22:39:45 +0100
From: "Vladimir Krsljanin" <vlada@...>
On Thursday, October 31, evening, President Slobodan Milosevic
suffered one of the sudden high increases of blood pressure,
characteristic for his illness (malignant hypertension + angina
pectoris). After that he felt so sick, that he couldn't attend the
"trial" next morning.
SUCH AN EVENT CAN CAUSE HIS DEATH!
President Slobodan Milosevic, national leader of Serbia and Yugoslavia
and hero of resistance to USA/NATO murderous war machinery is being
killed at The Hague by dungeon prison conditions, already nine months
of a pervert political trial, mountains of papers, lack of fresh air,
food, rest, physical activity, meetings with family and friends, any
facilities to prepare his extraordinary court room battle. He is being
killed also by total absence of medical care!
Here are the comments of the executioner "judge" May, according to
Reuters:
``He has complained of exhaustion and is being seen by a doctor this
morning and a report will be obtained,'' presiding judge Richard May
told the U.N. court in Milosevic's absence.
``In the light of the state of the accused's health and the length and
complexity of the case, the trial chamber is concerned about
completion of the trial,'' said May, one of three judges hearing the
case.
``Therefore we wish to have submission from the parties on the future
conduct of the case in order to ensure its expeditious conclusion. We
wish to have those submissions within seven days,'' he told
prosecutors and court officials.
Let these seven days be days of public fight for life of President
Milosevic!
President Milosevic has to be allowed to get specialized medical
treatment in Belgrade, until full recovery, by doctors who took care
about his health for years.
Perform every possible action!
Write to NATO puppet court ("International Criminal Tribunal for
Former Yugoslavia", "ICTY", fax +3170 512 8637) and tell them what you
mean!
Lawyers are invited to write to the "ICTY President" Claude Jorda and
"President of Trial Chamber III" Richard May, as well as to their
friends "Amici Curiae" Steven Kay and Branislav Tapuskovic (using the
same fax) and to tell them how they see "the future conduct of the
case"!
This morning SLOBODA (Freedom) - Yugoslav Committee for the defense of
Slobodan Milosevic wrote to "ICTY" the following:
---
Mr. Claude Jorda, President
Mr. Richard May, President
of the Trial Chamber III
ICTY
The Hague
The Netherlands
The actual deterioration of the health of Mr. Slobodan Milosevic, long
time President of the Republic of Serbia and of the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia is a direct and dramatic consequence of the way the
process has been conducted and of the fact that you have neglected the
recommendations of the physicians appointed by ICTY in order to
determine the state of Mr. President's health.
Even after of numerous warnings that, considering the state of health
of President Milosevic, detention conditions and rhythm and conduct of
the process can cause his death, you still continue to conduct your
political process in the same way. We remain you and warn you once
again that eminent Yugoslav cardiologists have concluded in their
objective and impartial expertise, which got consent of the physicians
appointed by you, that the way this political process has been
conducted represent a threat to the life of President Milosevic.
In spite the claim that ICTY is an international court of UN, you in
severest way violate the Resolutions and documents of the UN General
Assembly, related to health of persons in custody.
The first principle of the Resolution 3794 on the principles of
medical ethics, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 18,
1982, establishes an obligation to protect prisoners or detainees from
torture and other cruel, inhumane or humiliating sanctions or
behavior. The same Resolution obliges you to secure the medical
treatment of the same quality and based on same standards as for the
persons who are not in prison or in detention. But in violation to
that, you have not provided President Milosevic with medical therapy
nor even with medical care of the same quality and based on same
standards as for persons who are not in detention. This way you also
violate the Article 6 of the Codex of behavior of persons responsible
for application of the Law, adopted by UN General Assembly on December
17, 1979.
In addition to violation of the mentioned Resolutions, you also
violate your own Statute, namely its Article 21, point 4b, which
obliges you to provide every defendant with appropriate time and
facilities for preparation of his defense.
The astonishing rhythm of this political process, purpose of which is
not determination of the truth, but total endangering of the health of
President Milosevic, leads us to a conclusion that the fatal outcome
is your intention.
Experience with other persons in detention who faced dramatic
deterioration of heath or even loss of life, is also obliging you to
decide to allow Slobodan Milosevic to obtain medical therapy and
recovery in Belgrade by medical specialists who followed his health
condition for years, due to existence of special circumstances and to
resume the process after the improvement of his health.
We warn you that it is your obligation to harmonize your Rules and
practices with all UN documents on human rights protection, as well as
with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Belgrade, November 02, 2002
President of the Freedom Association -
Yugoslav Committee for the Defense of Slobodan Milosevic
Bogoljub Bjelica
=== 2 ===
Subject: WHAT DO THEY DO TO HIM
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 2002 19:34:21 +0100
From: "Vladimir Krsljanin" <vlada@...>
ICTY Responsible for life and health of President Milosevic
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
in The Hague is directly endangering the life and basic human rights
of President Slobodan Milosevic.
The long-term president of Serbia and the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia, founder and chairman of the Socialist Party of Serbia,
Slobodan Milosevic is held in the ICTY's detention unit under
conditions that could rightly be considered torture. President
Milosevic' cell is small, without access to natural air, and has a low
level of overall sanitation. He can only use the public telephone, and
pays for all his calls. He has been forced to attend the trial every
weekday for the past nine months (though with a recess in August). His
workday begins around 7 AM. He endures humiliating procedures during
transport from the detention unit to ICTY chambers and back. The trial
takes place between 9 AM and 4:30 PM. During the lunch break, he is
confined to the ICTY basement, and can only eat a sandwich. He is back
at the detention unit by 6 PM, and then he must choose between dinner
and a short walk in fresh air. Thereafter, till late at night, he
prepares for the next day of the trial.
For the remainder of prosecution's case, which is scheduled to end in
May 2003, he has to review over 100.000 pages of text and over 600
videotapes submitted by the prosecution. The length of the trial and
the amount of materials he has received are irrelevant to the
indictment, and their primary purpose is to wear out President
Milosevic.
His legal assistant cannot visit him on weekends. Unlike other
prisoners, who are allowed to see their families every day, and even
unsupervised, Mr. Milosevic can see his family only once a month, for
2-3 days, and always in under supervision. All other visits to
President Milosevic are subject to exceptional restrictions as well.
President Milosevic suffers from malignant hypertension and ischemical
myocardiopathy (angina pectoris). Psychological and physical exertions
to which he is subjected, combined with poor living conditions, can
easily lead to a heart attack, stroke, even sudden death. Even so, the
President not only lack specialised medical care, he lacks any medical
care at all. After numerous appeals and requests from Belgrade, and
after his full medical files have been sent to the ICTY, the trial
chamber approved a medical check-up. This happened only once, on July
11, 2002, and was performed by Dutch general practitioners approved by
the ICTY. The physicians nonetheless confirmed that the President's
living and working conditions represent a risk to his life and health,
and that it would be necessary to reduce the exertions to which he was
subjected, and provide a check-up and care by a cardiologist.
The trial chamber considered their report and recommendations on July
25 and August 26, 2002, and concluded that they should not be
implemented to the letter, but "in spirit".
However, to the present day, no cardiologist has been allowed to
examine President Milosevic, while the trial - previously adjourned by
2PM - has again been extended to 4:30 PM every day.
All of this indicates that the trial is but an organized attempt to
murder President Milosevic. Only his release, followed by medical care
and recuperation in Belgrade under supervision of specialists who have
treated and monitored his health for years, as well as his ability to
defend himself as a free man in the later on continued process, could
remove further risks to President Milosevic's life and secure the
elementary equality of the trial.
Beograd, 31 October 2002.
=== 3 ===
http://dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1429_W_667135,00.html
DEUTSCHE WELLE
01.11.2002 11:00 UTC
Milosevic exhausted, war crimes trial adjourned
Judges at Slobodan Milosevic's war crimes trial in The Hague have
expressed concern about completing the case against him after a
hearing was adjourned because he complained of exhaustion. The
ex-Yugoslav leader, who has been advised by doctors to rest regularly
because of high blood pressure, has been defending himself since
February against charges of genocide and ethnic cleansing in the
Balkans in the 1990s. Presiding judge Richard May told the United
Nations court Milosevic is being seen by a doctor and a report will be
obtained.
=== 4 ===
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml;
jsessionid=1XDPLALN4PC4KCRBAEKSFEY?type=search&StoryID=1667323
Milosevic trial halted as health worry grows
Last Updated: November 01, 2002 07:51 AM ET
THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Slobodan Milosevic's trial has ground to a halt
after he complained of exhaustion, with judges concerned about the
impact of his ailing health on Europe's biggest war crimes hearing
since World War Two.
The 61-year-old ex-Yugoslav leader, who has been advised by doctors to
rest regularly because of high blood pressure, has been defending
himself at The Hague since February against charges of ethnic
cleansing in the Balkans in the 1990s.
Judges at the U.N. court adjourned Friday's hearing within a matter of
minutes after announcing Milosevic would not be taking his seat in the
dock because he had complained of exhaustion at the end of a week of
vigorous cross-examination.
"He has complained of exhaustion and is being seen by a doctor this
morning and a report will be obtained," presiding judge Richard May
told the court in Milosevic's absence.
TRIAL STRESSES RAISE CONCERNS
The landmark trial for genocide and crimes against humanity has been
adjourned several times since it opened more than eight months ago
because of Milosevic's health problems.
"In the light of the state of the accused's health and the length and
complexity of the case, the trial chamber is concerned about
completion of the trial," said May, one of a panel of three
international judges hearing the case.
Judges have urged prosecutors and Milosevic to deal quickly and
efficiently with the huge volume of evidence and testimony in a case
drawing on thousands of documents, videos, photographs and maps
covering three conflicts over almost a decade.
"The judges are not intimating that the trial itself is in jeopardy.
What they are concerned about is that there are stresses on all
participants in a trial of this scope and this length," tribunal
spokesman Jim Landale said.
Judge May asked the prosecution and a team of independent lawyers
appointed to ensure Milosevic gets a fair trial to come up with
proposals within a week to streamline the hearings.
"We were working within the framework given to the court by the trial
chamber already with very tough conditions," prosecution spokeswoman
Florence Hartmann said in response to judge May's request.
One of Milosevic's legal advisers called for a shorter trial day in
response to his client's poor health. The trial often runs from around
9 a.m. to 4 p.m., taking in hours of cross-examination, detailed
evidence and complex legal argument.
"Since yesterday evening he has been feeling very, very bad. He's got
very high blood-pressure. He can't be in court to do the cross
examination," Dragoslav Ognjanovic said.
"His blood pressure and his health condition is due to the exhausting
pace of the trial," he said. Milosevic's wife Mira Markovic and his
family were also worried, Ognjanovic added.
THE "BOSS"
Milosevic, who has dismissed as lies the charges he faces, earlier
this week locked horns with a Serb ex-secret agent, who told the court
the accused was the undisputed "Boss" in Belgrade in the 1990s.
The former Serb strongman -- charged with 66 counts of human rights
violations in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo -- has made it clear he
considers the charges politically motivated.
Milosevic opted to conduct his own defence in a show of contempt for a
court he does not recognise and spurned advice to appoint a defence
lawyer. He declined to plead to the charges and not guilty pleas were
entered on his behalf by judges.
The trial's first phase, focusing on alleged Serb atrocities in Kosovo
in 1999, ended in September. The court is now hearing evidence from
the 1991-95 conflict in Croatia and Bosnia.
Judges, who have already imposed time restrictions on both sides due
to the enormous scope of the trial, have asked prosecutors to conclude
their whole case over his alleged crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and
Kosovo, by next May.
Milosevic will then launch his defence. The trial is expected to last
at least two years.
The U.N. detention block where Milosevic is held with dozens of other
war crimes suspects from the former Yugoslavia has its own doctor and
medical facilities. The block is inside a Dutch prison compound with
its own hospital.
=== 5 ===
Judges say Milosevic's ill health threatens war crimes trial
THE HAGUE, Nov 1 (AFP) - Judges trying Slobodan Milosevic for war
crimes on Friday voiced concern that the trial might not be completed,
after the former Yugoslav president's poor health again forced a delay
in the proceedings.
"In the light of the state of health of the accused, the length and
the complexity of the case, the chamber is concerned about the best
way to ensure the completion of this trial," presiding judge Richard
May said.
Milosevic, 61, did not appear in court on Friday, complaining of
"extreme fatigue and exhaustion" but the case is scheduled to resume
on Monday.
His trial, on genocide and war crimes charges, has been interrupted
four times since it began in February because he has fellen ill.
Doctors who carried out a full medical check-up in July said he had
high blood pressure and risked having a heart attack.
The court tried to reduce the workload on Milosevic after the last
health warning but even with the time limits imposed on it the case
will take years to complete.
The prosecution has until May 2003 to present its case. Milosevic will
have until at least mid-2004 for his defence.
In court Milosevic, who is facing charges of genocide, war crimes and
crimes against humanity for the 1990s Balkan wars, does not appear to
be a frail old man.
He defends himself vigorously, entering into heated exchanges with
witnesses and sometimes with judges as well. The former Yugoslav
leader likes to play to home audiences with lengthy speeches about the
historical mistreatment of Serbs and alleged western plots against
Belgrade.
Milosevic has refuses to appoint counsel to a court he considers
illegal and is defending himself against a team of 60 members of the
prosecution's 545-strong staff.
He is said to spend nights in his cell poring over court documents and
statements to prepare to cross-examine prosecution witnesses.
On Friday Judge May asked the prosecution and the amici curae --
lawyers appointed to assist the court in the case -- to submit within
seven days proposals on how best to proceed with the trial, taking
into account the defendant's health.
The judges have already suggested the appointment of a defence counsel
could reduce the strain on Milosevic.
He has strongly rejected the idea but legal experts say that the court
can appoint a lawyer for Milosevic against his will.
"The judges have the power to do anything that is necessary to ensure
the proper conduct of a trial and there is a precedent in the Rwanda
war crimes tribunal where counsel was appointed to an unwilling
defendant," Goran Sluiter, a legal expert at the University of
Utrecht, told AFP.
Sluiter expects that Milosevic will fight such an appointment tooth
and nail.
"Milosevic's big fear is to lose his time in court. For him the trial
is just a stage to air his views because he believes it is a show
trial and he will be convicted anyway," Sluiter said.
The court has hinted at a compromise solution -- appointing a defence
lawyer who would only assist during the cross-examination of
witnesses.
But Sluiter does not believe Milosevic will agree to anything that
would take him out of the limelight.
Milosevic faces more than 60 charges of war crimes and crimes against
humanity for his involvement in the wars in Kosovo (1998-99), Croatia
(1991-95) and Bosnia (1992-95).
The former president is also charged with genocide over the ethnic
cleansing of Muslims during the Bosnian war.
If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.
=== 6 ===
Milosevic complains about closed court sessions
THE HAGUE, Oct 23 (AFP) - Slobodan Milosevic complained on Wednesday
about the many closed sessions the judges are holding in his war
crimes trial before the tribunal here and described them as remnants
from another time.
"Secret trials stem from a past which nobody can boast about," the
former Yugoslav president told the court.
The war crimes trial of Milosevic, which is currently hearing evidence
about atrocities committed during the 1991-95 war in Croatia, has been
held largely in closed session the last few days with several witness
whose identities are shielded.
During closed sessions the public galleries are closed and the
testimony of the witnesses cannot be revealed.
Milosevic's outburst in court Wednesday came after the judges
reprimanded him for revealing elements of a testimony given in closed
session in one of his questions.
Presiding judge Richard May told the former president that "it is the
chamber that will rule in this case and not the public".
Milosevic is charged with over 60 counts of war crimes and crimes
against humanity for his role in the three conflicts that tore apart
the Balkans in the 1990s: the wars in Croatia (1991-95), the Bosnian
war (1992-95) and the Kosovo conflict (1998-99).
For Bosnia he faces a separate charge of genocide, the gravest of war
crimes.
Milosevic's historical war crimes trial started in February this year
and is expected to continue until at least 2004.
2. ICTY Responsible for life and health of President Milosevic (3/11)
3. Milosevic exhausted, war crimes trial adjourned (DW 1/11)
4. Milosevic trial halted as health worry grows (Reuters 1/11)
5. Judges say Milosevic's ill health threatens war crimes trial (AFP
1/11)
6. Milosevic complains about closed court sessions (AFP 23/10)
AN IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM "SLOBODA" ASSOCIATION:
Subject: Information on our web sites
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 2002 20:08:47 +0100
From: "Vladimir Krsljanin" <vlada@...>
Message from SLOBODA (Freedom) Association - Yugoslav Committee for
the Defense of Slobodan Milosevic:
Due to enormous financial difficulties that follow our work in
assisting struggle of President Milosevic at The Hague for freedom,
truth and dignity of his people, all our web sites are temporarily
disconnected.
Thanks to many hours of work of ICDSM members and supporters in USA,
the web site of the International Committee to Defend Slobodan
Milosevic has been reconstructed and can now be reached at the
following temporary address:
http://emperor.vwh.net/icdsm/index.htm
If you are able to help our struggle by your donations, please go to:
http://emperor.vwh.net/icdsm/donations.htm
=== 1 ===
Subject: STOP THE MURDER! FREE MILOSEVIC! corrected
Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2002 22:39:45 +0100
From: "Vladimir Krsljanin" <vlada@...>
On Thursday, October 31, evening, President Slobodan Milosevic
suffered one of the sudden high increases of blood pressure,
characteristic for his illness (malignant hypertension + angina
pectoris). After that he felt so sick, that he couldn't attend the
"trial" next morning.
SUCH AN EVENT CAN CAUSE HIS DEATH!
President Slobodan Milosevic, national leader of Serbia and Yugoslavia
and hero of resistance to USA/NATO murderous war machinery is being
killed at The Hague by dungeon prison conditions, already nine months
of a pervert political trial, mountains of papers, lack of fresh air,
food, rest, physical activity, meetings with family and friends, any
facilities to prepare his extraordinary court room battle. He is being
killed also by total absence of medical care!
Here are the comments of the executioner "judge" May, according to
Reuters:
``He has complained of exhaustion and is being seen by a doctor this
morning and a report will be obtained,'' presiding judge Richard May
told the U.N. court in Milosevic's absence.
``In the light of the state of the accused's health and the length and
complexity of the case, the trial chamber is concerned about
completion of the trial,'' said May, one of three judges hearing the
case.
``Therefore we wish to have submission from the parties on the future
conduct of the case in order to ensure its expeditious conclusion. We
wish to have those submissions within seven days,'' he told
prosecutors and court officials.
Let these seven days be days of public fight for life of President
Milosevic!
President Milosevic has to be allowed to get specialized medical
treatment in Belgrade, until full recovery, by doctors who took care
about his health for years.
Perform every possible action!
Write to NATO puppet court ("International Criminal Tribunal for
Former Yugoslavia", "ICTY", fax +3170 512 8637) and tell them what you
mean!
Lawyers are invited to write to the "ICTY President" Claude Jorda and
"President of Trial Chamber III" Richard May, as well as to their
friends "Amici Curiae" Steven Kay and Branislav Tapuskovic (using the
same fax) and to tell them how they see "the future conduct of the
case"!
This morning SLOBODA (Freedom) - Yugoslav Committee for the defense of
Slobodan Milosevic wrote to "ICTY" the following:
---
Mr. Claude Jorda, President
Mr. Richard May, President
of the Trial Chamber III
ICTY
The Hague
The Netherlands
The actual deterioration of the health of Mr. Slobodan Milosevic, long
time President of the Republic of Serbia and of the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia is a direct and dramatic consequence of the way the
process has been conducted and of the fact that you have neglected the
recommendations of the physicians appointed by ICTY in order to
determine the state of Mr. President's health.
Even after of numerous warnings that, considering the state of health
of President Milosevic, detention conditions and rhythm and conduct of
the process can cause his death, you still continue to conduct your
political process in the same way. We remain you and warn you once
again that eminent Yugoslav cardiologists have concluded in their
objective and impartial expertise, which got consent of the physicians
appointed by you, that the way this political process has been
conducted represent a threat to the life of President Milosevic.
In spite the claim that ICTY is an international court of UN, you in
severest way violate the Resolutions and documents of the UN General
Assembly, related to health of persons in custody.
The first principle of the Resolution 3794 on the principles of
medical ethics, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 18,
1982, establishes an obligation to protect prisoners or detainees from
torture and other cruel, inhumane or humiliating sanctions or
behavior. The same Resolution obliges you to secure the medical
treatment of the same quality and based on same standards as for the
persons who are not in prison or in detention. But in violation to
that, you have not provided President Milosevic with medical therapy
nor even with medical care of the same quality and based on same
standards as for persons who are not in detention. This way you also
violate the Article 6 of the Codex of behavior of persons responsible
for application of the Law, adopted by UN General Assembly on December
17, 1979.
In addition to violation of the mentioned Resolutions, you also
violate your own Statute, namely its Article 21, point 4b, which
obliges you to provide every defendant with appropriate time and
facilities for preparation of his defense.
The astonishing rhythm of this political process, purpose of which is
not determination of the truth, but total endangering of the health of
President Milosevic, leads us to a conclusion that the fatal outcome
is your intention.
Experience with other persons in detention who faced dramatic
deterioration of heath or even loss of life, is also obliging you to
decide to allow Slobodan Milosevic to obtain medical therapy and
recovery in Belgrade by medical specialists who followed his health
condition for years, due to existence of special circumstances and to
resume the process after the improvement of his health.
We warn you that it is your obligation to harmonize your Rules and
practices with all UN documents on human rights protection, as well as
with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Belgrade, November 02, 2002
President of the Freedom Association -
Yugoslav Committee for the Defense of Slobodan Milosevic
Bogoljub Bjelica
=== 2 ===
Subject: WHAT DO THEY DO TO HIM
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 2002 19:34:21 +0100
From: "Vladimir Krsljanin" <vlada@...>
ICTY Responsible for life and health of President Milosevic
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
in The Hague is directly endangering the life and basic human rights
of President Slobodan Milosevic.
The long-term president of Serbia and the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia, founder and chairman of the Socialist Party of Serbia,
Slobodan Milosevic is held in the ICTY's detention unit under
conditions that could rightly be considered torture. President
Milosevic' cell is small, without access to natural air, and has a low
level of overall sanitation. He can only use the public telephone, and
pays for all his calls. He has been forced to attend the trial every
weekday for the past nine months (though with a recess in August). His
workday begins around 7 AM. He endures humiliating procedures during
transport from the detention unit to ICTY chambers and back. The trial
takes place between 9 AM and 4:30 PM. During the lunch break, he is
confined to the ICTY basement, and can only eat a sandwich. He is back
at the detention unit by 6 PM, and then he must choose between dinner
and a short walk in fresh air. Thereafter, till late at night, he
prepares for the next day of the trial.
For the remainder of prosecution's case, which is scheduled to end in
May 2003, he has to review over 100.000 pages of text and over 600
videotapes submitted by the prosecution. The length of the trial and
the amount of materials he has received are irrelevant to the
indictment, and their primary purpose is to wear out President
Milosevic.
His legal assistant cannot visit him on weekends. Unlike other
prisoners, who are allowed to see their families every day, and even
unsupervised, Mr. Milosevic can see his family only once a month, for
2-3 days, and always in under supervision. All other visits to
President Milosevic are subject to exceptional restrictions as well.
President Milosevic suffers from malignant hypertension and ischemical
myocardiopathy (angina pectoris). Psychological and physical exertions
to which he is subjected, combined with poor living conditions, can
easily lead to a heart attack, stroke, even sudden death. Even so, the
President not only lack specialised medical care, he lacks any medical
care at all. After numerous appeals and requests from Belgrade, and
after his full medical files have been sent to the ICTY, the trial
chamber approved a medical check-up. This happened only once, on July
11, 2002, and was performed by Dutch general practitioners approved by
the ICTY. The physicians nonetheless confirmed that the President's
living and working conditions represent a risk to his life and health,
and that it would be necessary to reduce the exertions to which he was
subjected, and provide a check-up and care by a cardiologist.
The trial chamber considered their report and recommendations on July
25 and August 26, 2002, and concluded that they should not be
implemented to the letter, but "in spirit".
However, to the present day, no cardiologist has been allowed to
examine President Milosevic, while the trial - previously adjourned by
2PM - has again been extended to 4:30 PM every day.
All of this indicates that the trial is but an organized attempt to
murder President Milosevic. Only his release, followed by medical care
and recuperation in Belgrade under supervision of specialists who have
treated and monitored his health for years, as well as his ability to
defend himself as a free man in the later on continued process, could
remove further risks to President Milosevic's life and secure the
elementary equality of the trial.
Beograd, 31 October 2002.
=== 3 ===
http://dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1429_W_667135,00.html
DEUTSCHE WELLE
01.11.2002 11:00 UTC
Milosevic exhausted, war crimes trial adjourned
Judges at Slobodan Milosevic's war crimes trial in The Hague have
expressed concern about completing the case against him after a
hearing was adjourned because he complained of exhaustion. The
ex-Yugoslav leader, who has been advised by doctors to rest regularly
because of high blood pressure, has been defending himself since
February against charges of genocide and ethnic cleansing in the
Balkans in the 1990s. Presiding judge Richard May told the United
Nations court Milosevic is being seen by a doctor and a report will be
obtained.
=== 4 ===
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml;
jsessionid=1XDPLALN4PC4KCRBAEKSFEY?type=search&StoryID=1667323
Milosevic trial halted as health worry grows
Last Updated: November 01, 2002 07:51 AM ET
THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Slobodan Milosevic's trial has ground to a halt
after he complained of exhaustion, with judges concerned about the
impact of his ailing health on Europe's biggest war crimes hearing
since World War Two.
The 61-year-old ex-Yugoslav leader, who has been advised by doctors to
rest regularly because of high blood pressure, has been defending
himself at The Hague since February against charges of ethnic
cleansing in the Balkans in the 1990s.
Judges at the U.N. court adjourned Friday's hearing within a matter of
minutes after announcing Milosevic would not be taking his seat in the
dock because he had complained of exhaustion at the end of a week of
vigorous cross-examination.
"He has complained of exhaustion and is being seen by a doctor this
morning and a report will be obtained," presiding judge Richard May
told the court in Milosevic's absence.
TRIAL STRESSES RAISE CONCERNS
The landmark trial for genocide and crimes against humanity has been
adjourned several times since it opened more than eight months ago
because of Milosevic's health problems.
"In the light of the state of the accused's health and the length and
complexity of the case, the trial chamber is concerned about
completion of the trial," said May, one of a panel of three
international judges hearing the case.
Judges have urged prosecutors and Milosevic to deal quickly and
efficiently with the huge volume of evidence and testimony in a case
drawing on thousands of documents, videos, photographs and maps
covering three conflicts over almost a decade.
"The judges are not intimating that the trial itself is in jeopardy.
What they are concerned about is that there are stresses on all
participants in a trial of this scope and this length," tribunal
spokesman Jim Landale said.
Judge May asked the prosecution and a team of independent lawyers
appointed to ensure Milosevic gets a fair trial to come up with
proposals within a week to streamline the hearings.
"We were working within the framework given to the court by the trial
chamber already with very tough conditions," prosecution spokeswoman
Florence Hartmann said in response to judge May's request.
One of Milosevic's legal advisers called for a shorter trial day in
response to his client's poor health. The trial often runs from around
9 a.m. to 4 p.m., taking in hours of cross-examination, detailed
evidence and complex legal argument.
"Since yesterday evening he has been feeling very, very bad. He's got
very high blood-pressure. He can't be in court to do the cross
examination," Dragoslav Ognjanovic said.
"His blood pressure and his health condition is due to the exhausting
pace of the trial," he said. Milosevic's wife Mira Markovic and his
family were also worried, Ognjanovic added.
THE "BOSS"
Milosevic, who has dismissed as lies the charges he faces, earlier
this week locked horns with a Serb ex-secret agent, who told the court
the accused was the undisputed "Boss" in Belgrade in the 1990s.
The former Serb strongman -- charged with 66 counts of human rights
violations in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo -- has made it clear he
considers the charges politically motivated.
Milosevic opted to conduct his own defence in a show of contempt for a
court he does not recognise and spurned advice to appoint a defence
lawyer. He declined to plead to the charges and not guilty pleas were
entered on his behalf by judges.
The trial's first phase, focusing on alleged Serb atrocities in Kosovo
in 1999, ended in September. The court is now hearing evidence from
the 1991-95 conflict in Croatia and Bosnia.
Judges, who have already imposed time restrictions on both sides due
to the enormous scope of the trial, have asked prosecutors to conclude
their whole case over his alleged crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and
Kosovo, by next May.
Milosevic will then launch his defence. The trial is expected to last
at least two years.
The U.N. detention block where Milosevic is held with dozens of other
war crimes suspects from the former Yugoslavia has its own doctor and
medical facilities. The block is inside a Dutch prison compound with
its own hospital.
=== 5 ===
Judges say Milosevic's ill health threatens war crimes trial
THE HAGUE, Nov 1 (AFP) - Judges trying Slobodan Milosevic for war
crimes on Friday voiced concern that the trial might not be completed,
after the former Yugoslav president's poor health again forced a delay
in the proceedings.
"In the light of the state of health of the accused, the length and
the complexity of the case, the chamber is concerned about the best
way to ensure the completion of this trial," presiding judge Richard
May said.
Milosevic, 61, did not appear in court on Friday, complaining of
"extreme fatigue and exhaustion" but the case is scheduled to resume
on Monday.
His trial, on genocide and war crimes charges, has been interrupted
four times since it began in February because he has fellen ill.
Doctors who carried out a full medical check-up in July said he had
high blood pressure and risked having a heart attack.
The court tried to reduce the workload on Milosevic after the last
health warning but even with the time limits imposed on it the case
will take years to complete.
The prosecution has until May 2003 to present its case. Milosevic will
have until at least mid-2004 for his defence.
In court Milosevic, who is facing charges of genocide, war crimes and
crimes against humanity for the 1990s Balkan wars, does not appear to
be a frail old man.
He defends himself vigorously, entering into heated exchanges with
witnesses and sometimes with judges as well. The former Yugoslav
leader likes to play to home audiences with lengthy speeches about the
historical mistreatment of Serbs and alleged western plots against
Belgrade.
Milosevic has refuses to appoint counsel to a court he considers
illegal and is defending himself against a team of 60 members of the
prosecution's 545-strong staff.
He is said to spend nights in his cell poring over court documents and
statements to prepare to cross-examine prosecution witnesses.
On Friday Judge May asked the prosecution and the amici curae --
lawyers appointed to assist the court in the case -- to submit within
seven days proposals on how best to proceed with the trial, taking
into account the defendant's health.
The judges have already suggested the appointment of a defence counsel
could reduce the strain on Milosevic.
He has strongly rejected the idea but legal experts say that the court
can appoint a lawyer for Milosevic against his will.
"The judges have the power to do anything that is necessary to ensure
the proper conduct of a trial and there is a precedent in the Rwanda
war crimes tribunal where counsel was appointed to an unwilling
defendant," Goran Sluiter, a legal expert at the University of
Utrecht, told AFP.
Sluiter expects that Milosevic will fight such an appointment tooth
and nail.
"Milosevic's big fear is to lose his time in court. For him the trial
is just a stage to air his views because he believes it is a show
trial and he will be convicted anyway," Sluiter said.
The court has hinted at a compromise solution -- appointing a defence
lawyer who would only assist during the cross-examination of
witnesses.
But Sluiter does not believe Milosevic will agree to anything that
would take him out of the limelight.
Milosevic faces more than 60 charges of war crimes and crimes against
humanity for his involvement in the wars in Kosovo (1998-99), Croatia
(1991-95) and Bosnia (1992-95).
The former president is also charged with genocide over the ethnic
cleansing of Muslims during the Bosnian war.
If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.
=== 6 ===
Milosevic complains about closed court sessions
THE HAGUE, Oct 23 (AFP) - Slobodan Milosevic complained on Wednesday
about the many closed sessions the judges are holding in his war
crimes trial before the tribunal here and described them as remnants
from another time.
"Secret trials stem from a past which nobody can boast about," the
former Yugoslav president told the court.
The war crimes trial of Milosevic, which is currently hearing evidence
about atrocities committed during the 1991-95 war in Croatia, has been
held largely in closed session the last few days with several witness
whose identities are shielded.
During closed sessions the public galleries are closed and the
testimony of the witnesses cannot be revealed.
Milosevic's outburst in court Wednesday came after the judges
reprimanded him for revealing elements of a testimony given in closed
session in one of his questions.
Presiding judge Richard May told the former president that "it is the
chamber that will rule in this case and not the public".
Milosevic is charged with over 60 counts of war crimes and crimes
against humanity for his role in the three conflicts that tore apart
the Balkans in the 1990s: the wars in Croatia (1991-95), the Bosnian
war (1992-95) and the Kosovo conflict (1998-99).
For Bosnia he faces a separate charge of genocide, the gravest of war
crimes.
Milosevic's historical war crimes trial started in February this year
and is expected to continue until at least 2004.
International Committee to Defend Slobodan Milosevic
http://www.icdsm.org - http://emperor.vwh.net/icdsm/index.htm
=================================
Slobodan Milosevic's Cross-Examination of
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic: PART VI
Because the transcript of the cross-examination
is 150 pages long we have broken it into 12 easy
to read segments. If you wish to read the whole thing
at once go to:
http://www.icdsm.org/more/mesic.htm
OR
http://emperor.vwh.net/icdsm/more/mesic.htm
=================================
Page 10669
1 Presidency of Yugoslavia, you betrayed Yugoslavia and contributed to
its
2 break-up. Then proceeding to betray those with whom you had
collaborated
3 to destroy Yugoslavia. I'm referring to the HDZ and Tudjman. I don't
4 know who is next. Is it true that Tudjman wanted that from the very
5 start, when the HDZ was founded, Tudjman linked it up with the
right-wing
6 factions in Croatia, which includes those who do not conceal the
fact they
7 are Ustasha?
8 JUDGE MAY: Mr. Mesic, before you answer, allegations are made
9 there which you should have a chance to deal with, a series of them.
10 The first is that, as the president of the Presidency of
11 Yugoslavia, you betrayed Yugoslavia and contributed to its
break-up. Did
12 you regard yourself as betraying Yugoslavia?
13 THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] When I was elected to the Presidency
14 of Yugoslavia, I believed that I would help to resolve the Yugoslav
crisis
15 by political means, that I could contribute to avoiding the war. My
16 proposal to the Presidency was that we should adopt a fully
confederal
17 system and that the confederation should be given a time limit,
three to
18 five years, that the republics should be declared independent, that
the
19 republics should be internationally recognised, that they should
recognise
20 each other, and thereby be recognised by the international
community, and
21 that on the day when the Federation ceased to exist, a
confederation be
22 established. Why? Because everyone was dissatisfied with
Yugoslavia.
23 Serbia claimed that it was being exploited. Serbia claimed that
they were
24 the ones who funded others. Croatia was saying that its hard
currency was
25 being siphoned off to Belgrade. If everybody was dissatisfied, why
not
Page 10670
Blank page inserted to ensure pagination corresponds between the
French and English
transcripts.
Page 10671
1 adopt a new model? My proposal was to have a confederation and to
2 establish what tasks the confederation would perform, how much this
would
3 cost, and what the key to the budget would be, to the financing of
this.
4 Serbia never expressed its view on this proposal. Instead of this,
5 Milosevic proposed a strong federation. That is what happened to
Kosovo
6 and Vojvodina, that this should happen everywhere. We could not
agree to
7 this. But I was in favour of negotiations. I thought that it was
better
8 to negotiate for ten years rather than to wage war for ten days.
Some
9 people were in favour of the war option, and Slobodan Milosevic was
10 certainly one of those.
11 But what could I have done in Belgrade? Who could I have
12 influenced? The generals contacted Milosevic, the army executed
what
13 Milosevic's regime wanted, the creation of a greater Serbia,
because he
14 was saying that the Serbs should remain in one state. That is the
part
15 that was to become Yugoslavia and to be taken from Croatia. That's
what
16 General Veljko Kadijevic says in his book, and he was the Secretary
for
17 National Defence.
18 Therefore, therefore, the army, when it had been made into a
19 Serbian army, when the Croats, the Slovenians, the Macedonians and
others
20 had left, when it had become a Serbian army, it was to perform the
job of
21 setting up new borders, and the one who was perpetrating that plan
was the
22 one who was destroying the Federation. I wanted to search for a
political
23 solution through constitutional means. I had two secretaries, an
advisor,
24 and a Chef de Cabinet, and they were the only people I could
influence. I
25 have to say they were all Serbs. Who else could I have influenced,
and
Page 10672
1 how could I have toppled Yugoslavia? Was it I who did it or was it
the
2 person who had the Yugoslav army at his disposal, which had been
3 transformed into a Serbian army?
4 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
5 Q. Mr. Mesic, that all the peoples of Yugoslavia should live in one
6 state pertained to Yugoslavia and that the Serbs in Yugoslavia lived
in
7 one state was one of the reasons why Serbia wanted Yugoslavia to be
8 preserved, and that is the only thing that you can quote me on
saying, not
9 anybody else. And you're making this up, just like others have along
the
10 same lines.
11 I asked you the following: Tudjman wanted a Croatian state at all
12 costs, and from the very inception of the HDZ, he firmly relied on
the
13 most radical right-wing, which consisted of the most drastic
Ustasha; is
14 that right?
15 A. That's not true. Increasingly radical elements started joining
16 the party and then I left the party.
17 Q. You say in your interview to the AIM and the question was why
did
18 Tudjman from the very inception of the HDZ so strongly rely on the
radical
19 right wing in which there are some clear-cut Ustasha. You say that
you
20 were powerless, that these were forces that were more powerful than
you
21 and that Tudjman went along with them and that the forces that you
22 represented were different, and you say that he relied on these
extremist
23 forces and he believed that they would be his friends in war, and
that
24 after the war he would manage to neutralise them. That was your
25 explanation. Is that right or is that not right, Mr. Mesic?
Page 10673
1 A. I think that I answered that question at the very outset. The HDZ
2 was a democratic party and now the question is what this journalist
meant
3 by the very outset. Which outset?
4 Q. All right. You explained that this was from March 1991 after the
5 meeting in Karadjordjevo. That is your interpretation of the
situation,
6 and we are not going to dwell on that. However, you did remain in
that
7 same HDZ for another three years and now you're attacking it.
8 A. 1991 until the end of 1992 cannot be three by any kind of
9 arithmetic. So there seems to be some kind of erroneous arithmetic
10 involved.
11 Q. Is it true that it was Tudjman's view that Bosnia was a mistake,
12 that it was a mistake to make it as a republic after the Second
World War
13 and that it should be annexed to Croatia? Is that right or is that
not
14 right?
15 A. Those were his ideas, that Bosnia was supposed to belong to
16 Croatia on the basis of a decision that should have been adopted by
Avnoj.
17 That's what we discussed, because we were both in opposition, both
Tudjman
18 and I were MPs in the Croatian parliament in 1965.
19 Q. All right. Is it true that it is precisely in Zagreb that
20 deportations of the population of Bosnia were discussed? Or as you
had
21 put it, the humane resettlement of the population and basically
this was
22 ethnic cleansing. Is this right or is this not right?
23 A. As for humane resettlement, that is something that you talked
24 about and all of those who thought that it was necessary to
transport
25 Croats from Slankamen into Croatia and Serbs into Serbia. I
certainly
Page 10674
1 took no part in that.
2 Q. All right, Mr. Mesic. Let's not dwell on this much longer. I
3 asked you whether you had your own views on this, because in the
4 transcript that I refer to, your opinion is quite obvious. You say
that
5 any person with common sense would realise that this is ethnic
cleansing.
6 A. Well, humanitarian resettlement is actually ethnic cleansing.
7 That is why your detachments came, Dusan Silni, Arkan's guard. All
of
8 them came in order to carry out ethnic cleansing. That is not even
9 humanitarian resettlement.
10 Q. Mr. Mesic, I am referring to your policy, the policy of Croatia.
11 I am not talking about whether anybody from Serbia did any such
thing.
12 Because as you know full well, it is only Serbia that kept its
ethnic
13 composition over the past ten years, and nobody was expelled from
Serbia,
14 not a single house was torched, and nobody was mistreated because
of their
15 ethnic affiliation.
16 A. Except for the fact that in Serbia there were 18 camps where
there
17 were Croatian citizens and they were fleeing from Seselj, the
Croats from
18 Vojvodina were, and they were settling Croat settlements and they
were
19 exchanging their houses for Serb houses. That is the so-called
20 humanitarian resettlement.
21 Q. Mr. Mesic, do you know that there was not a single camp in
22 Yugoslavia, or rather, in Serbia, not for Croats, not for anyone,
not for
23 Croats, not for Muslims, not for anyone.
24 A. Croatia is still looking for over 3.300 of its citizens. Many of
25 them, after Vukovar and after other places where massacres were
committed,
Page 10675
1 were taken to Serbia. We have to know that the Yugoslav army, with
2 paramilitary organisations, which, with the approval of the Serb
3 leadership came to Croatia, destroyed Croatian towns. Why was
Vukovar
4 destroyed? Why were the citizens of Croatia taken to Serbia from
Vukovar?
5 Why were they taken to camps in Serbia? If the president of Serbia
does
6 not know that there were camps in Serbia, then that is the problem
of
7 Serbia.
8 Q. Mr. Mesic, do you know, for example, that when this propaganda
9 started about the existence of camps in Serbia, that various foreign
10 delegations spoke to me about this, people who came on other
business, and
11 they asked me about these camps? And I answered to each and every
one of
12 them: Please feel free to take a helicopter that I have here and
that is
13 ready. Put your finger anywhere on a map and that's where the
helicopter
14 will take you, and you will see that there is nothing of the sort
in
15 Serbia. After a few answers that I gave of this kind, one
delegation, it
16 was a German delegation, asked to go, then pinpointed the mine in
17 Aleksinac on a map. They went there and the only thing they found
was --
18 JUDGE MAY: You're not giving evidence. You can give evidence to
19 us in due course.
20 Mr. Mesic, do you know anything about Mr. Milosevic's dealings
21 with foreign delegations? Have you seen any reports or heard
anything
22 about that?
23 THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] I don't know about that. I do know
24 that the Yugoslav army, together with paramilitary organisations,
took out
25 of the Vukovar hospital almost 300 persons and that they were all
Page 10676
1 liquidated in Ovcara, near Vukovar. I also know that citizens who
were
2 taken prisoner in that massacre of Vukovar were transported to
Serbia.
3 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
4 Q. First of all, that is not correct. Secondly, please take a look
5 at this map.
6 JUDGE MAY: What are you suggesting happened at Vukovar,
7 Mr. Milosevic, if it's not correct?
8 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] It is not correct that anyone from
9 Serbia took citizens from Vukovar to Serbia. It is not correct that
any
10 policy of Serbia's influenced the intensification of the conflict
in the
11 region of Vukovar. What is correct is that it is precisely the
armed
12 detachments of the HDZ that barged into people's homes, into
villages
13 around Vukovar and took Serbs away, arrested them, and so on. They
14 attacked Vukovar --
15 JUDGE MAY: Is it disputed that 300 persons were taken from the
16 hospital to Ovcara and there liquidated? Is that disputed?
17 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] I don't have these figures, Mr. May,
18 and I'm not discussing them now. But I shall try to find these
facts and
19 figures and see what kind of facts and figures are available. I can
20 claim, though, that no Serbian authorities had absolutely anything
to do
21 with this, nor did the Serb authorities cause any kind of ethnic
conflicts
22 in Vukovar. Ethnic conflicts in Vukovar were caused by the same
people I
23 quoted a minute ago, those who took people out of their homes in
Zagreb.
24 JUDGE MAY: I've asked you some questions about that. Now, let's
25 move on to matters which the witness can deal with, in particular,
his
Page 10677
1 evidence. Time, as you know, is limited, Mr. Milosevic. We must
allow
2 some time for the amicus to ask any questions that they want this
3 afternoon. And any re-examination, Mr. Nice?
4 MR. NICE: There's likely to be some, yes.
5 JUDGE MAY: Mr. Kay, could you help about the amicus?
6 MR. TAPUSKOVIC: [Interpretation] Yes, there will be questions.
7 JUDGE MAY: How long do you ask for, Mr. Tapuskovic? Can you give
8 us an idea, please?
9 MR. TAPUSKOVIC: [Interpretation] It is hard for me to say. I will
10 honour any decision you make, but it seems to me that half an hour
would
11 be absolutely indispensable.
12 JUDGE MAY: We may not be able to give you half an hour, I'm
13 afraid, because time is short. We can extend the sitting this
afternoon
14 until 2.00, unless the Registry have any difficulty about that.
There's
15 another hearing this afternoon, but I anticipate we can sit until
2.00,
16 and we will extend the hearing until then to accommodate as much
17 questioning as we can.
18 But Mr. Milosevic, your time is limited, as you know. So let's
19 move on. If you've got any matters that you want to challenge on
what the
20 witness said in his evidence, you should do so.
21 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] Mr. May, of course I am challenging
22 almost everything that the witness said during his testimony. But I
23 assume that it is clear to you that limiting time for the
24 cross-examination of this witness is quite contrary to the need to
25 ascertain the truth. After all, the other party announced that they
would
Page 10678
Blank page inserted to ensure pagination corresponds between the
French and English
transcripts.
Page 10679
1 examine him for ten hours and then they decreased the number by two
and a
2 half times in order to diminish my ability to cross-examine him.
However,
3 I am going to use the time that is given to me, and you will have to
deal
4 with the fact that you haven't given me enough time.
5 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
6 Q. Mr. Mesic, do you know that there were 221 camps for Serbs in the
7 period between 1991 and 1996 in Croatia? The five that you refer to
in
8 Serbia never existed. And here you have a list of all the 221 camps
for
9 Serbs in Croatia, and also a map that shows where they were and how
many
10 were in different towns and so on. Are you aware of this?
11 A. Regardless of the fact that I have been highly critical in terms
12 of the functioning of rule of law in the state of Croatia until the
year
13 2000, the truth is that there were no camps in Croatia. There were
14 abuses, there were crimes. That is certain. However, unfortunately,
I
15 did not answer the question that had to do with Vukovar. Do I have
to
16 give an answer? I do. Those who carried out liquidations were given
17 decorations and were promoted to the rank of general and other such
ranks.
18 They still live in Belgrade and they are wanted by this Tribunal.
So I'm
19 not the one who is inventing things. The only persons who were not
taken
20 out of Vukovar were those who were liquidated in Ovcara.
21 Q. According to the information I have, no army could have executed
22 or liquidated anyone. You know full well as a citizen of Yugoslavia
until
23 it was broken up and you have --
24 JUDGE MAY: This is a matter which the Trial Chamber, I suspect,
25 is going to have to determine in due course, and it sounds as
though these
* Continued at: http://www.icdsm.org/more/mesic-7.htm
OR http://emperor.vwh.net/icdsm/more/mesic-7.htm
***** Urgent Message from Sloboda (Freedom) Association and the
International Committee to Defend Slobodan Milosevic!
The Freedom Association in Belgrade and the ICDSM, based outside
Yugoslavia, are the two organizations formed at the
request of Slobodan Milosevic to aid in his defense.
Up until now our main work has been threefold. We have publicized the
truth about The Hague's phony trial. We have
organized research to help President Milosevic expose NATO's lies. And
we have initiated legal action in the Dutch and
European Courts.
Now our job has increased. The defense phase of the "trial" starts in
May 2003. No longer will Mr. Milosevic be limited
to cross-examining Hague witnesses. The prosecution will be forced
further onto the defensive as victims of NATO's
aggression and experts from Yugoslavia and the NATO countries tell
what really happened and expose media lies. Moreover,
Mr. Milosevic will call leaders, from East and West, some friendly and
some hostile to the truth.
The controlled mass media will undoubtedly try to suppress this
testimony as they have tried to suppress Mr. Milosevic's
cross-examinations. Nevertheless this phase of the "trial" will be the
biggest international forum ever to expose NATO's
use of racism, violence and lies to attack Yugoslavia.
We urgently need the help of all people who care about what is
happening in The Hague. Right now, Nico Steijnen , the
Dutch lawyer in the ICDSM, is waging legal battles in the Dutch courts
and before the European Court, about which more
news soon. These efforts urgently require financial support. We now
maintain a small staff of Yugoslav lawyers in
Holland, assisting and advising Mr. Milosevic full-time. We need to
expand our Dutch facilities, perhaps bringing in a
non-Yugoslav attorney full-time. Definitely we must guarantee that we
have an office and office manager available at all
times, to compile and process evidence and for meetings with witnesses
and lawyers and as a base for organizing press
conferences.
All this costs money. And for this, we rely on those who want Mr.
Milosevic to have the best possible support for
attacking NATO's lies.
************
Here's how you can help...
************
* You may contribute by credit card. By the end of September we will
have an ICDSM secure server so you can contribute
directly on the Internet.
For now, you can contribute by credit card in two ways: *
You can Contribute by Credit Card over the Telephone by calling:
ICDSM office, USA: 1 617 916-1705
SLOBODA (Freedom) Association office, Belgrade: 381 63 279 819
You can Contribute using PayPal at:
https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=icdsm%40aol.com
PayPal accepts VISA and MasterCard
You can Contribute by mail to:
ICDSM
831 Beacon St., #295
Newton Centre, MA 02459 (USA)
- OR -
You can Contribute by wire transfer to Sloboda Association
Intermediary:
UBS AG
Zurich, Switzerland
Swift Code: UBSWCHZH
Account with:
/ 756 - CHF
/ 840 - USD
/ 978 - EUR
Kmercijalna Banka AD
SV. Save 14, 11000 Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia
Swift Code: KOBBYUBG
Beneficiary: Account No. 5428-1246-16154-6
SLOBODA
Rajiceva 16, 11000 Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia
Thank you!
http://www.icdsm.org
http://www.icdsm.org - http://emperor.vwh.net/icdsm/index.htm
=================================
Slobodan Milosevic's Cross-Examination of
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic: PART VI
Because the transcript of the cross-examination
is 150 pages long we have broken it into 12 easy
to read segments. If you wish to read the whole thing
at once go to:
http://www.icdsm.org/more/mesic.htm
OR
http://emperor.vwh.net/icdsm/more/mesic.htm
=================================
Page 10669
1 Presidency of Yugoslavia, you betrayed Yugoslavia and contributed to
its
2 break-up. Then proceeding to betray those with whom you had
collaborated
3 to destroy Yugoslavia. I'm referring to the HDZ and Tudjman. I don't
4 know who is next. Is it true that Tudjman wanted that from the very
5 start, when the HDZ was founded, Tudjman linked it up with the
right-wing
6 factions in Croatia, which includes those who do not conceal the
fact they
7 are Ustasha?
8 JUDGE MAY: Mr. Mesic, before you answer, allegations are made
9 there which you should have a chance to deal with, a series of them.
10 The first is that, as the president of the Presidency of
11 Yugoslavia, you betrayed Yugoslavia and contributed to its
break-up. Did
12 you regard yourself as betraying Yugoslavia?
13 THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] When I was elected to the Presidency
14 of Yugoslavia, I believed that I would help to resolve the Yugoslav
crisis
15 by political means, that I could contribute to avoiding the war. My
16 proposal to the Presidency was that we should adopt a fully
confederal
17 system and that the confederation should be given a time limit,
three to
18 five years, that the republics should be declared independent, that
the
19 republics should be internationally recognised, that they should
recognise
20 each other, and thereby be recognised by the international
community, and
21 that on the day when the Federation ceased to exist, a
confederation be
22 established. Why? Because everyone was dissatisfied with
Yugoslavia.
23 Serbia claimed that it was being exploited. Serbia claimed that
they were
24 the ones who funded others. Croatia was saying that its hard
currency was
25 being siphoned off to Belgrade. If everybody was dissatisfied, why
not
Page 10670
Blank page inserted to ensure pagination corresponds between the
French and English
transcripts.
Page 10671
1 adopt a new model? My proposal was to have a confederation and to
2 establish what tasks the confederation would perform, how much this
would
3 cost, and what the key to the budget would be, to the financing of
this.
4 Serbia never expressed its view on this proposal. Instead of this,
5 Milosevic proposed a strong federation. That is what happened to
Kosovo
6 and Vojvodina, that this should happen everywhere. We could not
agree to
7 this. But I was in favour of negotiations. I thought that it was
better
8 to negotiate for ten years rather than to wage war for ten days.
Some
9 people were in favour of the war option, and Slobodan Milosevic was
10 certainly one of those.
11 But what could I have done in Belgrade? Who could I have
12 influenced? The generals contacted Milosevic, the army executed
what
13 Milosevic's regime wanted, the creation of a greater Serbia,
because he
14 was saying that the Serbs should remain in one state. That is the
part
15 that was to become Yugoslavia and to be taken from Croatia. That's
what
16 General Veljko Kadijevic says in his book, and he was the Secretary
for
17 National Defence.
18 Therefore, therefore, the army, when it had been made into a
19 Serbian army, when the Croats, the Slovenians, the Macedonians and
others
20 had left, when it had become a Serbian army, it was to perform the
job of
21 setting up new borders, and the one who was perpetrating that plan
was the
22 one who was destroying the Federation. I wanted to search for a
political
23 solution through constitutional means. I had two secretaries, an
advisor,
24 and a Chef de Cabinet, and they were the only people I could
influence. I
25 have to say they were all Serbs. Who else could I have influenced,
and
Page 10672
1 how could I have toppled Yugoslavia? Was it I who did it or was it
the
2 person who had the Yugoslav army at his disposal, which had been
3 transformed into a Serbian army?
4 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
5 Q. Mr. Mesic, that all the peoples of Yugoslavia should live in one
6 state pertained to Yugoslavia and that the Serbs in Yugoslavia lived
in
7 one state was one of the reasons why Serbia wanted Yugoslavia to be
8 preserved, and that is the only thing that you can quote me on
saying, not
9 anybody else. And you're making this up, just like others have along
the
10 same lines.
11 I asked you the following: Tudjman wanted a Croatian state at all
12 costs, and from the very inception of the HDZ, he firmly relied on
the
13 most radical right-wing, which consisted of the most drastic
Ustasha; is
14 that right?
15 A. That's not true. Increasingly radical elements started joining
16 the party and then I left the party.
17 Q. You say in your interview to the AIM and the question was why
did
18 Tudjman from the very inception of the HDZ so strongly rely on the
radical
19 right wing in which there are some clear-cut Ustasha. You say that
you
20 were powerless, that these were forces that were more powerful than
you
21 and that Tudjman went along with them and that the forces that you
22 represented were different, and you say that he relied on these
extremist
23 forces and he believed that they would be his friends in war, and
that
24 after the war he would manage to neutralise them. That was your
25 explanation. Is that right or is that not right, Mr. Mesic?
Page 10673
1 A. I think that I answered that question at the very outset. The HDZ
2 was a democratic party and now the question is what this journalist
meant
3 by the very outset. Which outset?
4 Q. All right. You explained that this was from March 1991 after the
5 meeting in Karadjordjevo. That is your interpretation of the
situation,
6 and we are not going to dwell on that. However, you did remain in
that
7 same HDZ for another three years and now you're attacking it.
8 A. 1991 until the end of 1992 cannot be three by any kind of
9 arithmetic. So there seems to be some kind of erroneous arithmetic
10 involved.
11 Q. Is it true that it was Tudjman's view that Bosnia was a mistake,
12 that it was a mistake to make it as a republic after the Second
World War
13 and that it should be annexed to Croatia? Is that right or is that
not
14 right?
15 A. Those were his ideas, that Bosnia was supposed to belong to
16 Croatia on the basis of a decision that should have been adopted by
Avnoj.
17 That's what we discussed, because we were both in opposition, both
Tudjman
18 and I were MPs in the Croatian parliament in 1965.
19 Q. All right. Is it true that it is precisely in Zagreb that
20 deportations of the population of Bosnia were discussed? Or as you
had
21 put it, the humane resettlement of the population and basically
this was
22 ethnic cleansing. Is this right or is this not right?
23 A. As for humane resettlement, that is something that you talked
24 about and all of those who thought that it was necessary to
transport
25 Croats from Slankamen into Croatia and Serbs into Serbia. I
certainly
Page 10674
1 took no part in that.
2 Q. All right, Mr. Mesic. Let's not dwell on this much longer. I
3 asked you whether you had your own views on this, because in the
4 transcript that I refer to, your opinion is quite obvious. You say
that
5 any person with common sense would realise that this is ethnic
cleansing.
6 A. Well, humanitarian resettlement is actually ethnic cleansing.
7 That is why your detachments came, Dusan Silni, Arkan's guard. All
of
8 them came in order to carry out ethnic cleansing. That is not even
9 humanitarian resettlement.
10 Q. Mr. Mesic, I am referring to your policy, the policy of Croatia.
11 I am not talking about whether anybody from Serbia did any such
thing.
12 Because as you know full well, it is only Serbia that kept its
ethnic
13 composition over the past ten years, and nobody was expelled from
Serbia,
14 not a single house was torched, and nobody was mistreated because
of their
15 ethnic affiliation.
16 A. Except for the fact that in Serbia there were 18 camps where
there
17 were Croatian citizens and they were fleeing from Seselj, the
Croats from
18 Vojvodina were, and they were settling Croat settlements and they
were
19 exchanging their houses for Serb houses. That is the so-called
20 humanitarian resettlement.
21 Q. Mr. Mesic, do you know that there was not a single camp in
22 Yugoslavia, or rather, in Serbia, not for Croats, not for anyone,
not for
23 Croats, not for Muslims, not for anyone.
24 A. Croatia is still looking for over 3.300 of its citizens. Many of
25 them, after Vukovar and after other places where massacres were
committed,
Page 10675
1 were taken to Serbia. We have to know that the Yugoslav army, with
2 paramilitary organisations, which, with the approval of the Serb
3 leadership came to Croatia, destroyed Croatian towns. Why was
Vukovar
4 destroyed? Why were the citizens of Croatia taken to Serbia from
Vukovar?
5 Why were they taken to camps in Serbia? If the president of Serbia
does
6 not know that there were camps in Serbia, then that is the problem
of
7 Serbia.
8 Q. Mr. Mesic, do you know, for example, that when this propaganda
9 started about the existence of camps in Serbia, that various foreign
10 delegations spoke to me about this, people who came on other
business, and
11 they asked me about these camps? And I answered to each and every
one of
12 them: Please feel free to take a helicopter that I have here and
that is
13 ready. Put your finger anywhere on a map and that's where the
helicopter
14 will take you, and you will see that there is nothing of the sort
in
15 Serbia. After a few answers that I gave of this kind, one
delegation, it
16 was a German delegation, asked to go, then pinpointed the mine in
17 Aleksinac on a map. They went there and the only thing they found
was --
18 JUDGE MAY: You're not giving evidence. You can give evidence to
19 us in due course.
20 Mr. Mesic, do you know anything about Mr. Milosevic's dealings
21 with foreign delegations? Have you seen any reports or heard
anything
22 about that?
23 THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] I don't know about that. I do know
24 that the Yugoslav army, together with paramilitary organisations,
took out
25 of the Vukovar hospital almost 300 persons and that they were all
Page 10676
1 liquidated in Ovcara, near Vukovar. I also know that citizens who
were
2 taken prisoner in that massacre of Vukovar were transported to
Serbia.
3 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
4 Q. First of all, that is not correct. Secondly, please take a look
5 at this map.
6 JUDGE MAY: What are you suggesting happened at Vukovar,
7 Mr. Milosevic, if it's not correct?
8 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] It is not correct that anyone from
9 Serbia took citizens from Vukovar to Serbia. It is not correct that
any
10 policy of Serbia's influenced the intensification of the conflict
in the
11 region of Vukovar. What is correct is that it is precisely the
armed
12 detachments of the HDZ that barged into people's homes, into
villages
13 around Vukovar and took Serbs away, arrested them, and so on. They
14 attacked Vukovar --
15 JUDGE MAY: Is it disputed that 300 persons were taken from the
16 hospital to Ovcara and there liquidated? Is that disputed?
17 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] I don't have these figures, Mr. May,
18 and I'm not discussing them now. But I shall try to find these
facts and
19 figures and see what kind of facts and figures are available. I can
20 claim, though, that no Serbian authorities had absolutely anything
to do
21 with this, nor did the Serb authorities cause any kind of ethnic
conflicts
22 in Vukovar. Ethnic conflicts in Vukovar were caused by the same
people I
23 quoted a minute ago, those who took people out of their homes in
Zagreb.
24 JUDGE MAY: I've asked you some questions about that. Now, let's
25 move on to matters which the witness can deal with, in particular,
his
Page 10677
1 evidence. Time, as you know, is limited, Mr. Milosevic. We must
allow
2 some time for the amicus to ask any questions that they want this
3 afternoon. And any re-examination, Mr. Nice?
4 MR. NICE: There's likely to be some, yes.
5 JUDGE MAY: Mr. Kay, could you help about the amicus?
6 MR. TAPUSKOVIC: [Interpretation] Yes, there will be questions.
7 JUDGE MAY: How long do you ask for, Mr. Tapuskovic? Can you give
8 us an idea, please?
9 MR. TAPUSKOVIC: [Interpretation] It is hard for me to say. I will
10 honour any decision you make, but it seems to me that half an hour
would
11 be absolutely indispensable.
12 JUDGE MAY: We may not be able to give you half an hour, I'm
13 afraid, because time is short. We can extend the sitting this
afternoon
14 until 2.00, unless the Registry have any difficulty about that.
There's
15 another hearing this afternoon, but I anticipate we can sit until
2.00,
16 and we will extend the hearing until then to accommodate as much
17 questioning as we can.
18 But Mr. Milosevic, your time is limited, as you know. So let's
19 move on. If you've got any matters that you want to challenge on
what the
20 witness said in his evidence, you should do so.
21 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] Mr. May, of course I am challenging
22 almost everything that the witness said during his testimony. But I
23 assume that it is clear to you that limiting time for the
24 cross-examination of this witness is quite contrary to the need to
25 ascertain the truth. After all, the other party announced that they
would
Page 10678
Blank page inserted to ensure pagination corresponds between the
French and English
transcripts.
Page 10679
1 examine him for ten hours and then they decreased the number by two
and a
2 half times in order to diminish my ability to cross-examine him.
However,
3 I am going to use the time that is given to me, and you will have to
deal
4 with the fact that you haven't given me enough time.
5 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
6 Q. Mr. Mesic, do you know that there were 221 camps for Serbs in the
7 period between 1991 and 1996 in Croatia? The five that you refer to
in
8 Serbia never existed. And here you have a list of all the 221 camps
for
9 Serbs in Croatia, and also a map that shows where they were and how
many
10 were in different towns and so on. Are you aware of this?
11 A. Regardless of the fact that I have been highly critical in terms
12 of the functioning of rule of law in the state of Croatia until the
year
13 2000, the truth is that there were no camps in Croatia. There were
14 abuses, there were crimes. That is certain. However, unfortunately,
I
15 did not answer the question that had to do with Vukovar. Do I have
to
16 give an answer? I do. Those who carried out liquidations were given
17 decorations and were promoted to the rank of general and other such
ranks.
18 They still live in Belgrade and they are wanted by this Tribunal.
So I'm
19 not the one who is inventing things. The only persons who were not
taken
20 out of Vukovar were those who were liquidated in Ovcara.
21 Q. According to the information I have, no army could have executed
22 or liquidated anyone. You know full well as a citizen of Yugoslavia
until
23 it was broken up and you have --
24 JUDGE MAY: This is a matter which the Trial Chamber, I suspect,
25 is going to have to determine in due course, and it sounds as
though these
* Continued at: http://www.icdsm.org/more/mesic-7.htm
OR http://emperor.vwh.net/icdsm/more/mesic-7.htm
***** Urgent Message from Sloboda (Freedom) Association and the
International Committee to Defend Slobodan Milosevic!
The Freedom Association in Belgrade and the ICDSM, based outside
Yugoslavia, are the two organizations formed at the
request of Slobodan Milosevic to aid in his defense.
Up until now our main work has been threefold. We have publicized the
truth about The Hague's phony trial. We have
organized research to help President Milosevic expose NATO's lies. And
we have initiated legal action in the Dutch and
European Courts.
Now our job has increased. The defense phase of the "trial" starts in
May 2003. No longer will Mr. Milosevic be limited
to cross-examining Hague witnesses. The prosecution will be forced
further onto the defensive as victims of NATO's
aggression and experts from Yugoslavia and the NATO countries tell
what really happened and expose media lies. Moreover,
Mr. Milosevic will call leaders, from East and West, some friendly and
some hostile to the truth.
The controlled mass media will undoubtedly try to suppress this
testimony as they have tried to suppress Mr. Milosevic's
cross-examinations. Nevertheless this phase of the "trial" will be the
biggest international forum ever to expose NATO's
use of racism, violence and lies to attack Yugoslavia.
We urgently need the help of all people who care about what is
happening in The Hague. Right now, Nico Steijnen , the
Dutch lawyer in the ICDSM, is waging legal battles in the Dutch courts
and before the European Court, about which more
news soon. These efforts urgently require financial support. We now
maintain a small staff of Yugoslav lawyers in
Holland, assisting and advising Mr. Milosevic full-time. We need to
expand our Dutch facilities, perhaps bringing in a
non-Yugoslav attorney full-time. Definitely we must guarantee that we
have an office and office manager available at all
times, to compile and process evidence and for meetings with witnesses
and lawyers and as a base for organizing press
conferences.
All this costs money. And for this, we rely on those who want Mr.
Milosevic to have the best possible support for
attacking NATO's lies.
************
Here's how you can help...
************
* You may contribute by credit card. By the end of September we will
have an ICDSM secure server so you can contribute
directly on the Internet.
For now, you can contribute by credit card in two ways: *
You can Contribute by Credit Card over the Telephone by calling:
ICDSM office, USA: 1 617 916-1705
SLOBODA (Freedom) Association office, Belgrade: 381 63 279 819
You can Contribute using PayPal at:
https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=icdsm%40aol.com
PayPal accepts VISA and MasterCard
You can Contribute by mail to:
ICDSM
831 Beacon St., #295
Newton Centre, MA 02459 (USA)
- OR -
You can Contribute by wire transfer to Sloboda Association
Intermediary:
UBS AG
Zurich, Switzerland
Swift Code: UBSWCHZH
Account with:
/ 756 - CHF
/ 840 - USD
/ 978 - EUR
Kmercijalna Banka AD
SV. Save 14, 11000 Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia
Swift Code: KOBBYUBG
Beneficiary: Account No. 5428-1246-16154-6
SLOBODA
Rajiceva 16, 11000 Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia
Thank you!
http://www.icdsm.org
International Committee to Defend Slobodan Milosevic
http://www.icdsm.org - http://emperor.vwh.net/icdsm/index.htm
=================================
Slobodan Milosevic's Cross-Examination of
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic: PART VII
Because the transcript of the cross-examination
is 150 pages long we have broken it into 12 easy
to read segments. If you wish to read the whole thing
at once go to:
http://www.icdsm.org/more/mesic.htm
OR
http://emperor.vwh.net/icdsm/more/mesic.htm
=================================
Page 10680
1 are matters of argument. So, Mr. Milosevic, let's move on.
2 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
3 Q. Mr. Mesic, is it clear to you that in that Yugoslav People's
Army,
4 there could not have been a single officer who would have issued
orders to
5 have innocent civilians executed?
6 JUDGE MAY: That is precisely the point, which is purely one of
7 argument and nothing else. Now, have you got further questions?
8 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] Well, I have an enormous number of
9 questions left, but I have a present for Mr. Mesic, a map of camps
for
10 Serbs from 1991 to 1996, with a list of all camps according to
different
11 towns. 221, to be exact. When he goes back to Croatia, let him
check
12 that out and then he can give an answer to this question, because
13 obviously he cannot give an answer now. Could you please have this
map
14 shown on the ELMO. 221 camps.
15 THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] I don't need that, because this
16 simply is not true. There were --
17 JUDGE MAY: Just let us see. What is this document that you're
18 producing, Mr. Milosevic? Where does it come from?
19 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] The committee for collecting
20 information on crimes against humanity that were committed and
violations
21 of international law, published in Belgrade the 5th of February,
2001. I
22 was no longer president of Yugoslavia then. On the 5th of February,
2001.
23 It is the committee for collecting information on crimes committed.
This
24 is a map with all the camps and a list of all the camps in Croatia.
25 However, in all fairness, in Bosnia-Herzegovina there were 536.
Page 10681
1 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
2 Q. So you did not rank first.
3 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] Please have this put on the overhead
4 projector so it can be seen.
5 JUDGE MAY: For what it's worth, this document may be put on the
6 overhead projector, the witness can look at it. He probably hasn't
seen
7 it. It can be shown to the Prosecution.
8 And then, Mr. Milosevic, if you want to prove it, that is, you
9 want it exhibited, then you can prove it yourself when you call your
10 evidence.
11 Yes, Mr. Mesic, you can --
12 Don't interrupt.
13 Mr. Mesic, just have a look at that, see if there's anything that
14 you can say about it or not. You've heard where it comes from,
you've
15 heard what it purports to be.
16 THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] Croatia did not have any camps, but
17 I do repeat: There were illegal acts, there were abuses, there were
18 crimes, and what I'm asking for is that every crime should be
investigated
19 and the perpetrators punished. I am struggling for individual guilt
to be
20 established. I don't want any collective responsibility. This has
21 nothing to do with the truth.
22 Q. All right. So you don't want to --
23 JUDGE MAY: Let the Prosecution have that document and then it can
24 be returned to the accused.
25 Yes, Mr. Milosevic.
Page 10682
1 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
2 Q. Is it correct that among the generals that you refer to, that
they
3 took part in operations in Bosnia, were Milivoj Petkovic?
4 THE INTERPRETER: Could the accused please slow down. The
5 interpreters could not --
6 JUDGE MAY: You're being asked to slow down. Slow down, please.
7 A. Yes, some generals themselves said that they were in Bosnia, but
8 they said this subsequently.
9 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
10 Q. What did they say?
11 A. Subsequently.
12 Q. Oh, subsequently. Petkovic, Roso, you say that they were not
13 there?
14 A. I'm not saying anything. I'm just saying that they did not say
15 then, that they said afterwards that they had been in Bosnia.
16 Q. And is it correct that you said that the decision on the ethnic
17 cleansing of Muslims was not formally passed but that it was
carried out.
18 Is that correct or is that not correct?
19 A. I imagine it is understandable that if everybody leaves a
village
20 and that they were forced to leave a village, that that is ethnic
21 cleansing.
22 Q. Is it true that as far as Pero Markovic is concerned, the mayor
of
23 Capljina, you said that he carried out ethnic cleansing?
24 JUDGE MAY: Mr. Milosevic, how does it help? How is it relevant
25 whether an individual carried out ethnic cleansing in Bosnia? To
deal
Page 10683
1 with an indictment? What you must understand is that attacking
others is
2 not a form of defence, and therefore the relevance is strictly
limited.
3 Now, what is under investigation in this trial is the activities
which are
4 alleged in the indictment. For you to attack the others is no
defence and
5 of little, if any, relevance. Now, have you got anything else you
want to
6 ask this witness about his evidence as opposed to allegations that
you
7 want to make about others? No doubt this institution has
investigated and
8 will investigate those allegations against others, but it's of no
9 assistance to this Trial Chamber to make allegations about the
conflict
10 between the Bosnian Muslims and the Bosnian Croats in 1992 and 1993
when
11 we're dealing with crimes alleged to have been committed by you and
others
12 in Croatia strictly, but also in Bosnia.
13 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] Mr. May, what I'm bearing in mind is
14 precisely the profile of this witness. As for everything that
happened,
15 he accuses me, first and foremost, then he accuses his former
president
16 and his former political party, and his own generals, and he was
the one
17 who gave them instructions, and he also accuses his own
politicians, the
18 ones that he gave instructions to, in order to protect himself from
19 responsibility, which is vast, both in terms of the break-up of
Yugoslavia
20 and everything else that he is now accusing the HDZ and Tudjman and
other
21 factors of, under this slogan that this is the rule of law that he
favours
22 and that that's what he's struggling for. And until 1994, what, he
did
23 not struggle for the rule of law then?
24 JUDGE MAY: The accusations which a witness might make are not
25 relevant. It's his evidence which he makes and it's on that which
you
Page 10684
1 must concentrate.
2 THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] I am testifying about the facts that
3 I know about. I cannot testify about those that I'm not aware of.
4 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
5 Q. All right, Mr. Mesic. Who destroyed the bridge in Mostar? Is it
6 correct that it was destroyed by the Croatian forces?
7 JUDGE MAY: I'm not going to allow the question. Move on to
8 something else, Mr. Milosevic. You really must deal with this
witness's
9 evidence, not a generalised attack upon the Bosnian Croatians.
10 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation] Very well.
11 Q. Now, are the words correct by Imre Agotic, your military ally,
12 that were published in Zagreb that the greatest crimes were
performed when
13 they were taking over the terrain, that is to say, when the MUP of
Croatia
14 and the police were taking over the terrain?
15 JUDGE MAY: Which terrain are you talking about?
16 THE INTERPRETER: Microphone, please.
17 JUDGE MAY: No. Mr. Milosevic -- yes. Another question, and move
18 off this topic. Move on to something more relevant.
19 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
20 Q. All right, Mr. Mesic. As you say that you didn't meddle and
21 interfere in this, is it true that you, as a high-ranking
functionary of
22 the HDZ, personally went to Bosnia-Herzegovina and replaced Stjepan
Kljuc
23 from the post of HDZ head in Bosnia? Is that true or is it not?
24 A. I did not replace him. I went there as an HDZ official, but that
25 has nothing to do with this trial.
Page 10685
1 Q. Well, it does have very much to do with this trial, because it
2 testifies to your direct involvement in the events in Bosnia, for
which
3 you accuse me.
4 A. May I explain?
5 JUDGE MAY: Yes, since you've been asked.
6 A. The HDZ of Bosnia-Herzegovina was under the influence of the HDZ
7 of Croatia, because ultimately the HDZ was the one that founded it.
And
8 when the first president was replaced, the first president of the
HDZ of
9 Bosnia-Herzegovina, then what we had -- what had to be done was for
a new
10 HDZ president for Bosnia and Herzegovina to be elected. This could
only
11 be done at a party congress. But that party congress was not
scheduled.
12 A Presidency meeting was scheduled. President Tudjman asked me to
go to
13 Siroki Brijeg, which is where the HDZ Bosnia-Herzegovina was
meeting at
14 the time, to intervene in this method of replacement of Stjepan
Kljuc, who
15 at the time was president of the HDZ Presidency for
Bosnia-Herzegovina. I
16 got in touch with some people. I went to Siroki Brijeg. I spoke to
17 people there, and they told me that they supported Stjepan Kljuc.
What I
18 said to them was the following: Kljuc, it is my task that he be
replaced,
19 but that I talked to people and that he would be given a vote of
20 confidence if he tenders his resignation. However, what he did was
indeed
21 tender his resignation, irreversibly, and went to Sarajevo. Before
doing
22 so, he asked me: "How are you going to explain that away to
Tudjman?
23 That is to say if I am given a vote of confidence, how are you
going to
24 explain that to Tudjman?" And I said: "Well, I'll say the majority
was
25 in favour of not accepting your resignation and you will remain the
Page 10686
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12 Blank page inserted to ensure pagination corresponds between the
French and
13 English transcripts.
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Page 10687
1 president of the HDZ party." And then he became afraid. He was
afraid
2 for his own survival. He got into his car and left Siroki Brijeg for
3 Sarajevo.
4 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
5 Q. All right. And is it true that the various decisions which refer
6 to Bosnia-Herzegovina, not only the one you mentioned a moment ago,
among
7 others, was taken by people in Zagreb, such as Vice Vukojevic from
Zagreb?
8 Was Vice Vukojevic a member of the Croatian Sabor or parliament?
9 A. Yes, he was a member of the Croatian Sabor, and he did appear in
10 uniform, in HVO uniform. Otherwise, his origins are from
11 Bosnia-Herzegovina. And I said to President Tudjman that I didn't
like
12 what Vice Vukojevic was doing. I criticised him.
13 Q. All right. You talk to Vukojevic and he said that they had shot
14 people. Is that right or not, Mr. Mesic?
15 A. No, it is not.
16 Q. Well, you can find that in the transcript, 7063.
17 A. No. He said something else. I said something else. And please
18 don't distort what I and he said. He said that in the battle for
Prozor,
19 the place called Prozor, a lot of Muslims had lost their lives, and
I
20 asked him whether anybody had been killed on the Croatian side or
perhaps
21 wounded. He said no, and that was all. I didn't have any further
22 conversation with him because I didn't think that you could have
people
23 killed on one side and nobody even wounded on the other. And I
never
24 spoke to him again after that.
25 Q. So you were angry with him, were you, because of that, because
you
Page 10688
1 in fact ascertained that crimes had been committed, but you didn't
take
2 steps at all. All you did was to be angry with him and you never
spoke to
3 him again.
4 A. The accused is well aware of the fact that this was
5 Bosnia-Herzegovina, their territory, and that I wasn't able to
undertake
6 anything there. He knows that full well.
7 Q. Is it true that there were many members of the Croatian
parliament
8 who went to Bosnia, many Croatian MPs who went to Bosnia during the
war,
9 not only Vice Vukojevic but others too, wearing uniforms, to take
part of
10 the war there?
11 JUDGE MAY: I'm going to interrupt now because there's a real
12 danger of this trial being totally sidelined about matters which
were not
13 part of the witness's evidence, and that is namely the conflict in
Bosnia
14 between the Croatians and the Muslims.
15 Now, Mr. Kay, you mentioned a matter earlier, and on the grounds
16 that this might be relevant in terms of credibility of the witness.
But
17 obviously the Trial Chamber must keep the matter within bounds. The
18 witness's evidence is essentially about Croatia, although I'm aware
that
19 Bosnia, of course, is also subject of an indictment and to some
extent his
20 evidence may be relevant to that. The question is to what extent is
the
21 accused entitled, if at all, to examine matters which at the moment
appear
22 to have no bearing at all on the issues which the witness raised or
indeed
23 the issues in the trial. This is a serious matter because clearly
if he's
24 going to follow the same approach which he used before, which was
to use
25 cross-examination as a vehicle to make allegations against the
other side,
Page 10689
1 to what extent is he entitled to do that, do you submit?
2 MR. KAY: He's entitled to attack the credentials of this
3 particular witness, who has maintained during his direct examination
that
4 he was only seeking to enforce the rule of law and was not a party
taking
5 part in hostilities within the region. Plainly, the accused
disagrees
6 with that and is attacking the knowledge of this witness as to what
were
7 the real events within the region and the participation of himself
and his
8 political party within those events. One appreciates that there is a
time
9 limit on a witness giving evidence, and that is the real issue here
for
10 the accused. Time spent on matters that are not productive of his
defence
11 to the indictment obviously can cause him to be in difficulty in
putting
12 forward a defence to the charges. But in many respects, we believe
he is
13 aware of those issues. They have been sufficiently in force during
the
14 trial, and attempts have been made by the amicus to ensure that he
does
15 put his case and is given an opportunity to do so. In many
respects,
16 where the subject of the Trial Chamber's ruling here in relation to
17 timing.
18 JUDGE ROBINSON: I think the point is that he obviously is
19 entitled to test the witness's credibility by asking about matters
20 relating to Bosnia, but the real issue is: How far can he go down
that
21 road? It would seem to me that once he has put a question in
relation to
22 a particular matter touching on Bosnia and he has received an
answer on
23 that, then he should move on to another issue. In that regard, he
would
24 have been allowed to test credibility in relation to that matter,
but I
25 think the issue being raised by the Presiding Judge is that
apparently he
Page 10690
1 goes too far down the road, and that tends to take us into areas
that are
2 not relevant.
3 MR. KAY: A helpful way may be to just make the point here that
4 the Trial Chamber is aware of the matters that have been put in
issue by
5 the accused, that the Trial Chamber is aware that he has put in
issue
6 various aspects of this witness's evidence, so that any
reinforcement of
7 that fact is not further necessary.
8 JUDGE MAY: Thank you.
9 Mr. Milosevic, you've heard what's been said. You know there are
10 time limits. There is a question of how far you can continue to
deal with
11 matters which are purely peripheral, and bear in mind, as has been
said,
12 that the Trial Chamber realises quite well what you're putting in
issue
13 and the challenges you make to the credibility of this witness. You
14 should therefore deal with any matters which you think are
important,
15 which you might not otherwise be able to do so because of time, as
early
16 as possible. Now, you are subject to time limits, and there will be
17 another seven minutes and then we'll have to adjourn.
18 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] Well, I understood that in addition
19 to the time constraints and limits that have seen to be
precipitously come
20 to the fore in the case of this witness, that I do have at least
until the
21 close of business today. I think that is a minimum. But I think
that it
22 would be in order if you were to give me a little more time, if you
were
23 really to take into account the quest for truth.
24 JUDGE MAY: We have in mind the time limits taken by the
25 Prosecution. You should have roughly similar. You can have until 20
* Continued at:
http://www.icdsm.org/more/mesic-8.htm
OR
http://emperor.vwh.net/icdsm/more/mesic-8.htm
***** Urgent Message from Sloboda (Freedom) Association and the
International Committee to Defend Slobodan Milosevic!
The Freedom Association in Belgrade and the ICDSM, based outside
Yugoslavia, are the two organizations formed at the
request of Slobodan Milosevic to aid in his defense.
Up until now our main work has been threefold. We have publicized the
truth about The Hague's phony trial. We have
organized research to help President Milosevic expose NATO's lies. And
we have initiated legal action in the Dutch and
European Courts.
Now our job has increased. The defense phase of the "trial" starts in
May 2003. No longer will Mr. Milosevic be limited
to cross-examining Hague witnesses. The prosecution will be forced
further onto the defensive as victims of NATO's
aggression and experts from Yugoslavia and the NATO countries tell
what really happened and expose media lies. Moreover,
Mr. Milosevic will call leaders, from East and West, some friendly and
some hostile to the truth.
The controlled mass media will undoubtedly try to suppress this
testimony as they have tried to suppress Mr. Milosevic's
cross-examinations. Nevertheless this phase of the "trial" will be the
biggest international forum ever to expose NATO's
use of racism, violence and lies to attack Yugoslavia.
We urgently need the help of all people who care about what is
happening in The Hague. Right now, Nico Steijnen , the
Dutch lawyer in the ICDSM, is waging legal battles in the Dutch courts
and before the European Court, about which more
news soon. These efforts urgently require financial support. We now
maintain a small staff of Yugoslav lawyers in
Holland, assisting and advising Mr. Milosevic full-time. We need to
expand our Dutch facilities, perhaps bringing in a
non-Yugoslav attorney full-time. Definitely we must guarantee that we
have an office and office manager available at all
times, to compile and process evidence and for meetings with witnesses
and lawyers and as a base for organizing press
conferences.
All this costs money. And for this, we rely on those who want Mr.
Milosevic to have the best possible support for
attacking NATO's lies.
************
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=================================
Slobodan Milosevic's Cross-Examination of
Croatian President Stjepan Mesic: PART VII
Because the transcript of the cross-examination
is 150 pages long we have broken it into 12 easy
to read segments. If you wish to read the whole thing
at once go to:
http://www.icdsm.org/more/mesic.htm
OR
http://emperor.vwh.net/icdsm/more/mesic.htm
=================================
Page 10680
1 are matters of argument. So, Mr. Milosevic, let's move on.
2 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
3 Q. Mr. Mesic, is it clear to you that in that Yugoslav People's
Army,
4 there could not have been a single officer who would have issued
orders to
5 have innocent civilians executed?
6 JUDGE MAY: That is precisely the point, which is purely one of
7 argument and nothing else. Now, have you got further questions?
8 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] Well, I have an enormous number of
9 questions left, but I have a present for Mr. Mesic, a map of camps
for
10 Serbs from 1991 to 1996, with a list of all camps according to
different
11 towns. 221, to be exact. When he goes back to Croatia, let him
check
12 that out and then he can give an answer to this question, because
13 obviously he cannot give an answer now. Could you please have this
map
14 shown on the ELMO. 221 camps.
15 THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] I don't need that, because this
16 simply is not true. There were --
17 JUDGE MAY: Just let us see. What is this document that you're
18 producing, Mr. Milosevic? Where does it come from?
19 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] The committee for collecting
20 information on crimes against humanity that were committed and
violations
21 of international law, published in Belgrade the 5th of February,
2001. I
22 was no longer president of Yugoslavia then. On the 5th of February,
2001.
23 It is the committee for collecting information on crimes committed.
This
24 is a map with all the camps and a list of all the camps in Croatia.
25 However, in all fairness, in Bosnia-Herzegovina there were 536.
Page 10681
1 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
2 Q. So you did not rank first.
3 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] Please have this put on the overhead
4 projector so it can be seen.
5 JUDGE MAY: For what it's worth, this document may be put on the
6 overhead projector, the witness can look at it. He probably hasn't
seen
7 it. It can be shown to the Prosecution.
8 And then, Mr. Milosevic, if you want to prove it, that is, you
9 want it exhibited, then you can prove it yourself when you call your
10 evidence.
11 Yes, Mr. Mesic, you can --
12 Don't interrupt.
13 Mr. Mesic, just have a look at that, see if there's anything that
14 you can say about it or not. You've heard where it comes from,
you've
15 heard what it purports to be.
16 THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] Croatia did not have any camps, but
17 I do repeat: There were illegal acts, there were abuses, there were
18 crimes, and what I'm asking for is that every crime should be
investigated
19 and the perpetrators punished. I am struggling for individual guilt
to be
20 established. I don't want any collective responsibility. This has
21 nothing to do with the truth.
22 Q. All right. So you don't want to --
23 JUDGE MAY: Let the Prosecution have that document and then it can
24 be returned to the accused.
25 Yes, Mr. Milosevic.
Page 10682
1 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
2 Q. Is it correct that among the generals that you refer to, that
they
3 took part in operations in Bosnia, were Milivoj Petkovic?
4 THE INTERPRETER: Could the accused please slow down. The
5 interpreters could not --
6 JUDGE MAY: You're being asked to slow down. Slow down, please.
7 A. Yes, some generals themselves said that they were in Bosnia, but
8 they said this subsequently.
9 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
10 Q. What did they say?
11 A. Subsequently.
12 Q. Oh, subsequently. Petkovic, Roso, you say that they were not
13 there?
14 A. I'm not saying anything. I'm just saying that they did not say
15 then, that they said afterwards that they had been in Bosnia.
16 Q. And is it correct that you said that the decision on the ethnic
17 cleansing of Muslims was not formally passed but that it was
carried out.
18 Is that correct or is that not correct?
19 A. I imagine it is understandable that if everybody leaves a
village
20 and that they were forced to leave a village, that that is ethnic
21 cleansing.
22 Q. Is it true that as far as Pero Markovic is concerned, the mayor
of
23 Capljina, you said that he carried out ethnic cleansing?
24 JUDGE MAY: Mr. Milosevic, how does it help? How is it relevant
25 whether an individual carried out ethnic cleansing in Bosnia? To
deal
Page 10683
1 with an indictment? What you must understand is that attacking
others is
2 not a form of defence, and therefore the relevance is strictly
limited.
3 Now, what is under investigation in this trial is the activities
which are
4 alleged in the indictment. For you to attack the others is no
defence and
5 of little, if any, relevance. Now, have you got anything else you
want to
6 ask this witness about his evidence as opposed to allegations that
you
7 want to make about others? No doubt this institution has
investigated and
8 will investigate those allegations against others, but it's of no
9 assistance to this Trial Chamber to make allegations about the
conflict
10 between the Bosnian Muslims and the Bosnian Croats in 1992 and 1993
when
11 we're dealing with crimes alleged to have been committed by you and
others
12 in Croatia strictly, but also in Bosnia.
13 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] Mr. May, what I'm bearing in mind is
14 precisely the profile of this witness. As for everything that
happened,
15 he accuses me, first and foremost, then he accuses his former
president
16 and his former political party, and his own generals, and he was
the one
17 who gave them instructions, and he also accuses his own
politicians, the
18 ones that he gave instructions to, in order to protect himself from
19 responsibility, which is vast, both in terms of the break-up of
Yugoslavia
20 and everything else that he is now accusing the HDZ and Tudjman and
other
21 factors of, under this slogan that this is the rule of law that he
favours
22 and that that's what he's struggling for. And until 1994, what, he
did
23 not struggle for the rule of law then?
24 JUDGE MAY: The accusations which a witness might make are not
25 relevant. It's his evidence which he makes and it's on that which
you
Page 10684
1 must concentrate.
2 THE WITNESS: [Interpretation] I am testifying about the facts that
3 I know about. I cannot testify about those that I'm not aware of.
4 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
5 Q. All right, Mr. Mesic. Who destroyed the bridge in Mostar? Is it
6 correct that it was destroyed by the Croatian forces?
7 JUDGE MAY: I'm not going to allow the question. Move on to
8 something else, Mr. Milosevic. You really must deal with this
witness's
9 evidence, not a generalised attack upon the Bosnian Croatians.
10 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation] Very well.
11 Q. Now, are the words correct by Imre Agotic, your military ally,
12 that were published in Zagreb that the greatest crimes were
performed when
13 they were taking over the terrain, that is to say, when the MUP of
Croatia
14 and the police were taking over the terrain?
15 JUDGE MAY: Which terrain are you talking about?
16 THE INTERPRETER: Microphone, please.
17 JUDGE MAY: No. Mr. Milosevic -- yes. Another question, and move
18 off this topic. Move on to something more relevant.
19 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
20 Q. All right, Mr. Mesic. As you say that you didn't meddle and
21 interfere in this, is it true that you, as a high-ranking
functionary of
22 the HDZ, personally went to Bosnia-Herzegovina and replaced Stjepan
Kljuc
23 from the post of HDZ head in Bosnia? Is that true or is it not?
24 A. I did not replace him. I went there as an HDZ official, but that
25 has nothing to do with this trial.
Page 10685
1 Q. Well, it does have very much to do with this trial, because it
2 testifies to your direct involvement in the events in Bosnia, for
which
3 you accuse me.
4 A. May I explain?
5 JUDGE MAY: Yes, since you've been asked.
6 A. The HDZ of Bosnia-Herzegovina was under the influence of the HDZ
7 of Croatia, because ultimately the HDZ was the one that founded it.
And
8 when the first president was replaced, the first president of the
HDZ of
9 Bosnia-Herzegovina, then what we had -- what had to be done was for
a new
10 HDZ president for Bosnia and Herzegovina to be elected. This could
only
11 be done at a party congress. But that party congress was not
scheduled.
12 A Presidency meeting was scheduled. President Tudjman asked me to
go to
13 Siroki Brijeg, which is where the HDZ Bosnia-Herzegovina was
meeting at
14 the time, to intervene in this method of replacement of Stjepan
Kljuc, who
15 at the time was president of the HDZ Presidency for
Bosnia-Herzegovina. I
16 got in touch with some people. I went to Siroki Brijeg. I spoke to
17 people there, and they told me that they supported Stjepan Kljuc.
What I
18 said to them was the following: Kljuc, it is my task that he be
replaced,
19 but that I talked to people and that he would be given a vote of
20 confidence if he tenders his resignation. However, what he did was
indeed
21 tender his resignation, irreversibly, and went to Sarajevo. Before
doing
22 so, he asked me: "How are you going to explain that away to
Tudjman?
23 That is to say if I am given a vote of confidence, how are you
going to
24 explain that to Tudjman?" And I said: "Well, I'll say the majority
was
25 in favour of not accepting your resignation and you will remain the
Page 10686
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12 Blank page inserted to ensure pagination corresponds between the
French and
13 English transcripts.
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Page 10687
1 president of the HDZ party." And then he became afraid. He was
afraid
2 for his own survival. He got into his car and left Siroki Brijeg for
3 Sarajevo.
4 MR. MILOSEVIC: [Interpretation]
5 Q. All right. And is it true that the various decisions which refer
6 to Bosnia-Herzegovina, not only the one you mentioned a moment ago,
among
7 others, was taken by people in Zagreb, such as Vice Vukojevic from
Zagreb?
8 Was Vice Vukojevic a member of the Croatian Sabor or parliament?
9 A. Yes, he was a member of the Croatian Sabor, and he did appear in
10 uniform, in HVO uniform. Otherwise, his origins are from
11 Bosnia-Herzegovina. And I said to President Tudjman that I didn't
like
12 what Vice Vukojevic was doing. I criticised him.
13 Q. All right. You talk to Vukojevic and he said that they had shot
14 people. Is that right or not, Mr. Mesic?
15 A. No, it is not.
16 Q. Well, you can find that in the transcript, 7063.
17 A. No. He said something else. I said something else. And please
18 don't distort what I and he said. He said that in the battle for
Prozor,
19 the place called Prozor, a lot of Muslims had lost their lives, and
I
20 asked him whether anybody had been killed on the Croatian side or
perhaps
21 wounded. He said no, and that was all. I didn't have any further
22 conversation with him because I didn't think that you could have
people
23 killed on one side and nobody even wounded on the other. And I
never
24 spoke to him again after that.
25 Q. So you were angry with him, were you, because of that, because
you
Page 10688
1 in fact ascertained that crimes had been committed, but you didn't
take
2 steps at all. All you did was to be angry with him and you never
spoke to
3 him again.
4 A. The accused is well aware of the fact that this was
5 Bosnia-Herzegovina, their territory, and that I wasn't able to
undertake
6 anything there. He knows that full well.
7 Q. Is it true that there were many members of the Croatian
parliament
8 who went to Bosnia, many Croatian MPs who went to Bosnia during the
war,
9 not only Vice Vukojevic but others too, wearing uniforms, to take
part of
10 the war there?
11 JUDGE MAY: I'm going to interrupt now because there's a real
12 danger of this trial being totally sidelined about matters which
were not
13 part of the witness's evidence, and that is namely the conflict in
Bosnia
14 between the Croatians and the Muslims.
15 Now, Mr. Kay, you mentioned a matter earlier, and on the grounds
16 that this might be relevant in terms of credibility of the witness.
But
17 obviously the Trial Chamber must keep the matter within bounds. The
18 witness's evidence is essentially about Croatia, although I'm aware
that
19 Bosnia, of course, is also subject of an indictment and to some
extent his
20 evidence may be relevant to that. The question is to what extent is
the
21 accused entitled, if at all, to examine matters which at the moment
appear
22 to have no bearing at all on the issues which the witness raised or
indeed
23 the issues in the trial. This is a serious matter because clearly
if he's
24 going to follow the same approach which he used before, which was
to use
25 cross-examination as a vehicle to make allegations against the
other side,
Page 10689
1 to what extent is he entitled to do that, do you submit?
2 MR. KAY: He's entitled to attack the credentials of this
3 particular witness, who has maintained during his direct examination
that
4 he was only seeking to enforce the rule of law and was not a party
taking
5 part in hostilities within the region. Plainly, the accused
disagrees
6 with that and is attacking the knowledge of this witness as to what
were
7 the real events within the region and the participation of himself
and his
8 political party within those events. One appreciates that there is a
time
9 limit on a witness giving evidence, and that is the real issue here
for
10 the accused. Time spent on matters that are not productive of his
defence
11 to the indictment obviously can cause him to be in difficulty in
putting
12 forward a defence to the charges. But in many respects, we believe
he is
13 aware of those issues. They have been sufficiently in force during
the
14 trial, and attempts have been made by the amicus to ensure that he
does
15 put his case and is given an opportunity to do so. In many
respects,
16 where the subject of the Trial Chamber's ruling here in relation to
17 timing.
18 JUDGE ROBINSON: I think the point is that he obviously is
19 entitled to test the witness's credibility by asking about matters
20 relating to Bosnia, but the real issue is: How far can he go down
that
21 road? It would seem to me that once he has put a question in
relation to
22 a particular matter touching on Bosnia and he has received an
answer on
23 that, then he should move on to another issue. In that regard, he
would
24 have been allowed to test credibility in relation to that matter,
but I
25 think the issue being raised by the Presiding Judge is that
apparently he
Page 10690
1 goes too far down the road, and that tends to take us into areas
that are
2 not relevant.
3 MR. KAY: A helpful way may be to just make the point here that
4 the Trial Chamber is aware of the matters that have been put in
issue by
5 the accused, that the Trial Chamber is aware that he has put in
issue
6 various aspects of this witness's evidence, so that any
reinforcement of
7 that fact is not further necessary.
8 JUDGE MAY: Thank you.
9 Mr. Milosevic, you've heard what's been said. You know there are
10 time limits. There is a question of how far you can continue to
deal with
11 matters which are purely peripheral, and bear in mind, as has been
said,
12 that the Trial Chamber realises quite well what you're putting in
issue
13 and the challenges you make to the credibility of this witness. You
14 should therefore deal with any matters which you think are
important,
15 which you might not otherwise be able to do so because of time, as
early
16 as possible. Now, you are subject to time limits, and there will be
17 another seven minutes and then we'll have to adjourn.
18 THE ACCUSED: [Interpretation] Well, I understood that in addition
19 to the time constraints and limits that have seen to be
precipitously come
20 to the fore in the case of this witness, that I do have at least
until the
21 close of business today. I think that is a minimum. But I think
that it
22 would be in order if you were to give me a little more time, if you
were
23 really to take into account the quest for truth.
24 JUDGE MAY: We have in mind the time limits taken by the
25 Prosecution. You should have roughly similar. You can have until 20
* Continued at:
http://www.icdsm.org/more/mesic-8.htm
OR
http://emperor.vwh.net/icdsm/more/mesic-8.htm
***** Urgent Message from Sloboda (Freedom) Association and the
International Committee to Defend Slobodan Milosevic!
The Freedom Association in Belgrade and the ICDSM, based outside
Yugoslavia, are the two organizations formed at the
request of Slobodan Milosevic to aid in his defense.
Up until now our main work has been threefold. We have publicized the
truth about The Hague's phony trial. We have
organized research to help President Milosevic expose NATO's lies. And
we have initiated legal action in the Dutch and
European Courts.
Now our job has increased. The defense phase of the "trial" starts in
May 2003. No longer will Mr. Milosevic be limited
to cross-examining Hague witnesses. The prosecution will be forced
further onto the defensive as victims of NATO's
aggression and experts from Yugoslavia and the NATO countries tell
what really happened and expose media lies. Moreover,
Mr. Milosevic will call leaders, from East and West, some friendly and
some hostile to the truth.
The controlled mass media will undoubtedly try to suppress this
testimony as they have tried to suppress Mr. Milosevic's
cross-examinations. Nevertheless this phase of the "trial" will be the
biggest international forum ever to expose NATO's
use of racism, violence and lies to attack Yugoslavia.
We urgently need the help of all people who care about what is
happening in The Hague. Right now, Nico Steijnen , the
Dutch lawyer in the ICDSM, is waging legal battles in the Dutch courts
and before the European Court, about which more
news soon. These efforts urgently require financial support. We now
maintain a small staff of Yugoslav lawyers in
Holland, assisting and advising Mr. Milosevic full-time. We need to
expand our Dutch facilities, perhaps bringing in a
non-Yugoslav attorney full-time. Definitely we must guarantee that we
have an office and office manager available at all
times, to compile and process evidence and for meetings with witnesses
and lawyers and as a base for organizing press
conferences.
All this costs money. And for this, we rely on those who want Mr.
Milosevic to have the best possible support for
attacking NATO's lies.
************
Here's how you can help...
************
* You may contribute by credit card. By the end of September we will
have an ICDSM secure server so you can contribute
directly on the Internet.
For now, you can contribute by credit card in two ways: *
You can Contribute by Credit Card over the Telephone by calling:
ICDSM office, USA: 1 617 916-1705
SLOBODA (Freedom) Association office, Belgrade: 381 63 279 819
You can Contribute using PayPal at:
https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=icdsm%40aol.com
PayPal accepts VISA and MasterCard
You can Contribute by mail to:
ICDSM
831 Beacon St., #295
Newton Centre, MA 02459 (USA)
- OR -
You can Contribute by wire transfer to Sloboda Association
Intermediary:
UBS AG
Zurich, Switzerland
Swift Code: UBSWCHZH
Account with:
/ 756 - CHF
/ 840 - USD
/ 978 - EUR
Kmercijalna Banka AD
SV. Save 14, 11000 Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia
Swift Code: KOBBYUBG
Beneficiary: Account No. 5428-1246-16154-6
SLOBODA
Rajiceva 16, 11000 Belgrade, FR Yugoslavia
Thank you!
http://www.icdsm.org
[Riceviamo e volentieri diffondiamo]
Per chi vuol andare a Praga
Care compagne, cari compagni,
come certamente saprete, il Prc ha aderito e partecipa al
controvertice di Praga contro la Nato (19 novembre) e
alla manifestazione europea contro la guerra e contro la
Nato che si svolgerà nel cuore di Praga il giorno dopo.
Data la scarsa informazione che su questi eventi è
apparsa finora sulla stampa italiana, penso di fare cosa
utile inviandovi alcuni materiali, pregando ognuno di voi
di fare il possibile a sua volta per divulgarli
ulteriormente; anche attraverso le vostre mailing-list
personali e/o quelle delle organizzazioni o associazioni
di cui fate parte, in modo da determinare una
moltiplicazione virtuosa dell'informazione.
Si tratta di favorire la massima partecipazione, dopo
quella del 9 novembre a Firenze, alla manifestazione
europea del 20 novembre a Praga. "Il movimento - ha
scritto bene Gennaro Migliore in un editoriale di
Liberazione - sta dandosi una stabile dimensione europea,
e si ritroverà a Firenze il 9 novembre per opporsi alla
guerra ed a Praga per avversare l'allargamento della
Nato".
Il Prc, così come le altre organizzazioni italiane
aderenti o che decideranno di aderire alle iniziative di
Praga, sono impegnate - ognuna in forme proprie - ad
organizzare la partecipazione e ad esse ci si può
utilmente rivolgere.
Il viaggio in auto, per 4 persone, andata e ritorno,
calcolando la partenza dal Nord Italia, viene a costare
circa 60 euro a testa in carburante e spese autostradali
(circa 10-12 ore di viaggio - tutta autostrada - da
Milano a Praga, per una distanza di circa mille Km.).
Il pernottamento a Praga in alberghi economici, ma
decorosi, costa circa 15-20 euro per notte a persona,
inclusa prima colazione. Sconti per gruppi di almeno 15
persone.
Chi fosse interessato ad avere ulteriori informazioni
logistiche per un alloggio economico a Praga, per una o
più notti, può rivolgersi a Claudio Buttazzo, grande
conoscitore di tutti i segreti di Praga, che può essere
contattato, a partire da domenica 3 novembre, ai seguenti
recapiti:
cell. 347-6925813
e-mail : cbuttazzo@...
Un caro saluto a tutti
Fausto Sorini
===================================
PRAGA
20 NOVEMBRE 2002 ore 14,30
Piazza della città vecchia (Staromestske namesti)
In occasione del vertice atlantico che si terrà il 21-22
novembre nella capitale ceka per decidere un nuovo
allargamento ad Est della Nato e il suo coinvolgimento
nella dottrina di Bush della "guerra preventiva"
MANIFESTAZIONE EUROPEA
Contro la guerra all'Iraq, contro le guerre di Bush
Contro la NATO e il suo allargamento ad Est
Per un'Europa di pace, di giustizia sociale e di
amicizia tra i popoli
Per un'Europa autonoma e neutrale, senza basi militari
straniere
La manifestazione è promossa dal Partito comunista della
Repubblica ceka (Kscm) con altre organizzazioni
giovanili, pacifiste, sindacali del Paese, e dal Forum
europeo per la pace, con l'adesione- per la prima volta
congiunta, dopo il 1989- delle maggiori forze comuniste e
di sinistra alternativa di tutta l'Europa (dell'Est e
dell'Ovest), rappresentative di decine di milioni di
cittadini europei. Hanno aderito finora : BELGIO (Pc e
Partito del lavoro), BIELORUSSIA (i due partiti
comunisti), BOSNIA (Pc dei lavoratori), BULGARIA (Pcb),
CIPRO (Akel), CROAZIA (Partito socialista del lavoro),
DANIMARCA (i due partiti comunisti), FINLANDIA (Pc),
FRANCIA (Pcf), GERMANIA (Pds e Dkp), GRECIA (Pc-Kke e
Synaspismos), ITALIA (Prc e PdCI), LATVIA (Partito
socialista), MOLDAVIA (Pc), POLONIA (Unione comunisti
polacchi - proletariat), PORTOGALLO (Pcp), RUSSIA (Pc
della Federazione russa), ROMANIA (i due partiti
socialisti), SLOVACCHIA (Pc-Kss), SPAGNA (Pce e Izquierda
Unida), SVEZIA (Pc), TURCHIA (Pc), UCRAINA (Pcu),
UNGHERIA (Partito del lavoro), YUGOSLAVIA (Partito
socialista serbo, Partito dei comunisti yugoslavi e Nuovo
Pc yugoslavo)?Dagli STATI UNITI aderisce l'International
Action Center di Ramsey Clark. Aderisce anche la
Federazione mondiale della gioventù democratica. E le
adesioni continuano?
La manifestazione è aperta a tutte le realtà politiche,
sociali, culturali, religiose, di movimento che si
riconoscano nelle sue parole d'ordine: contro la guerra,
contro la NATO.
Per adesioni e maggiori informazioni, politiche e
logistiche (viaggio e alloggio a Praga),
rivolgersi alle rispettive organizzazioni nazionali
=============================================
CONTRO-VERTICE ANTI-NATO
dal Partito Comunista di Boemia e Moravia (KSCM)
Lun 30 sett. 2002
mail a leftnews@... http://www.kscm.cz
Praga, 30 Settembre, 2002
Cari compagni,
Il contro-vertice internazionale organizzato dal KSCM si
terrà il 19 novembre, prima del summit della NATO,
affronterà le questioni chiave della sicurezza europea ed
il lancio di una campagna per attivare un movimento della
pace nel continente europeo.
Siamo convinti che dovrebbe essere dedicata attenzione
continua al tema della sicurezza europea. Per questo
proponiamo che per attivare un movimento per la pace e
per progettare l'architettura della sicurezza europea,
l'incontro internazionale di novembre dovrebbe avere una
continuità di lavoro permanente nel tempo. Il lavoro
relativo, fra un incontro e l'altro, potrebbe essere
coordinato da un comitato di coordinamento europeo. Al di
là dei vari punti di vista, con questa campagna l'Europa
potrebbe trasmettere un segnale contro la guerra al mondo
intero.
Vi chiediamo di raccogliere adesioni a sostegno della
bozza di appello che vi alleghiamo; siamo sicuri che
userete tutti i mezzi disponibili per attivare e
coordinare un movimento per la pace a livello europeo.
Vi invitiamo a segnalarci idee, suggerimenti e
osservazioni sul testo, entro il 1° novembre 2002, in
modo che esse possano essere incluse nel summit
internazionale di novembre a Praga.
Dott. Ing. H. Charfo, DrSc.
Responsabile del dipartimento esteri
Comitato Centrale - Partito Comunista di Boemia e Moravia
Bozza dell'appello internazionale di Praga
La NATO aumenta i rischi per la sicurezza e minaccia la pace.
L'esistenza della NATO è stata giustificata dai suoi
fondatori come "alleanza difensiva " contro " la minaccia
sovietica". Logicamente il crollo dell'Unione Sovietica e
la dissoluzione del patto di Varsavia avrebbero dovuto
portare anche allo scioglimento della NATO. E' accaduto
l'opposto. La NATO invece di smobilitare si sta
rafforzando.
Contrariamente a quanto dichiarato nel trattato fondativo
di Washington, la NATO ha ufficialmente assunto il
diritto di intervenire militarmente contro chiunque, in
qualsiasi parte del mondo e in qualunque momento. Questo
viola non soltanto il proprio statuto, ma sfida
apertamente il diritto internazionale, e la NATO usurpa
l'autorità della Comunità internazionale delle Nazioni
Unite e del suo Consiglio di sicurezza.
La guerra contro la Yugoslavia del 1999, intrapresa senza
un mandato del Consiglio di sicurezza Onu, in spregio
anche della convenzione di Ginevra, è la prova
convincente di una nuova strategia aggressiva ed
interventista che per la prima volta dal 1945 porta una
guerra di aggressione in Europa.
Un altro esempio lampante è l'attacco anglo-americano
all'Afghanistan, come parte di quella cosiddetta "guerra
contro il terrorismo", condotta e sostenuta da alcune
nazioni NATO. L'attacco non ha rispettato i principi
umanitari fondamentali e non ha risparmiato la
popolazione civile, le infrastrutture, le vite e i
diritti dei prigionieri di guerra.
Il cambiamento dell'elite dirigente dell'Afghanistan che
è stato imposto non risolverà i problemi di base della
popolazione afgana.
Influenzata in modo determinante dagli USA, la NATO è
sempre più chiaramente un patto politico-militare che va
ben oltre il carattere difensivo. Sta trasformandosi in
uno strumento di espansione e di consolidamento
dell'influenza mondiale degli Stati membri più
importanti. È uno strumento fondamentale per perseguire i
programmi degli Stati Uniti nel mondo intero, la loro
influenza e i loro interessi sul continente europeo.
L'egemonia degli Stati Uniti nella NATO si basa sullo
status privilegiato e sull'autorità USA, sul controllo
che gli Usa esercitano sugli apparati militari e di
sicurezza, sull'industria della "difesa" e sulla
tecnologia militare degli Stati membri dell'alleanza.
Le strutture militari integrate della NATO hanno una
operatività che agisce, specialmente nei momenti di
crisi, al di fuori dell'effettivo controllo delle
istituzioni nazionali, particolarmente negli Stati
europei.
Le armi nucleari, il cui uso è contrario alle
Costituzioni di diversi paesi membri, sono soggette di
fatto alle decisioni degli Stati Uniti e al controllo
politico-militare delle loro autorità, anche quando le
basi nelle quali sono schierate sono sul territorio di
questi Stati. Questo significa che c'è un crescente e
peculiare pericolo per tali paesi di essere trascinati in
uno scenario di guerra senza che ciò sia sottoposto alla
valutazione e al controllo delle legittime autorità
nazionali.
Sotto la pressione degli Stati Uniti, vi è così un
crescente pericolo per l'Europa e per il mondo di essere
trascinati in una nuova corsa al riarmo.
L'umanità è minacciata dalla militarizzazione dei
rapporti internazionali, dalla militarizzazione dello
spazio cosmico, dall'interventismo militare crescente che
sempre più domina la politica degli Stati Uniti.
La NATO, come strumento politico dell'egemonia USA, dà
priorità all'escalation militare e all'uso della forza,
anziché alle soluzioni pacifiche nelle controversie
internazionali e ai metodi civili di risoluzione dei
problemi economici e sociali che si acutizzano nel mondo
contemporaneo.
La NATO non è all'altezza di risolvere questi problemi
politicamente.
Per assicurare la pace sul continente e l'istituzione di
rapporti pacifici con le altre nazioni del mondo,
l'Europa non ha bisogno di un'alleanza aggressiva che
insidia e in pratica sfida il ruolo delle Nazioni Unite.
La NATO è inaccettabile nella sua forma attuale e
chiedere oggi il suo scioglimento è un fatto politico di
grande rilievo.
Noi pensiamo che la decisione, da parte degli Stati
europei, di sospendere la propria appartenenza alle
strutture militari integrate della NATO possa essere un
primo passo realistico di procedere nella direzione del
suo scioglimento. Ed è vitale per l'Europa e per gli
Stati che vogliono mantenere un certo grado di sovranità
nelle decisioni, per evitare di essere trascinati in
nuove avventure militari.
L'Europa ha bisogno di un diverso sistema di sicurezza
rispetto a quello rappresentato dalla NATO. Un sistema
difensivo e non aggressivo, che sulla base del principio
dell' eguale condizione e dignità, comprenda tutti gli
Stati del continente, dal Portogallo agli Urali, dalla
Scandinavia ai Balcani.
Un sistema che sia basato sulla necessità non soltanto
dell'esistenza ma anche della riforma delle Nazioni
Unite.
Un sistema che, nel pieno rispetto della carta delle
Nazioni Unite e dello spirito di Helsinki, si emancipi
dalla pressione degli USA e di altri poteri forti che
agiscono contro le leggi internazionali. Un sistema che
dovrebbe essere basato sulla sovranità di tutte le
nazioni e su rapporti di cooperazione pacifica con gli
altri Paesi. Noi proponiamo che questo concetto sia
implementato sulla base dell'esperienza dell'OSCE, nello
spirito della "Carta di Parigi per una nuova Europa",
firmata alla fine dell'incontro dei leaders degli stati e
dei governi dei Paesi membri della Conferenza sulla
Sicurezza e la Cooperazione in Europa (CSCE), tenuta a
Parigi il 21 novembre 1990.
L'Europa è stata sempre una delle parti del mondo più
minacciata dalle politiche di riarmo e dallo sviluppo
delle armi di sterminio di massa, nucleari, chimiche,
biologiche e "spaziali".
Essa può svolgere un ruolo determinante per una politica
di disarmo graduale e bilanciato, fino a che queste armi
possano essere completamente eliminate, a partire da
quelle delle grandi potenze. Ciò consentirebbe di
recuperare enormi risorse oggi bruciate nelle spese
militari, che potrebbero essere impiegate per uso
sociale, per risolvere i problemi economici e ambientali
che travagliano il pianeta.
Il patto aggressivo della NATO è incapace di trasformarsi
e porre le fondamenta di un'autentica sicurezza per
l'Europa. Il futuro sta nello sviluppo del processo di
integrazione economica e politica di tutti gli stati del
continente, su basi di pari uguaglianza e sovranità per
tutti i Paesi, contro qualsiasi tipo di oppressione da
parte di alcuni paesi o gruppi sociali nei confronti di
altri, e quindi del tutto diverse da quelle imposte dal
liberismo antisociale e dalla subalternità atlantica.
In occasione del vertice NATO a Praga, in cui ci si
aspetta che l'Alleanza si allarghi ad Est con l'ingresso
di nuovi paesi, i firmatari di questo appello, pur
esprimendo una varietà di posizioni politiche e
ideologiche, sono concordi nella comune volontà di pace,
invitano tutti i Paesi d'Europa e i membri delle Nazioni
Unite a mobilitarsi unitariamente contro la politica di
riarmo e di guerra e a compiere alcuni passi concreti
verso un'Europa di giustizia e di pace.
================================================
In occasione del vertice del Patto atlantico
MANIFESTAZIONE EUROPEA
IL 20 NOVEMBRE A PRAGA
CONTRO LA GUERRA
E PER
LO SCIOGLIMENTO DELLA NATO
di Claudio Buttazzo
Seattle, Praga, Nizza, Gotheborg, Genova, ed ora di nuovo
Praga. Dopo quello del settembre di due anni fa contro il
Fondo monetario internazionale, un altro appuntamento di
lotta internazionale e' fissato nella capitale ceka per
il 20 novembre prossimo.
In quei giorni, esattamente il 21-22 novembre, si terra'
a Praga, presso il Centro Congressi sul colle di Vyserad,
il vertice di tutti i paesi della Nato per decidere
l'ulteriore allargamento ad Est del Patto atlantico. Vi
parteciperanno 46 capi di Stato o di governo dei paesi
aderenti alla Nato e dei paesi della "Partnership per la
pace" e circa 200 "ospiti speciali", cioè ministri di
vari governi con consorti al seguito. I delegati saranno
2.500, mentre sono circa 2.000 i giornalisti accreditati.
Nel programma del Summit non sono previsti incontri, in
precedenza dati per certi, tra Nato e Russia e neppure
della Commissione Nato con l'Ucraina.
I paesi interessati all'allargamento sono i tre Stati
baltici (Estonia, Lettonia e Lituania), la Slovacchia, la
Romania e la Bulgaria, tutti confinanti con la Russia o,
comunque, con paesi dell'ex-Unione sovietica. Un
allargamento che, pur non aggiungendo nulla alla gia'
terrificante potenza militare e aggressiva del blocco
imperialistico guidato dagli Usa, ha due fondamentali
obiettivi politico-strategici: stringere in un'ulteriore
morsa la Russia, completando l'accerchiamento attorno a
tutti i suoi confini piu' "caldi"(sul versante europeo e
su quello mediorientale e caucasico) e imprimere il
marchio dell'egemonia statunitense sui paesi dell'Europa
centro-orientale e balcanica prima ancora del loro
ingresso, se mai avverra', nell'Unione europea. La
portata dell'operazione, dal punto di vista degli
equilibri mondiali, e piu' che evidente e risulta ancora
piu' drammaticamente accentuata dal particolare tipo di
ruolo che questi paesi si offrono a svolgere all'interno
della Nato. Si tratta di una questione poco dibattuta e
generalmente, purtroppo anche a sinistra, sottovalutata.
Si tratta, intanto, di paesi che hanno scelto, in campo
politico ed economico, le piu' estreme ricette
neoliberiste, legandosi mani e piedi al modello e
all'egemonia del capitalismo d'oltreoceano. I governi di
questi paesi, indifferentemente dal tipo di coalizioni
che si sono succedute, hanno sempre e indiscriminatamente
seguito una politica di totale allineamento alla politica
estera, e alle guerre, americane, anche in contrasto o in
difformità rispetto alle posizioni assunte dall'Unione
europea o da alcuni dei suoi paesi piu' importanti. E
alcuni di essi (in particolare Romania, Lituania e
Lettonia), pur non facendo parte della Nato e addirittura
senza che alcuno glielo richiedesse, si sonno offerti per
la partecipazione ad operazioni di guerra, in particolare
nelle operazioni nei Balcani e in Afganistan.
Si tratta, inoltre, di paesi quali, vivendo una
situazione economica disastrosa, cercano di offrire un
diversivo al malcontento delle popolazioni,
indirizzandolo verso l'esterno (alimentando i contrasti
con la vicina Russia) o verso le minoranze etniche
interne, particolarmente consistenti in tutti i paesi
dell'Est. Nel fare questo, vengono non di rado
rispolverate vecchie argomentazioni prese a prestito
dall'armamentario fascista e nazista. E' il caso dei tre
paesi baltici, in particolare della Lettonia, dove la
popolazione di nazionalita' russa (circa il 40% del
totale) viene sistemataticamente e pesantemente
discriminata, privata di diritti e spesso anche
volgarmente provocata nei suoi sentimenti antifascisti
con la riproposizione di simboli, ricorrenze e
celebrazioni in uso nel periodo del nazismo, con
pubbliche riabilitazione e decorazioni dei cambattenti
della Wermacht e con uno spudorato revisionismo storico
eletto a ideologia ufficiale dello Stato.
Questo e', dunque, lo scenario dentro al quale va a
espandersi la Nato, con tutte le inquietanti prospettive
e interrogativi che questo apre non solo per gli
equilibri mondiali, ma per la configurazione che potra'
assumere la stessa costruzione europea. E, a corollario
di tutto cio', c'e' la guerra infinita di Bush e
l'imminente guerra all'Irak. Dire di no a tutto questo,
fermare questa deriva distruttiva si puo'. E si deve.
Il Partito comunista di Boemia e Moravia, uno dei piu'
forti partiti comunisti in Europa (ha ottenuto il 18,6%
dei voti alle politiche del giugno scorso) si e'
opportunamente fatto promotore di un controvertice
internazionale in risposta al summit della Nato e per far
esprimere, con un forte no alla guerra infinita del
governo americano, la volonta' di pace dei popoli
europei. Ma il controvertice vuole andare ancora piu' in
la', ponendo una questione oggi ineludibile e preliminare
per qualsiasi prospettiva di pace e di sovranita' dei
popoli in Europa: la questione dello scioglimento della
Nato.
Va detto che questa iniziativa si svolge in un paese che,
per la sua collocazione nel centro dell'Europa, e' in una
posizione chiave per l'organizzazione strategica della
Nato. Non a caso esso e' stato scelto dal governo Usa
come il luogo prioritario per la realizzazione del
famigerato progetto di scudo spaziale. E pero' va anche
detto che e' proprio questa prospettiva a inquietare
ancor piu' i Ceki, tanto che l'opposizione alla Nato,
gia' maggioritaria presso l'opinione pubblica (tanto che
i governanti hanno sempre respinto la proposta di un
referendum sull'adesione), va ora ulteriormente
crescendo. E cresce, di pari passo, l'irritazione verso
l'atteggiamento servile del presidente della repubblica
Havel, che qui ormai chiamano "krvavy humanista"
(l'umanista sanguinario), per via della sua entusiastica
adesione a tutte le guerre Usa. Il presidente ceko non si
e' smentito neanche nell'attuale vecenda della
preannunciata guerra all'Irak. E' stato, dopo Blair, il
primo capo di Stato europeo a recarsi a Washington per
dare la piena adesione della Repubblica ceka ai piani di
guerra della Casa Bianca. Naturalmente, non aveva titolo
per farlo, non avendo preventivmente consultato ne' il
governo ne' il parlamento ed essendo a capo di una
Repubblica parlamentere, e non presidenziale. Questo la
dice lunga sul tasso di democrazia di questo celebrato
campione dell'anticomunismo.
Il controvertice di Praga si svolgera', dunque, il 19 e
20 novembre. Il 19 ci sara' un convegno, cui sono stati
invitati a partecipare tutti i partiti comunisti e
numerose forze di sinistra antagonista che agiscono sul
nostro continente dove si cercherà per la prima volta di
elaborare una posizione comune di tutti coloro che ad Est
e ad Ovest sostengono la necessita' dello scioglimento
della Nato e di un sistema alternativo di sicurezza
europea. E dove si cerchera' di dar vita ad un
coordinamento europeo permanente, che colleghi le
iniziative in questo campo e lanci una petizione in tutta
Europa contro la guerra e per l'abolizione del patto
nordatlantico.
Sono gia' una trentina le organizzazioni che da tutta
Europa hanno dato l'adesione al controvertice e ancor più
quelle che parteciperanno alla manifestazione :
organizzazioni che complessivamente rappresentano decine
di milioni di cittadini di ogni parte d'Europa, "dal
Portogallo agli Urali".
Il 20 novembre, alle ore 14.30, il controvertice si
trasformera' in una grande manifestazione, cui
prenderanno parte migliaia di persone da tutta Europa e
che sara' conclusa a Staromestske namesti (piazza della
Citta' vecchia), nel cuore della citta' antica.
Il governo ceko e la maggioranza dei media stanno già
alimentando un clima di terrore psicologico nella città,
dipingendo i manifestanti che verranno a Praga come
soggetti pericolosi e violenti. E' annunciata la presenza
di 12 mila poliziotti e di 240 soldati con idranti e
autoblindo e altri reparti dell'esercito. Il ministro
degli Interni ha affermato che le misure di sicurezza
saranno superiori a quelle adottate nel 2.000 in
occasione del vertice del Fmi.
Una "zona rossa" sarà creata attorno al Centro Congressi
e interesserà gran parte del centro di Praga, in
particolare i distretti 1,2,3,4 e 6, e non si esclude la
chiusura di altre zone e strade. Il governo, per
scoraggiare i giovani praghesi dal prendere parte alla
manifestazione anti-Nato, ha deciso la chiusura delle
scuole per i gioni del Summit e ha consigliato gli
studenti ad andarsene in vacanza. Molte scuole hanno
organizzato proprio per quei giorni delle gite
scolastiche, per tenere sotto sorveglianza i ragazzi.
Mentre diversi istituti scolastici hanno organizzato per
i giorni precedenti il Summit dei corsi di "formazione",
con la partecipazione di importanti personaggi politici e
politologi di regime che dovranno illustrare ai giovani
le straordinarie "virtù" dell'Alleanza atlantica.
E' dunque indispensabile che, dopo le giornate del Forum
Sociale Europeo di Firenze, tutti gli sforzi del
movimento contro la guerra e il neoliberismo si
concentrino sulla partecipazione, per quanto possibile
ampia, dal nostro paese alla manifestazione europea del
20 novembre a Praga.
=================================
Sulla manifestazione di Praga vedi anche la manchette al sito:
http://www.lernesto.it
=================================
Verso un nuovo movimento mondiale di "partigiani della pace" ?
Una battaglia da vincere
di Fausto Sorini
Non abbiamo ancora la certezza, mentre scriviamo (23
ottobre 2002), se vi sarà la guerra all'Iraq. E' in atto
nel Consiglio di Sicurezza (CdS) delle Nazioni Unite un
braccio di ferro che ci dice che la partita non è chiusa;
che l'Onu non è un guscio vuoto, privo ormai di ruolo
internazionale (anche se ovviamente, come ogni
istituzione, esso riflette i rapporti di forza reali che
esistono nel mondo); che Francia, Russia e Cina non sono
burattini alla corte di Bush; e che non esiste alcun
"direttorio mondiale unificato", nessun "asse strategico"
tra Usa, Russia e Cina, tutto interno e omogeneo alla
globalizzazione capitalistica, che ormai governerebbe il
mondo.
E se guerra comunque sarà, non conosciamo le forme
concrete né gli scenari politico-militari entro cui essa
si produrrà, per non parlare delle conseguenze sullo
scenario globale e segnatamente mediorientale ("si
apriranno le porte dell'inferno? ").
Non sappiamo neppure, nel caso, se essa avverrà come
attacco unilaterale degli Usa e di qualche fedele
alleato, senza l'avallo dell'Onu, o se viceversa essa
riceverà, al di là delle risoluzioni formali, un qualche
tacito, ambiguo "disco verde" da parte di quei membri del
CdS con diritto di veto (Francia, Russia e Cina) che fino
ad ora hanno agito per evitare uno sbocco militare.
Forse non ci rendiamo conto che questa stessa incertezza,
che in misura maggiore o minore alberga in ognuno di noi,
rappresenta di per sé un fatto politico enorme. Essa è il
segno, a oltre un decennio dal crollo dell'Urss, del
carattere non onnipotente dell'imperialismo Usa (uscito
vincente dalla competizione del '900) e delle sue
velleità di fare del 21° secolo il secolo dell' "impero
americano". (1)
Non è invincibile la linea dei settori più aggressivi
dell' imperialismo Usa: quelli che puntano a vincere la
competizione globale con le altre potenze emergenti
perseguendo una linea di unilateralismo assoluto, di
schiacciante superiorità militare sul resto del mondo.
Una prospettiva che Fidel Castro, già all'indomani
dell'11 settembre 2001, aveva definito di "dittatura
militare planetaria". E che ha indotto un uomo acuto e
intelligente come Luigi Pintor a scrivere : "la mia
generazione è convinta di aver vissuto in un secolo
tragico, ma può dirsi fortunata. Il genocidio era in
fondo ancora episodico e circoscritto e non ancora
duraturo e pianificato su scala planetaria". E' decisivo
sottolineare questo aspetto: non siamo in presenza di una
iniziativa inarrestabile della maggiore potenza
imperialista mondiale (la cui gravità non è certo il caso
di ribadire nell'editoriale di una rivista che ne ha
intravisto per tempo le linee portanti) (2). Siamo di
fronte ad una linea di tale pericolosità per l'insieme
della comunità mondiale, di tale disprezzo del diritto
internazionale e dei diritti sovrani dei popoli e delle
nazioni, da suscitare una opposizione - diversamente
graduata - non solo nelle componenti più progressive
dell'opinione mondiale, ma tale da suscitare riserve
anche in ambienti tradizionalmente conservatori, per
nulla propensi al pacifismo o a qualsivoglia cultura di
pace. Si pensi ai gruppi dominanti di paesi come la
Germania, la Francia, il Giappone, che sono parte
integrante del sistema imperialistico, membri della Nato
o affini, che fino a ieri hanno condiviso, taluni anche
operativamente, l'aggressione alla Yugoslavia (senza uno
straccio di mandato Onu), o l'intervento militare in
Afghanistan, ma che non accettano un unipolarismo
americano che pretende di sottometterli alle velleità
egemoniche di un solo padrone (Lenin le avrebbe definite
"contraddizioni inter-imperialistiche"?). (3) Dubbi e
riserve si manifestano persino all'interno
dell'amministrazione Bush. La strategia dei "falchi" di
Washington, così inquietante e densa di incognite per i
suoi stessi promotori (chi si ricorda la fine del Terzo
Reich ?), suscitare una opposizione così diffusa nel
mondo, da far ritenere non solo necessario, ma possibile,
che essa venga imbrigliata e almeno in parte fatta
retrocedere. Una opposizione così diffusa da aprire spazi
immensi ad un "nuovo movimento mondiale di partigiani
della pace", che in queste contraddizioni sappia
inserirsi per far pendere l'ago della bilancia dalla
parte della pace e del disarmo.
Parliamo innanzitutto del disarmo graduale e bilanciato
delle maggiori potenze, ampiamente dotate di armi
nucleari, chimiche e batteriologiche, di cui non si
comprende perché dovrebbero avere il monopolio. Per cui
un paese come l'Iraq, che sulla base di prove mai
fornite, lavorerebbe per poter disporre tra qualche anno
(come dice la Cia) di alcune testate nucleari
rudimentali, dovrebbe essere bombardato
"preventivamente", mentre uno Stato "canaglia" come
Israele, che non rispetta da decenni le risoluzioni
dell'Onu, massacra impunemente il popolo palestinese e
dispone, come è noto, di alcune centinaia di testate
nucleari, non dovrebbe essere chiamato a render conto dei
suoi atti, e sottoposto - perché no - a rigorosissime
ispezioni Onu per verificare la consistenza delle armi di
sterminio di cui esso già dispone in abbondanza nei
propri arsenali.
Ha detto bene in proposito il segretario del Prc, "che
noi qui in Europa, in Italia, dobbiamo trasformare
l'autunno in una straordinaria stagione contro la guerra.
Cercando di allargare il fronte quanto più possibile,
trasformando la battaglia per la pace nella nostra
principale battaglia strategica. Non solo una battaglia
di principio, una battaglia da vincere".
Si aprono spazi grandi per un movimento mondiale
antimperialista (comunque lo si voglia chiamare), che
organizzi uno schieramento più qualificato (certo non vi
troveremo Andreotti o Formigoni, e neppure Schroeder o
Chirac?), ma che per "vincere" non deve separarsi dalle
grandi masse e dalle forze popolari, come ad esempio la
Cgil, che oggi dicono comunque "no alla guerra". Uno
schieramento che comprenda i settori più avanzati dei
movimenti operai e di liberazione, di cui è parte
integrante e propulsiva (non esclusiva né
autosufficiente) il movimento che ha preso avvio a Porto
Alegre e che vedrà nelle giornate di Firenze del Forum
sociale europeo un suo momento importante, anche se
ancora molto parziale e provvisorio, di strutturazione
continentale (4).
Trovo emblematico in proposito l'appello internazionale
contro la guerra, promosso dal premio Nobel Josè
Saramago, con Pedro Almodovar, Carlos Taibo, James
Petras, Julio Anguita e altri 200 artisti e
intellettuali, a nome di una "Alleanza di intellettuali
antimperialisti". Un appello "contro una nuova
aggressione imperialistica che si propone di consolidare,
a qualunque prezzo, l'egemonia nord-americana". Andrebbe
rafforzato e generalizzato in ogni Paese del mondo
(quanti altri Nobel potrebbero firmare?), facendo
convergere il tutto in una grande campagna mondiale per
la raccolta di centinaia di milioni di firme, a tutte le
latitudini. (5)
Grandi spazi si aprono anche alla peculiare iniziativa
dei comunisti - nel quadro della più larga unità contro
la guerra - per riscoprire e diffondere nelle nuove
generazioni, tra i lavoratori e i popoli, la
consapevolezza dei nessi che esistono tra capitalismo e
guerra, "dove l'uno porta l'altra con sé, come la nube la
tempesta". E riscoprire anche per quella via l'esigenza
del socialismo nel mondo contemporaneo, e la
consapevolezza che un sistema sociale che si regge sullo
sfruttamento dell'uomo sull'uomo, un mondo che si regge
su crescenti squilibri economici e sociali tra un pugno
di paesi ricchi (in competizione tra loro) e un oceano di
paesi poveri, non sarà mai un mondo liberato dal pericolo
della guerra.
Nel mese di novembre si terranno in Europa due importanti
iniziative contro la guerra, a carattere continentale. Mi
riferisco al Fse di Firenze, che in particolare vedrà il
9 novembre una importante manifestazione europea contro
la guerra. Ed un secondo meeting europeo, meno conosciuto
ma non per questo meno significativo, che si terrà una
decina di giorni dopo a Praga, in occasione del vertice
della Nato del 21-22 novembre, che deciderà una sua
ulteriore espansione ad Est, con l'ingresso di nuovi
Paesi; e dove i rappresentanti Usa premeranno per un
coinvolgimento dell'Alleanza nella dottrina della "guerra
preventiva". Nei due giorni precedenti si terrà a Praga
un contro-vertice (19 novembre), promosso dal Partito
comunista ceko (Kscm), cui prenderanno parte la quasi
totalità dei partiti comunisti e di sinistra
anticapitalistica di tutta l'Europa, dell'Est e
dell'Ovest (dal Portogallo agli Urali, passando per i
Balcani). Un incontro continentale, il primo di questo
genere dopo il terremoto del 1989, in cui forze politiche
che rappresentano alcune decine di milioni di cittadini
di ogni parte d'Europa, discuteranno di come contribuire
allo sviluppo di un movimento continentale di massa,
articolato e continuativo, paese per paese, contro la
guerra, per lo scioglimento della Nato e la costruzione
di un sistema di sicurezza europea alternativo, non
aggressivo (una sorta di Onu europea), senza basi
militari straniere, coerente con l'idea di un'Europa
autonoma e neutrale, di pace, di giustizia sociale, di
amicizia tra i popoli. Il giorno dopo (20 novembre) le
stesse forze terranno una manifestazione europea nel
centro storico di Praga, aperta a tutte le realtà
politiche, sociali e di movimento che si riconoscono
nelle sue parole d'ordine: contro la guerra, per lo
scioglimento della Nato.
Forse non si è fatto abbastanza per costruire nei mesi
scorsi una adeguata sinergia tra questi due appuntamenti
di grande valore strategico. Auguriamoci che ciò sia
possibile in futuro, a partire dalle prossime giornate di
Firenze e di Praga. E che ogni sforzo sia messo in campo
per superare incomprensioni, distanze, pregiudiziali
ideologiche, piccole logiche di gruppo, che ostacolano la
massima convergenza di tutte le forze che si riconoscono
nelle due fondamentali discriminanti dell'anti-liberismo
e del "no" alla guerra. Vi sono oggi le condizioni, anche
in Europa, senza più muri tra Est e Ovest, per la
costruzione di un grande movimento popolare, con forme
flessibili ma efficaci di coordinamento, collocato su
posizioni socialmente avanzate, aperto alle convergenze
con chiunque sia comunque disponibile a dire "no" alla
guerra. Lo dimostra la straordinaria manifestazione di
fine settembre a Londra contro la guerra (450.000
persone), svoltasi in concomitanza con la riuscita
manifestazione di Roma, promossa e organizzata dal Prc
(dal nostro partito), ma che nei comizi ha dato ampio
spazio ad altri (no-global, sinistra Ds, movimento dei
lavoratori, associazioni di immigrati); la manifestazione
enorme, a metà settembre, del popolo dei "girotondi",
nella quale l'intervento di Gino Strada contro la guerra
è stato accolto da una autentica ovazione; la grande
riuscita dello sciopero generale del 18 ottobre e delle
manifestazioni di piazza, promosse dalla Cgil e dai
settori più avanzati del sindacalismo extra-confederale,
che hanno visto anche una massiccia partecipazione di
studenti, e in cui il tema del "no" alla guerra era
fortemente presente e condiviso; il documento contro la
guerra firmato da 131 parlamentari del Prc, del Pdci, dei
Ds, dei Verdi, della Margherita?che rappresentano insieme
quasi il 15% del Parlamento e che esprimono, senza
ambiguità, un orientamento contrario alla guerra che
tutti i sondaggi ci dicono essere larghissimamente
maggioritario nel paese. Un documento che opportunamente
raccoglie il richiamo di Pietro Ingrao (e persino di un
ex Presidente della Repubblica democristiano come Oscar
Luigi Scalfaro) all'articolo 11 della Costituzione.
Vi è qui un bel pezzo di "sinistra alternativa", sociale,
politica, di movimento, che può crescere e bilanciare la
recente (ennesima) torsione centrista e moderata della
maggioranza del gruppo dirigente dei Ds. A condizione che
si rispetti l'autonomia di ognuno, che si evitino come la
peste ipotesi confuse, velleitarie (e che alla fine
dividono, più che unire) di "nuovi soggetti politici" che
pretenderebbero di fondere o impastare tutte quelle forze
in un unico calderone, invece di operare - senza
forzature organizzativistiche - sul terreno assai più
produttivo dell'unità d'azione, del coordinamento
flessibile di tutte le iniziative condivise, con una
convergente elaborazione programmatica e progettuale.
Dove la piena autonomia politica, teorica e organizzativa
del partito comunista sia non già sinonimo di settarismo
e autosufficienza, bensì fattore propulsivo di più larghe
convergenze a sinistra. Partito comunista che si
conferma, pur con tutti i suoi difetti, strumento sempre
più prezioso e insostituibile di dinamismo politico e
sociale nel contesto italiano, su cui davvero vale la
pena di investire grandi forze ed energie, senza alcuna
boria autoreferenziale, con maggiore spirito di unità e
solidarietà interna, a partire dai gruppi dirigenti e
dalle modalità della loro costruzione.
Noi non abbiamo dubbi o esitazioni (non dobbiamo averne,
pena l'auto-emarginazione dal senso comune del nostro
popolo) su alcune priorità del momento: no alla guerra,
sostegno alle lotte dei lavoratori, opposizione
convergente al governo Berlusconi, intese tattiche -
ovunque possibile - anche sul terreno elettorale, per
battere le destre e le componenti più reazionarie del
quadro politico italiano. Ma sappiamo anche che un abisso
strategico ci distingue dal nuovo craxismo della
governabilità a qualunque costo, che sta nuovamente
prevalendo nell'Ulivo e nella direzione dei Ds. E non
diventeremo - non siamo nati per questo - né l'ala
sinistra, inevitabilmente subalterna e minoritaria, di
questo nuovo Ulivo in gestazione (non faremo la fine di
altri?), né una forza marginale e minoritaria, estranea
al movimento operaio in carne ed ossa e alle componenti
democratiche e progressive che contraddittoriamente
agiscono nel "popolo della sinistra", perché questa
sarebbe un'altra forma, speculare ma non meno
fallimentare, di subalternità.
Condivido in proposito alcune recenti sottolineature del
segretario del Prc (Liberazione, 19.10. 2002). E' vero:
"l'onda lunga oggi è quella del conflitto sociale e del
protagonismo dei lavoratori", dove emerge "una presenza
ricca e composita : classe operaia tradizionale, giovani
studenti e giovani lavoratori precari", con "una forte
volontà di opposizione politica e sociale alle scelte del
governo Berlusconi". Per cui, "dopo il successo di questo
sciopero, la normalizzazione della Cgil e del conflitto
sociale sarà più difficile?nonostante lo spostamento a
destra del centrosinistra ?e del baricentro politico
dell'Ulivo". "Bisogna prendere atto del fallimento
dell'ipotesi di chi aveva puntato tutto sullo spostamento
dell'insieme del centro-sinistra", o di chi puntava ad
una sua "rigenerazione dall'interno, ad una sua
rifondazione programmatica e di leadership : la strada
indicata da Cofferati nell'intervista di agosto al
Corriere". Il punto è quello della "costruzione di una
sinistra di alternativa, stando ciascuno dove sta,
evitando fughe di tipo organizzativistico, e produrre
iniziative e lotte comuni". E riprendere con forza il
tema della "fine della cultura dell'alternanza", con il
"mutamento del sistema elettorale", trovando le forme e
le convergenze necessarie per un " rilancio della
proporzionale".
Sul piano sociale, si impone la vertenza Fiat, e qui
bisogna "far leva su un intervento pubblico?che rompa i
tabù imposti dall'egemonia neo-liberista, sul ruolo dello
Stato e sul Patto di stabilità europeo".
Dove il dibattito sulla "nazionalizzazione" e sul
"rilancio dell'intervento pubblico in economia", allude
prospetticamente alla riapertura di una riflessione non
velleitaria su : "Quale socialismo per il XXI° secolo",
dopo il crollo di un modello di statalismo integrale. E
quindi : quale economia mista, con una prevalenza del
pubblico nei settori strategici, in un processo di lunga
transizione al socialismo, su scala mondiale e nelle sue
articolazioni nazionali e regionali; quale rapporto tra
pubblico e privato. E ancora : come costruire, in un
quadro di regionalizzazione crescente delle relazioni
economiche, un polo pubblico sovranazionale che sappia
reggere la competizione delle multinazionali private.
Si tratta cioè di riaprire, con una visione mondiale,
senza fughe in avanti né regressioni utopistiche, la
questione del socialismo.
---------------------------------------------------------
(1) Le due nozioni - imperialismo e logica "imperiale" -
se correttamente intese, possono coesistere e descrivere
fenomeni tra loro complementari, non escludentesi, a
condizione di fuoriuscire dallo schema negriano. La
questione non è nominalistica.
(2) E questo quando altri, anche in Rifondazione,
esitavano a cogliere il salto di qualità e la peculiera
pericolosità per la pace mondiale rappresentati non tanto
e non solo da una generica e indistinta "globalizzazione
capitalistica", senza nome e indirizzo, ma soprattutto
dalle nuove scelte strategiche di politica estera degli
Stati Uniti, fino alle più recenti teorizzazioni sulla
"guerra preventiva", sintetizzate in un opuscolo diffuso
il mese scorso dalla Casa Bianca, e che il quotidiano
Liberazione, unico tra i giornali italiani, ha avuto il
merito di tradurre e pubblicare integralmente (e
tempestivamente) nella sua edizione del 10 ottobre 2002 (
www.liberazione.it ) e che rappresenta un'autentica
miniera di argomenti.
(3) La Stampa (3.9.2002) pubblica in proposito una
significativa dichiarazione di Tareq Aziz, vicepremier
irakeno: "l'animosità americana contro di noi si spiega
con il fatto che se distruggeranno l'Iraq controlleranno
il petrolio di tutto il Medio Oriente, che rappresenta il
65% delle riserve mondiali, e quindi saranno in grado di
governare la crescita economica di ogni nazione del mondo
intero. L'Europa è solidale con noi non solo per ragioni
umanitarie, ma perché così protegge i suoi interessi". E
più recentemente (La Stampa, 23.10.2002) : "la Corea del
Nord ha ammesso di avere un programma nucleare. Gli Usa
non hanno chiesto ispezioni Onu come per l'Iraq. Perché?
Perché due cose mancano in Corea del Nord: il petrolio e
Israele".
(4) Mentre l'Europa occidentale è largamente
rappresentata nel Forum sociale europeo, nonostante
permangano veti assurdi alla presenza dei partiti in
quanto tali, le forze sociali e politiche che nell'Europa
dell'Est, nei Balcani e nei paesi dell'area ex-sovietica,
a partire dalla Russia, rappresentano le istanze
fondamentali del Forum (anti-liberismo e opposizione alla
guerra) sono praticamente assenti, salvo rarissime
eccezioni. Questi paesi, in cui vive circa la metà dei
700 milioni di cittadini che popolano il continente, sono
per lo più rappresentati nel Fse da piccoli o
piccolissimi gruppi, il cui consenso sociale e politico
nei rispettivi popoli è assolutamente marginale. Il caso
più eclatante è quello delle grandi organizzazioni legate
ai comunisti e ai socialisti di sinistra di questi paesi,
dove essi rappresentano in molti casi il 30-40% dei
rispettivi popoli (stiamo parlando - a spanne - di una
sessantina di milioni di persone, di cui una buona parte
solo in Russia, Ucraina, Bielorussia?) e che a Firenze
non saranno in alcun modo rappresentate. Mancanza di
contatti o assurde pregiudiziali ideologiche di alcuni
settori del Forum verso i comunisti dell'Est ? Varrebbe
la pena di discuterne e di saperne di più.
(5) Il testo dell'appello (in spagnolo) e le adesioni,
nonché la lettera aperta di queste personalità europee
agli intellettuali ed artisti statunitensi, firmatari di
un analogo manifesto, sono reperibili in:
www.nodo50.org/csca , oppure scivendo a :
csca@...
Per chi vuol andare a Praga
Care compagne, cari compagni,
come certamente saprete, il Prc ha aderito e partecipa al
controvertice di Praga contro la Nato (19 novembre) e
alla manifestazione europea contro la guerra e contro la
Nato che si svolgerà nel cuore di Praga il giorno dopo.
Data la scarsa informazione che su questi eventi è
apparsa finora sulla stampa italiana, penso di fare cosa
utile inviandovi alcuni materiali, pregando ognuno di voi
di fare il possibile a sua volta per divulgarli
ulteriormente; anche attraverso le vostre mailing-list
personali e/o quelle delle organizzazioni o associazioni
di cui fate parte, in modo da determinare una
moltiplicazione virtuosa dell'informazione.
Si tratta di favorire la massima partecipazione, dopo
quella del 9 novembre a Firenze, alla manifestazione
europea del 20 novembre a Praga. "Il movimento - ha
scritto bene Gennaro Migliore in un editoriale di
Liberazione - sta dandosi una stabile dimensione europea,
e si ritroverà a Firenze il 9 novembre per opporsi alla
guerra ed a Praga per avversare l'allargamento della
Nato".
Il Prc, così come le altre organizzazioni italiane
aderenti o che decideranno di aderire alle iniziative di
Praga, sono impegnate - ognuna in forme proprie - ad
organizzare la partecipazione e ad esse ci si può
utilmente rivolgere.
Il viaggio in auto, per 4 persone, andata e ritorno,
calcolando la partenza dal Nord Italia, viene a costare
circa 60 euro a testa in carburante e spese autostradali
(circa 10-12 ore di viaggio - tutta autostrada - da
Milano a Praga, per una distanza di circa mille Km.).
Il pernottamento a Praga in alberghi economici, ma
decorosi, costa circa 15-20 euro per notte a persona,
inclusa prima colazione. Sconti per gruppi di almeno 15
persone.
Chi fosse interessato ad avere ulteriori informazioni
logistiche per un alloggio economico a Praga, per una o
più notti, può rivolgersi a Claudio Buttazzo, grande
conoscitore di tutti i segreti di Praga, che può essere
contattato, a partire da domenica 3 novembre, ai seguenti
recapiti:
cell. 347-6925813
e-mail : cbuttazzo@...
Un caro saluto a tutti
Fausto Sorini
===================================
PRAGA
20 NOVEMBRE 2002 ore 14,30
Piazza della città vecchia (Staromestske namesti)
In occasione del vertice atlantico che si terrà il 21-22
novembre nella capitale ceka per decidere un nuovo
allargamento ad Est della Nato e il suo coinvolgimento
nella dottrina di Bush della "guerra preventiva"
MANIFESTAZIONE EUROPEA
Contro la guerra all'Iraq, contro le guerre di Bush
Contro la NATO e il suo allargamento ad Est
Per un'Europa di pace, di giustizia sociale e di
amicizia tra i popoli
Per un'Europa autonoma e neutrale, senza basi militari
straniere
La manifestazione è promossa dal Partito comunista della
Repubblica ceka (Kscm) con altre organizzazioni
giovanili, pacifiste, sindacali del Paese, e dal Forum
europeo per la pace, con l'adesione- per la prima volta
congiunta, dopo il 1989- delle maggiori forze comuniste e
di sinistra alternativa di tutta l'Europa (dell'Est e
dell'Ovest), rappresentative di decine di milioni di
cittadini europei. Hanno aderito finora : BELGIO (Pc e
Partito del lavoro), BIELORUSSIA (i due partiti
comunisti), BOSNIA (Pc dei lavoratori), BULGARIA (Pcb),
CIPRO (Akel), CROAZIA (Partito socialista del lavoro),
DANIMARCA (i due partiti comunisti), FINLANDIA (Pc),
FRANCIA (Pcf), GERMANIA (Pds e Dkp), GRECIA (Pc-Kke e
Synaspismos), ITALIA (Prc e PdCI), LATVIA (Partito
socialista), MOLDAVIA (Pc), POLONIA (Unione comunisti
polacchi - proletariat), PORTOGALLO (Pcp), RUSSIA (Pc
della Federazione russa), ROMANIA (i due partiti
socialisti), SLOVACCHIA (Pc-Kss), SPAGNA (Pce e Izquierda
Unida), SVEZIA (Pc), TURCHIA (Pc), UCRAINA (Pcu),
UNGHERIA (Partito del lavoro), YUGOSLAVIA (Partito
socialista serbo, Partito dei comunisti yugoslavi e Nuovo
Pc yugoslavo)?Dagli STATI UNITI aderisce l'International
Action Center di Ramsey Clark. Aderisce anche la
Federazione mondiale della gioventù democratica. E le
adesioni continuano?
La manifestazione è aperta a tutte le realtà politiche,
sociali, culturali, religiose, di movimento che si
riconoscano nelle sue parole d'ordine: contro la guerra,
contro la NATO.
Per adesioni e maggiori informazioni, politiche e
logistiche (viaggio e alloggio a Praga),
rivolgersi alle rispettive organizzazioni nazionali
=============================================
CONTRO-VERTICE ANTI-NATO
dal Partito Comunista di Boemia e Moravia (KSCM)
Lun 30 sett. 2002
mail a leftnews@... http://www.kscm.cz
Praga, 30 Settembre, 2002
Cari compagni,
Il contro-vertice internazionale organizzato dal KSCM si
terrà il 19 novembre, prima del summit della NATO,
affronterà le questioni chiave della sicurezza europea ed
il lancio di una campagna per attivare un movimento della
pace nel continente europeo.
Siamo convinti che dovrebbe essere dedicata attenzione
continua al tema della sicurezza europea. Per questo
proponiamo che per attivare un movimento per la pace e
per progettare l'architettura della sicurezza europea,
l'incontro internazionale di novembre dovrebbe avere una
continuità di lavoro permanente nel tempo. Il lavoro
relativo, fra un incontro e l'altro, potrebbe essere
coordinato da un comitato di coordinamento europeo. Al di
là dei vari punti di vista, con questa campagna l'Europa
potrebbe trasmettere un segnale contro la guerra al mondo
intero.
Vi chiediamo di raccogliere adesioni a sostegno della
bozza di appello che vi alleghiamo; siamo sicuri che
userete tutti i mezzi disponibili per attivare e
coordinare un movimento per la pace a livello europeo.
Vi invitiamo a segnalarci idee, suggerimenti e
osservazioni sul testo, entro il 1° novembre 2002, in
modo che esse possano essere incluse nel summit
internazionale di novembre a Praga.
Dott. Ing. H. Charfo, DrSc.
Responsabile del dipartimento esteri
Comitato Centrale - Partito Comunista di Boemia e Moravia
Bozza dell'appello internazionale di Praga
La NATO aumenta i rischi per la sicurezza e minaccia la pace.
L'esistenza della NATO è stata giustificata dai suoi
fondatori come "alleanza difensiva " contro " la minaccia
sovietica". Logicamente il crollo dell'Unione Sovietica e
la dissoluzione del patto di Varsavia avrebbero dovuto
portare anche allo scioglimento della NATO. E' accaduto
l'opposto. La NATO invece di smobilitare si sta
rafforzando.
Contrariamente a quanto dichiarato nel trattato fondativo
di Washington, la NATO ha ufficialmente assunto il
diritto di intervenire militarmente contro chiunque, in
qualsiasi parte del mondo e in qualunque momento. Questo
viola non soltanto il proprio statuto, ma sfida
apertamente il diritto internazionale, e la NATO usurpa
l'autorità della Comunità internazionale delle Nazioni
Unite e del suo Consiglio di sicurezza.
La guerra contro la Yugoslavia del 1999, intrapresa senza
un mandato del Consiglio di sicurezza Onu, in spregio
anche della convenzione di Ginevra, è la prova
convincente di una nuova strategia aggressiva ed
interventista che per la prima volta dal 1945 porta una
guerra di aggressione in Europa.
Un altro esempio lampante è l'attacco anglo-americano
all'Afghanistan, come parte di quella cosiddetta "guerra
contro il terrorismo", condotta e sostenuta da alcune
nazioni NATO. L'attacco non ha rispettato i principi
umanitari fondamentali e non ha risparmiato la
popolazione civile, le infrastrutture, le vite e i
diritti dei prigionieri di guerra.
Il cambiamento dell'elite dirigente dell'Afghanistan che
è stato imposto non risolverà i problemi di base della
popolazione afgana.
Influenzata in modo determinante dagli USA, la NATO è
sempre più chiaramente un patto politico-militare che va
ben oltre il carattere difensivo. Sta trasformandosi in
uno strumento di espansione e di consolidamento
dell'influenza mondiale degli Stati membri più
importanti. È uno strumento fondamentale per perseguire i
programmi degli Stati Uniti nel mondo intero, la loro
influenza e i loro interessi sul continente europeo.
L'egemonia degli Stati Uniti nella NATO si basa sullo
status privilegiato e sull'autorità USA, sul controllo
che gli Usa esercitano sugli apparati militari e di
sicurezza, sull'industria della "difesa" e sulla
tecnologia militare degli Stati membri dell'alleanza.
Le strutture militari integrate della NATO hanno una
operatività che agisce, specialmente nei momenti di
crisi, al di fuori dell'effettivo controllo delle
istituzioni nazionali, particolarmente negli Stati
europei.
Le armi nucleari, il cui uso è contrario alle
Costituzioni di diversi paesi membri, sono soggette di
fatto alle decisioni degli Stati Uniti e al controllo
politico-militare delle loro autorità, anche quando le
basi nelle quali sono schierate sono sul territorio di
questi Stati. Questo significa che c'è un crescente e
peculiare pericolo per tali paesi di essere trascinati in
uno scenario di guerra senza che ciò sia sottoposto alla
valutazione e al controllo delle legittime autorità
nazionali.
Sotto la pressione degli Stati Uniti, vi è così un
crescente pericolo per l'Europa e per il mondo di essere
trascinati in una nuova corsa al riarmo.
L'umanità è minacciata dalla militarizzazione dei
rapporti internazionali, dalla militarizzazione dello
spazio cosmico, dall'interventismo militare crescente che
sempre più domina la politica degli Stati Uniti.
La NATO, come strumento politico dell'egemonia USA, dà
priorità all'escalation militare e all'uso della forza,
anziché alle soluzioni pacifiche nelle controversie
internazionali e ai metodi civili di risoluzione dei
problemi economici e sociali che si acutizzano nel mondo
contemporaneo.
La NATO non è all'altezza di risolvere questi problemi
politicamente.
Per assicurare la pace sul continente e l'istituzione di
rapporti pacifici con le altre nazioni del mondo,
l'Europa non ha bisogno di un'alleanza aggressiva che
insidia e in pratica sfida il ruolo delle Nazioni Unite.
La NATO è inaccettabile nella sua forma attuale e
chiedere oggi il suo scioglimento è un fatto politico di
grande rilievo.
Noi pensiamo che la decisione, da parte degli Stati
europei, di sospendere la propria appartenenza alle
strutture militari integrate della NATO possa essere un
primo passo realistico di procedere nella direzione del
suo scioglimento. Ed è vitale per l'Europa e per gli
Stati che vogliono mantenere un certo grado di sovranità
nelle decisioni, per evitare di essere trascinati in
nuove avventure militari.
L'Europa ha bisogno di un diverso sistema di sicurezza
rispetto a quello rappresentato dalla NATO. Un sistema
difensivo e non aggressivo, che sulla base del principio
dell' eguale condizione e dignità, comprenda tutti gli
Stati del continente, dal Portogallo agli Urali, dalla
Scandinavia ai Balcani.
Un sistema che sia basato sulla necessità non soltanto
dell'esistenza ma anche della riforma delle Nazioni
Unite.
Un sistema che, nel pieno rispetto della carta delle
Nazioni Unite e dello spirito di Helsinki, si emancipi
dalla pressione degli USA e di altri poteri forti che
agiscono contro le leggi internazionali. Un sistema che
dovrebbe essere basato sulla sovranità di tutte le
nazioni e su rapporti di cooperazione pacifica con gli
altri Paesi. Noi proponiamo che questo concetto sia
implementato sulla base dell'esperienza dell'OSCE, nello
spirito della "Carta di Parigi per una nuova Europa",
firmata alla fine dell'incontro dei leaders degli stati e
dei governi dei Paesi membri della Conferenza sulla
Sicurezza e la Cooperazione in Europa (CSCE), tenuta a
Parigi il 21 novembre 1990.
L'Europa è stata sempre una delle parti del mondo più
minacciata dalle politiche di riarmo e dallo sviluppo
delle armi di sterminio di massa, nucleari, chimiche,
biologiche e "spaziali".
Essa può svolgere un ruolo determinante per una politica
di disarmo graduale e bilanciato, fino a che queste armi
possano essere completamente eliminate, a partire da
quelle delle grandi potenze. Ciò consentirebbe di
recuperare enormi risorse oggi bruciate nelle spese
militari, che potrebbero essere impiegate per uso
sociale, per risolvere i problemi economici e ambientali
che travagliano il pianeta.
Il patto aggressivo della NATO è incapace di trasformarsi
e porre le fondamenta di un'autentica sicurezza per
l'Europa. Il futuro sta nello sviluppo del processo di
integrazione economica e politica di tutti gli stati del
continente, su basi di pari uguaglianza e sovranità per
tutti i Paesi, contro qualsiasi tipo di oppressione da
parte di alcuni paesi o gruppi sociali nei confronti di
altri, e quindi del tutto diverse da quelle imposte dal
liberismo antisociale e dalla subalternità atlantica.
In occasione del vertice NATO a Praga, in cui ci si
aspetta che l'Alleanza si allarghi ad Est con l'ingresso
di nuovi paesi, i firmatari di questo appello, pur
esprimendo una varietà di posizioni politiche e
ideologiche, sono concordi nella comune volontà di pace,
invitano tutti i Paesi d'Europa e i membri delle Nazioni
Unite a mobilitarsi unitariamente contro la politica di
riarmo e di guerra e a compiere alcuni passi concreti
verso un'Europa di giustizia e di pace.
================================================
In occasione del vertice del Patto atlantico
MANIFESTAZIONE EUROPEA
IL 20 NOVEMBRE A PRAGA
CONTRO LA GUERRA
E PER
LO SCIOGLIMENTO DELLA NATO
di Claudio Buttazzo
Seattle, Praga, Nizza, Gotheborg, Genova, ed ora di nuovo
Praga. Dopo quello del settembre di due anni fa contro il
Fondo monetario internazionale, un altro appuntamento di
lotta internazionale e' fissato nella capitale ceka per
il 20 novembre prossimo.
In quei giorni, esattamente il 21-22 novembre, si terra'
a Praga, presso il Centro Congressi sul colle di Vyserad,
il vertice di tutti i paesi della Nato per decidere
l'ulteriore allargamento ad Est del Patto atlantico. Vi
parteciperanno 46 capi di Stato o di governo dei paesi
aderenti alla Nato e dei paesi della "Partnership per la
pace" e circa 200 "ospiti speciali", cioè ministri di
vari governi con consorti al seguito. I delegati saranno
2.500, mentre sono circa 2.000 i giornalisti accreditati.
Nel programma del Summit non sono previsti incontri, in
precedenza dati per certi, tra Nato e Russia e neppure
della Commissione Nato con l'Ucraina.
I paesi interessati all'allargamento sono i tre Stati
baltici (Estonia, Lettonia e Lituania), la Slovacchia, la
Romania e la Bulgaria, tutti confinanti con la Russia o,
comunque, con paesi dell'ex-Unione sovietica. Un
allargamento che, pur non aggiungendo nulla alla gia'
terrificante potenza militare e aggressiva del blocco
imperialistico guidato dagli Usa, ha due fondamentali
obiettivi politico-strategici: stringere in un'ulteriore
morsa la Russia, completando l'accerchiamento attorno a
tutti i suoi confini piu' "caldi"(sul versante europeo e
su quello mediorientale e caucasico) e imprimere il
marchio dell'egemonia statunitense sui paesi dell'Europa
centro-orientale e balcanica prima ancora del loro
ingresso, se mai avverra', nell'Unione europea. La
portata dell'operazione, dal punto di vista degli
equilibri mondiali, e piu' che evidente e risulta ancora
piu' drammaticamente accentuata dal particolare tipo di
ruolo che questi paesi si offrono a svolgere all'interno
della Nato. Si tratta di una questione poco dibattuta e
generalmente, purtroppo anche a sinistra, sottovalutata.
Si tratta, intanto, di paesi che hanno scelto, in campo
politico ed economico, le piu' estreme ricette
neoliberiste, legandosi mani e piedi al modello e
all'egemonia del capitalismo d'oltreoceano. I governi di
questi paesi, indifferentemente dal tipo di coalizioni
che si sono succedute, hanno sempre e indiscriminatamente
seguito una politica di totale allineamento alla politica
estera, e alle guerre, americane, anche in contrasto o in
difformità rispetto alle posizioni assunte dall'Unione
europea o da alcuni dei suoi paesi piu' importanti. E
alcuni di essi (in particolare Romania, Lituania e
Lettonia), pur non facendo parte della Nato e addirittura
senza che alcuno glielo richiedesse, si sonno offerti per
la partecipazione ad operazioni di guerra, in particolare
nelle operazioni nei Balcani e in Afganistan.
Si tratta, inoltre, di paesi quali, vivendo una
situazione economica disastrosa, cercano di offrire un
diversivo al malcontento delle popolazioni,
indirizzandolo verso l'esterno (alimentando i contrasti
con la vicina Russia) o verso le minoranze etniche
interne, particolarmente consistenti in tutti i paesi
dell'Est. Nel fare questo, vengono non di rado
rispolverate vecchie argomentazioni prese a prestito
dall'armamentario fascista e nazista. E' il caso dei tre
paesi baltici, in particolare della Lettonia, dove la
popolazione di nazionalita' russa (circa il 40% del
totale) viene sistemataticamente e pesantemente
discriminata, privata di diritti e spesso anche
volgarmente provocata nei suoi sentimenti antifascisti
con la riproposizione di simboli, ricorrenze e
celebrazioni in uso nel periodo del nazismo, con
pubbliche riabilitazione e decorazioni dei cambattenti
della Wermacht e con uno spudorato revisionismo storico
eletto a ideologia ufficiale dello Stato.
Questo e', dunque, lo scenario dentro al quale va a
espandersi la Nato, con tutte le inquietanti prospettive
e interrogativi che questo apre non solo per gli
equilibri mondiali, ma per la configurazione che potra'
assumere la stessa costruzione europea. E, a corollario
di tutto cio', c'e' la guerra infinita di Bush e
l'imminente guerra all'Irak. Dire di no a tutto questo,
fermare questa deriva distruttiva si puo'. E si deve.
Il Partito comunista di Boemia e Moravia, uno dei piu'
forti partiti comunisti in Europa (ha ottenuto il 18,6%
dei voti alle politiche del giugno scorso) si e'
opportunamente fatto promotore di un controvertice
internazionale in risposta al summit della Nato e per far
esprimere, con un forte no alla guerra infinita del
governo americano, la volonta' di pace dei popoli
europei. Ma il controvertice vuole andare ancora piu' in
la', ponendo una questione oggi ineludibile e preliminare
per qualsiasi prospettiva di pace e di sovranita' dei
popoli in Europa: la questione dello scioglimento della
Nato.
Va detto che questa iniziativa si svolge in un paese che,
per la sua collocazione nel centro dell'Europa, e' in una
posizione chiave per l'organizzazione strategica della
Nato. Non a caso esso e' stato scelto dal governo Usa
come il luogo prioritario per la realizzazione del
famigerato progetto di scudo spaziale. E pero' va anche
detto che e' proprio questa prospettiva a inquietare
ancor piu' i Ceki, tanto che l'opposizione alla Nato,
gia' maggioritaria presso l'opinione pubblica (tanto che
i governanti hanno sempre respinto la proposta di un
referendum sull'adesione), va ora ulteriormente
crescendo. E cresce, di pari passo, l'irritazione verso
l'atteggiamento servile del presidente della repubblica
Havel, che qui ormai chiamano "krvavy humanista"
(l'umanista sanguinario), per via della sua entusiastica
adesione a tutte le guerre Usa. Il presidente ceko non si
e' smentito neanche nell'attuale vecenda della
preannunciata guerra all'Irak. E' stato, dopo Blair, il
primo capo di Stato europeo a recarsi a Washington per
dare la piena adesione della Repubblica ceka ai piani di
guerra della Casa Bianca. Naturalmente, non aveva titolo
per farlo, non avendo preventivmente consultato ne' il
governo ne' il parlamento ed essendo a capo di una
Repubblica parlamentere, e non presidenziale. Questo la
dice lunga sul tasso di democrazia di questo celebrato
campione dell'anticomunismo.
Il controvertice di Praga si svolgera', dunque, il 19 e
20 novembre. Il 19 ci sara' un convegno, cui sono stati
invitati a partecipare tutti i partiti comunisti e
numerose forze di sinistra antagonista che agiscono sul
nostro continente dove si cercherà per la prima volta di
elaborare una posizione comune di tutti coloro che ad Est
e ad Ovest sostengono la necessita' dello scioglimento
della Nato e di un sistema alternativo di sicurezza
europea. E dove si cerchera' di dar vita ad un
coordinamento europeo permanente, che colleghi le
iniziative in questo campo e lanci una petizione in tutta
Europa contro la guerra e per l'abolizione del patto
nordatlantico.
Sono gia' una trentina le organizzazioni che da tutta
Europa hanno dato l'adesione al controvertice e ancor più
quelle che parteciperanno alla manifestazione :
organizzazioni che complessivamente rappresentano decine
di milioni di cittadini di ogni parte d'Europa, "dal
Portogallo agli Urali".
Il 20 novembre, alle ore 14.30, il controvertice si
trasformera' in una grande manifestazione, cui
prenderanno parte migliaia di persone da tutta Europa e
che sara' conclusa a Staromestske namesti (piazza della
Citta' vecchia), nel cuore della citta' antica.
Il governo ceko e la maggioranza dei media stanno già
alimentando un clima di terrore psicologico nella città,
dipingendo i manifestanti che verranno a Praga come
soggetti pericolosi e violenti. E' annunciata la presenza
di 12 mila poliziotti e di 240 soldati con idranti e
autoblindo e altri reparti dell'esercito. Il ministro
degli Interni ha affermato che le misure di sicurezza
saranno superiori a quelle adottate nel 2.000 in
occasione del vertice del Fmi.
Una "zona rossa" sarà creata attorno al Centro Congressi
e interesserà gran parte del centro di Praga, in
particolare i distretti 1,2,3,4 e 6, e non si esclude la
chiusura di altre zone e strade. Il governo, per
scoraggiare i giovani praghesi dal prendere parte alla
manifestazione anti-Nato, ha deciso la chiusura delle
scuole per i gioni del Summit e ha consigliato gli
studenti ad andarsene in vacanza. Molte scuole hanno
organizzato proprio per quei giorni delle gite
scolastiche, per tenere sotto sorveglianza i ragazzi.
Mentre diversi istituti scolastici hanno organizzato per
i giorni precedenti il Summit dei corsi di "formazione",
con la partecipazione di importanti personaggi politici e
politologi di regime che dovranno illustrare ai giovani
le straordinarie "virtù" dell'Alleanza atlantica.
E' dunque indispensabile che, dopo le giornate del Forum
Sociale Europeo di Firenze, tutti gli sforzi del
movimento contro la guerra e il neoliberismo si
concentrino sulla partecipazione, per quanto possibile
ampia, dal nostro paese alla manifestazione europea del
20 novembre a Praga.
=================================
Sulla manifestazione di Praga vedi anche la manchette al sito:
http://www.lernesto.it
=================================
Verso un nuovo movimento mondiale di "partigiani della pace" ?
Una battaglia da vincere
di Fausto Sorini
Non abbiamo ancora la certezza, mentre scriviamo (23
ottobre 2002), se vi sarà la guerra all'Iraq. E' in atto
nel Consiglio di Sicurezza (CdS) delle Nazioni Unite un
braccio di ferro che ci dice che la partita non è chiusa;
che l'Onu non è un guscio vuoto, privo ormai di ruolo
internazionale (anche se ovviamente, come ogni
istituzione, esso riflette i rapporti di forza reali che
esistono nel mondo); che Francia, Russia e Cina non sono
burattini alla corte di Bush; e che non esiste alcun
"direttorio mondiale unificato", nessun "asse strategico"
tra Usa, Russia e Cina, tutto interno e omogeneo alla
globalizzazione capitalistica, che ormai governerebbe il
mondo.
E se guerra comunque sarà, non conosciamo le forme
concrete né gli scenari politico-militari entro cui essa
si produrrà, per non parlare delle conseguenze sullo
scenario globale e segnatamente mediorientale ("si
apriranno le porte dell'inferno? ").
Non sappiamo neppure, nel caso, se essa avverrà come
attacco unilaterale degli Usa e di qualche fedele
alleato, senza l'avallo dell'Onu, o se viceversa essa
riceverà, al di là delle risoluzioni formali, un qualche
tacito, ambiguo "disco verde" da parte di quei membri del
CdS con diritto di veto (Francia, Russia e Cina) che fino
ad ora hanno agito per evitare uno sbocco militare.
Forse non ci rendiamo conto che questa stessa incertezza,
che in misura maggiore o minore alberga in ognuno di noi,
rappresenta di per sé un fatto politico enorme. Essa è il
segno, a oltre un decennio dal crollo dell'Urss, del
carattere non onnipotente dell'imperialismo Usa (uscito
vincente dalla competizione del '900) e delle sue
velleità di fare del 21° secolo il secolo dell' "impero
americano". (1)
Non è invincibile la linea dei settori più aggressivi
dell' imperialismo Usa: quelli che puntano a vincere la
competizione globale con le altre potenze emergenti
perseguendo una linea di unilateralismo assoluto, di
schiacciante superiorità militare sul resto del mondo.
Una prospettiva che Fidel Castro, già all'indomani
dell'11 settembre 2001, aveva definito di "dittatura
militare planetaria". E che ha indotto un uomo acuto e
intelligente come Luigi Pintor a scrivere : "la mia
generazione è convinta di aver vissuto in un secolo
tragico, ma può dirsi fortunata. Il genocidio era in
fondo ancora episodico e circoscritto e non ancora
duraturo e pianificato su scala planetaria". E' decisivo
sottolineare questo aspetto: non siamo in presenza di una
iniziativa inarrestabile della maggiore potenza
imperialista mondiale (la cui gravità non è certo il caso
di ribadire nell'editoriale di una rivista che ne ha
intravisto per tempo le linee portanti) (2). Siamo di
fronte ad una linea di tale pericolosità per l'insieme
della comunità mondiale, di tale disprezzo del diritto
internazionale e dei diritti sovrani dei popoli e delle
nazioni, da suscitare una opposizione - diversamente
graduata - non solo nelle componenti più progressive
dell'opinione mondiale, ma tale da suscitare riserve
anche in ambienti tradizionalmente conservatori, per
nulla propensi al pacifismo o a qualsivoglia cultura di
pace. Si pensi ai gruppi dominanti di paesi come la
Germania, la Francia, il Giappone, che sono parte
integrante del sistema imperialistico, membri della Nato
o affini, che fino a ieri hanno condiviso, taluni anche
operativamente, l'aggressione alla Yugoslavia (senza uno
straccio di mandato Onu), o l'intervento militare in
Afghanistan, ma che non accettano un unipolarismo
americano che pretende di sottometterli alle velleità
egemoniche di un solo padrone (Lenin le avrebbe definite
"contraddizioni inter-imperialistiche"?). (3) Dubbi e
riserve si manifestano persino all'interno
dell'amministrazione Bush. La strategia dei "falchi" di
Washington, così inquietante e densa di incognite per i
suoi stessi promotori (chi si ricorda la fine del Terzo
Reich ?), suscitare una opposizione così diffusa nel
mondo, da far ritenere non solo necessario, ma possibile,
che essa venga imbrigliata e almeno in parte fatta
retrocedere. Una opposizione così diffusa da aprire spazi
immensi ad un "nuovo movimento mondiale di partigiani
della pace", che in queste contraddizioni sappia
inserirsi per far pendere l'ago della bilancia dalla
parte della pace e del disarmo.
Parliamo innanzitutto del disarmo graduale e bilanciato
delle maggiori potenze, ampiamente dotate di armi
nucleari, chimiche e batteriologiche, di cui non si
comprende perché dovrebbero avere il monopolio. Per cui
un paese come l'Iraq, che sulla base di prove mai
fornite, lavorerebbe per poter disporre tra qualche anno
(come dice la Cia) di alcune testate nucleari
rudimentali, dovrebbe essere bombardato
"preventivamente", mentre uno Stato "canaglia" come
Israele, che non rispetta da decenni le risoluzioni
dell'Onu, massacra impunemente il popolo palestinese e
dispone, come è noto, di alcune centinaia di testate
nucleari, non dovrebbe essere chiamato a render conto dei
suoi atti, e sottoposto - perché no - a rigorosissime
ispezioni Onu per verificare la consistenza delle armi di
sterminio di cui esso già dispone in abbondanza nei
propri arsenali.
Ha detto bene in proposito il segretario del Prc, "che
noi qui in Europa, in Italia, dobbiamo trasformare
l'autunno in una straordinaria stagione contro la guerra.
Cercando di allargare il fronte quanto più possibile,
trasformando la battaglia per la pace nella nostra
principale battaglia strategica. Non solo una battaglia
di principio, una battaglia da vincere".
Si aprono spazi grandi per un movimento mondiale
antimperialista (comunque lo si voglia chiamare), che
organizzi uno schieramento più qualificato (certo non vi
troveremo Andreotti o Formigoni, e neppure Schroeder o
Chirac?), ma che per "vincere" non deve separarsi dalle
grandi masse e dalle forze popolari, come ad esempio la
Cgil, che oggi dicono comunque "no alla guerra". Uno
schieramento che comprenda i settori più avanzati dei
movimenti operai e di liberazione, di cui è parte
integrante e propulsiva (non esclusiva né
autosufficiente) il movimento che ha preso avvio a Porto
Alegre e che vedrà nelle giornate di Firenze del Forum
sociale europeo un suo momento importante, anche se
ancora molto parziale e provvisorio, di strutturazione
continentale (4).
Trovo emblematico in proposito l'appello internazionale
contro la guerra, promosso dal premio Nobel Josè
Saramago, con Pedro Almodovar, Carlos Taibo, James
Petras, Julio Anguita e altri 200 artisti e
intellettuali, a nome di una "Alleanza di intellettuali
antimperialisti". Un appello "contro una nuova
aggressione imperialistica che si propone di consolidare,
a qualunque prezzo, l'egemonia nord-americana". Andrebbe
rafforzato e generalizzato in ogni Paese del mondo
(quanti altri Nobel potrebbero firmare?), facendo
convergere il tutto in una grande campagna mondiale per
la raccolta di centinaia di milioni di firme, a tutte le
latitudini. (5)
Grandi spazi si aprono anche alla peculiare iniziativa
dei comunisti - nel quadro della più larga unità contro
la guerra - per riscoprire e diffondere nelle nuove
generazioni, tra i lavoratori e i popoli, la
consapevolezza dei nessi che esistono tra capitalismo e
guerra, "dove l'uno porta l'altra con sé, come la nube la
tempesta". E riscoprire anche per quella via l'esigenza
del socialismo nel mondo contemporaneo, e la
consapevolezza che un sistema sociale che si regge sullo
sfruttamento dell'uomo sull'uomo, un mondo che si regge
su crescenti squilibri economici e sociali tra un pugno
di paesi ricchi (in competizione tra loro) e un oceano di
paesi poveri, non sarà mai un mondo liberato dal pericolo
della guerra.
Nel mese di novembre si terranno in Europa due importanti
iniziative contro la guerra, a carattere continentale. Mi
riferisco al Fse di Firenze, che in particolare vedrà il
9 novembre una importante manifestazione europea contro
la guerra. Ed un secondo meeting europeo, meno conosciuto
ma non per questo meno significativo, che si terrà una
decina di giorni dopo a Praga, in occasione del vertice
della Nato del 21-22 novembre, che deciderà una sua
ulteriore espansione ad Est, con l'ingresso di nuovi
Paesi; e dove i rappresentanti Usa premeranno per un
coinvolgimento dell'Alleanza nella dottrina della "guerra
preventiva". Nei due giorni precedenti si terrà a Praga
un contro-vertice (19 novembre), promosso dal Partito
comunista ceko (Kscm), cui prenderanno parte la quasi
totalità dei partiti comunisti e di sinistra
anticapitalistica di tutta l'Europa, dell'Est e
dell'Ovest (dal Portogallo agli Urali, passando per i
Balcani). Un incontro continentale, il primo di questo
genere dopo il terremoto del 1989, in cui forze politiche
che rappresentano alcune decine di milioni di cittadini
di ogni parte d'Europa, discuteranno di come contribuire
allo sviluppo di un movimento continentale di massa,
articolato e continuativo, paese per paese, contro la
guerra, per lo scioglimento della Nato e la costruzione
di un sistema di sicurezza europea alternativo, non
aggressivo (una sorta di Onu europea), senza basi
militari straniere, coerente con l'idea di un'Europa
autonoma e neutrale, di pace, di giustizia sociale, di
amicizia tra i popoli. Il giorno dopo (20 novembre) le
stesse forze terranno una manifestazione europea nel
centro storico di Praga, aperta a tutte le realtà
politiche, sociali e di movimento che si riconoscono
nelle sue parole d'ordine: contro la guerra, per lo
scioglimento della Nato.
Forse non si è fatto abbastanza per costruire nei mesi
scorsi una adeguata sinergia tra questi due appuntamenti
di grande valore strategico. Auguriamoci che ciò sia
possibile in futuro, a partire dalle prossime giornate di
Firenze e di Praga. E che ogni sforzo sia messo in campo
per superare incomprensioni, distanze, pregiudiziali
ideologiche, piccole logiche di gruppo, che ostacolano la
massima convergenza di tutte le forze che si riconoscono
nelle due fondamentali discriminanti dell'anti-liberismo
e del "no" alla guerra. Vi sono oggi le condizioni, anche
in Europa, senza più muri tra Est e Ovest, per la
costruzione di un grande movimento popolare, con forme
flessibili ma efficaci di coordinamento, collocato su
posizioni socialmente avanzate, aperto alle convergenze
con chiunque sia comunque disponibile a dire "no" alla
guerra. Lo dimostra la straordinaria manifestazione di
fine settembre a Londra contro la guerra (450.000
persone), svoltasi in concomitanza con la riuscita
manifestazione di Roma, promossa e organizzata dal Prc
(dal nostro partito), ma che nei comizi ha dato ampio
spazio ad altri (no-global, sinistra Ds, movimento dei
lavoratori, associazioni di immigrati); la manifestazione
enorme, a metà settembre, del popolo dei "girotondi",
nella quale l'intervento di Gino Strada contro la guerra
è stato accolto da una autentica ovazione; la grande
riuscita dello sciopero generale del 18 ottobre e delle
manifestazioni di piazza, promosse dalla Cgil e dai
settori più avanzati del sindacalismo extra-confederale,
che hanno visto anche una massiccia partecipazione di
studenti, e in cui il tema del "no" alla guerra era
fortemente presente e condiviso; il documento contro la
guerra firmato da 131 parlamentari del Prc, del Pdci, dei
Ds, dei Verdi, della Margherita?che rappresentano insieme
quasi il 15% del Parlamento e che esprimono, senza
ambiguità, un orientamento contrario alla guerra che
tutti i sondaggi ci dicono essere larghissimamente
maggioritario nel paese. Un documento che opportunamente
raccoglie il richiamo di Pietro Ingrao (e persino di un
ex Presidente della Repubblica democristiano come Oscar
Luigi Scalfaro) all'articolo 11 della Costituzione.
Vi è qui un bel pezzo di "sinistra alternativa", sociale,
politica, di movimento, che può crescere e bilanciare la
recente (ennesima) torsione centrista e moderata della
maggioranza del gruppo dirigente dei Ds. A condizione che
si rispetti l'autonomia di ognuno, che si evitino come la
peste ipotesi confuse, velleitarie (e che alla fine
dividono, più che unire) di "nuovi soggetti politici" che
pretenderebbero di fondere o impastare tutte quelle forze
in un unico calderone, invece di operare - senza
forzature organizzativistiche - sul terreno assai più
produttivo dell'unità d'azione, del coordinamento
flessibile di tutte le iniziative condivise, con una
convergente elaborazione programmatica e progettuale.
Dove la piena autonomia politica, teorica e organizzativa
del partito comunista sia non già sinonimo di settarismo
e autosufficienza, bensì fattore propulsivo di più larghe
convergenze a sinistra. Partito comunista che si
conferma, pur con tutti i suoi difetti, strumento sempre
più prezioso e insostituibile di dinamismo politico e
sociale nel contesto italiano, su cui davvero vale la
pena di investire grandi forze ed energie, senza alcuna
boria autoreferenziale, con maggiore spirito di unità e
solidarietà interna, a partire dai gruppi dirigenti e
dalle modalità della loro costruzione.
Noi non abbiamo dubbi o esitazioni (non dobbiamo averne,
pena l'auto-emarginazione dal senso comune del nostro
popolo) su alcune priorità del momento: no alla guerra,
sostegno alle lotte dei lavoratori, opposizione
convergente al governo Berlusconi, intese tattiche -
ovunque possibile - anche sul terreno elettorale, per
battere le destre e le componenti più reazionarie del
quadro politico italiano. Ma sappiamo anche che un abisso
strategico ci distingue dal nuovo craxismo della
governabilità a qualunque costo, che sta nuovamente
prevalendo nell'Ulivo e nella direzione dei Ds. E non
diventeremo - non siamo nati per questo - né l'ala
sinistra, inevitabilmente subalterna e minoritaria, di
questo nuovo Ulivo in gestazione (non faremo la fine di
altri?), né una forza marginale e minoritaria, estranea
al movimento operaio in carne ed ossa e alle componenti
democratiche e progressive che contraddittoriamente
agiscono nel "popolo della sinistra", perché questa
sarebbe un'altra forma, speculare ma non meno
fallimentare, di subalternità.
Condivido in proposito alcune recenti sottolineature del
segretario del Prc (Liberazione, 19.10. 2002). E' vero:
"l'onda lunga oggi è quella del conflitto sociale e del
protagonismo dei lavoratori", dove emerge "una presenza
ricca e composita : classe operaia tradizionale, giovani
studenti e giovani lavoratori precari", con "una forte
volontà di opposizione politica e sociale alle scelte del
governo Berlusconi". Per cui, "dopo il successo di questo
sciopero, la normalizzazione della Cgil e del conflitto
sociale sarà più difficile?nonostante lo spostamento a
destra del centrosinistra ?e del baricentro politico
dell'Ulivo". "Bisogna prendere atto del fallimento
dell'ipotesi di chi aveva puntato tutto sullo spostamento
dell'insieme del centro-sinistra", o di chi puntava ad
una sua "rigenerazione dall'interno, ad una sua
rifondazione programmatica e di leadership : la strada
indicata da Cofferati nell'intervista di agosto al
Corriere". Il punto è quello della "costruzione di una
sinistra di alternativa, stando ciascuno dove sta,
evitando fughe di tipo organizzativistico, e produrre
iniziative e lotte comuni". E riprendere con forza il
tema della "fine della cultura dell'alternanza", con il
"mutamento del sistema elettorale", trovando le forme e
le convergenze necessarie per un " rilancio della
proporzionale".
Sul piano sociale, si impone la vertenza Fiat, e qui
bisogna "far leva su un intervento pubblico?che rompa i
tabù imposti dall'egemonia neo-liberista, sul ruolo dello
Stato e sul Patto di stabilità europeo".
Dove il dibattito sulla "nazionalizzazione" e sul
"rilancio dell'intervento pubblico in economia", allude
prospetticamente alla riapertura di una riflessione non
velleitaria su : "Quale socialismo per il XXI° secolo",
dopo il crollo di un modello di statalismo integrale. E
quindi : quale economia mista, con una prevalenza del
pubblico nei settori strategici, in un processo di lunga
transizione al socialismo, su scala mondiale e nelle sue
articolazioni nazionali e regionali; quale rapporto tra
pubblico e privato. E ancora : come costruire, in un
quadro di regionalizzazione crescente delle relazioni
economiche, un polo pubblico sovranazionale che sappia
reggere la competizione delle multinazionali private.
Si tratta cioè di riaprire, con una visione mondiale,
senza fughe in avanti né regressioni utopistiche, la
questione del socialismo.
---------------------------------------------------------
(1) Le due nozioni - imperialismo e logica "imperiale" -
se correttamente intese, possono coesistere e descrivere
fenomeni tra loro complementari, non escludentesi, a
condizione di fuoriuscire dallo schema negriano. La
questione non è nominalistica.
(2) E questo quando altri, anche in Rifondazione,
esitavano a cogliere il salto di qualità e la peculiera
pericolosità per la pace mondiale rappresentati non tanto
e non solo da una generica e indistinta "globalizzazione
capitalistica", senza nome e indirizzo, ma soprattutto
dalle nuove scelte strategiche di politica estera degli
Stati Uniti, fino alle più recenti teorizzazioni sulla
"guerra preventiva", sintetizzate in un opuscolo diffuso
il mese scorso dalla Casa Bianca, e che il quotidiano
Liberazione, unico tra i giornali italiani, ha avuto il
merito di tradurre e pubblicare integralmente (e
tempestivamente) nella sua edizione del 10 ottobre 2002 (
www.liberazione.it ) e che rappresenta un'autentica
miniera di argomenti.
(3) La Stampa (3.9.2002) pubblica in proposito una
significativa dichiarazione di Tareq Aziz, vicepremier
irakeno: "l'animosità americana contro di noi si spiega
con il fatto che se distruggeranno l'Iraq controlleranno
il petrolio di tutto il Medio Oriente, che rappresenta il
65% delle riserve mondiali, e quindi saranno in grado di
governare la crescita economica di ogni nazione del mondo
intero. L'Europa è solidale con noi non solo per ragioni
umanitarie, ma perché così protegge i suoi interessi". E
più recentemente (La Stampa, 23.10.2002) : "la Corea del
Nord ha ammesso di avere un programma nucleare. Gli Usa
non hanno chiesto ispezioni Onu come per l'Iraq. Perché?
Perché due cose mancano in Corea del Nord: il petrolio e
Israele".
(4) Mentre l'Europa occidentale è largamente
rappresentata nel Forum sociale europeo, nonostante
permangano veti assurdi alla presenza dei partiti in
quanto tali, le forze sociali e politiche che nell'Europa
dell'Est, nei Balcani e nei paesi dell'area ex-sovietica,
a partire dalla Russia, rappresentano le istanze
fondamentali del Forum (anti-liberismo e opposizione alla
guerra) sono praticamente assenti, salvo rarissime
eccezioni. Questi paesi, in cui vive circa la metà dei
700 milioni di cittadini che popolano il continente, sono
per lo più rappresentati nel Fse da piccoli o
piccolissimi gruppi, il cui consenso sociale e politico
nei rispettivi popoli è assolutamente marginale. Il caso
più eclatante è quello delle grandi organizzazioni legate
ai comunisti e ai socialisti di sinistra di questi paesi,
dove essi rappresentano in molti casi il 30-40% dei
rispettivi popoli (stiamo parlando - a spanne - di una
sessantina di milioni di persone, di cui una buona parte
solo in Russia, Ucraina, Bielorussia?) e che a Firenze
non saranno in alcun modo rappresentate. Mancanza di
contatti o assurde pregiudiziali ideologiche di alcuni
settori del Forum verso i comunisti dell'Est ? Varrebbe
la pena di discuterne e di saperne di più.
(5) Il testo dell'appello (in spagnolo) e le adesioni,
nonché la lettera aperta di queste personalità europee
agli intellettuali ed artisti statunitensi, firmatari di
un analogo manifesto, sono reperibili in:
www.nodo50.org/csca , oppure scivendo a :
csca@...
ARTEL GEOPOLITIKA by www.artel.co.yu
office@...
Datum: 30 oktobar 2002
Apel Skupstine "Beogradskog foruma" domacoj i
svetskoj javnosti povodom Americkih pretnji Iraku
SKUPSTINA BEOGRADSKOG FORUMA ZA SVET RAVNOPRAVNIH, NA
SVOJOJ REDOVNOJ GODISNJOJ SEDNICI, ODR?ANOJ 29.
OKTOBRA 2002. GODINE, USVOJILA JE SLEDECI
A P E L
DOMACOJ I SVETSKOJ JAVNOSTI
POVODOM AMERICKIH PRETNJI IRAKU
Beogradski forum za svet ravnopravnih, ciji je osnovni
cilj da promovise i unapredjuje ideje mira,
razumevanja i ravnopravne medjunarodne saradnje,
demokratskih standarda i prava coveka, izra?ava veliku
zabrinutost zbog sve direktnijih i nicim opravdanih
pretnji ratom protiv Iraka od strane Sjedinjenih
Americkih Dr?ava. Ovim obracanjem domacoj i svetskoj
javnosti, Breogradski forum ?eli da uka?e na motive i
dalekose?ne posledice eventualnog takvog napada.
Pretnje za napad na Irak, Americka administracija
opravdava opasnoscu za sopstvenu bezbednost od oru?ja
za masovno unistavanje koje Irak, navodno, proizvodi
ili poseduje. Reagujuci na te pretnje, iracka vlada je
nedavno odlucila da prihvati bezuslovan povratak
inspektora Ujedinjenih nacija, kojima omogucuje da se
na licu mesta, i bez ikakvih ogranicenja, uvere u
opravdanost ili neopravdanost takvih americkih
tvrdnji. To, medjutim, nije odvratilo Americku
administraciju da nastavi sa jos ?escim pritiscima i
pripremama za oru?ani napad na Irak, cak i mimo
saglasnosti Saveta bezbednosti Ujedinjenih nacija, u
kojem se vecina zemalja zala?e za resavanje spora sa
Irakom mirnim putem i u duhu Povelje UN .
Takvo ponasanje pokazuje da Americku administraciju, u
stvari, ne interesuje utvrdjivanje istine u vezi sa
eventualnom proizvodnjom, ili posedovanjem oru?ja za
masovno unistavanje, jer to nije u prvom planu njene
politike i strategije. Ona, u stvari, samo tra?i povod
za oru?ani napad na Irak, rukovodjena iskljucivo sirim
interesima i ciljevima Amerike kao jedine globalne
sile. Radi se o te?nji Amerike da primenom sile
likvidira sadasnji iracki re?im koji smatra
"neposlusnim". Ona time, kao i ranije agresijom na
Jugoslaviju, ?eli da poka?e da ista ili slicna sudbina
ceka svaku zemlju koja, po njenim merilima, bude
svrstana u kategoriju "odmetnickih" zemalja, odnosno
onih koje ne prihvataju americki koncept novog
svetskog poretka, tj. njenu dominaciju.
U stvari, iza takve ratoborne politike Amerike prema
Iraku stoji njen interes i te?nja da potvrdi svoj
status jedine preostale supersile i time, posebno, jos
vise ucvrsti svoje pozicije na strateski va?nom
prostoru Bliskog i Srednjeg istoka i, sto je narocito
va?no, stavi pod kontrlu ogromne rezerve iracke nafte.
Amerika ovim nastoji da obezbedi dalje jacanje svojih
pozicija u svim strateski va?nim delovima sveta,
nametne marionetske re?ime u njima i stavi pod
kontrolu najva?nije sirovinske i energetske izvore u
svetu, kao i strateske saobracajne pravce. Sve to
predstavlja sustinu nove, nedavno razradjene, americke
bezbednosne doktrine i njene te?nje za hegemonijom i
dominacijom.
Beogradski forum izra?ava zadovoljstvo sto se u
pojedinim zemljama, ukljucujuci i same Sjedinjene
Americke Dr?ave, sve jace cuju glasovi protiv
americkih ratnih planova i pretnji Iraku. Ti planovi,
objektivno, izra?avaju politiku koja danas predstavlja
jednu od najvecih opasnosti za mir, bezbednost i
stabilnost medjunarodnog poretka uopste. Sve je
prisutnije saznanje da bi agresija na Irak, pored
velikog broja ljudskih ?rtava, razaranja i ogromnih
dodatnih patnji irackog naroda, predstavljala, bez
sumnje, i te?ak udarac za medjunarodne odnose, mir i
stabilnost u svetu.Ona bi krajnje zaostrila inace
slo?ene odnose izmedju Zapada i muslimanskog sveta,
dodatno destabilizovala stanje na Bliskom istoku,
pogorsavajuci ionako tragican polo?aj palestinskog
naroda. Agresija bi, takodje, otvorila put za dalje
akte bezakonja i samovolju svetskih mocnika na
najsirem medjunarodnom planu, uz realan rizik da
izazove sire medjunarodne sukobe sa nesagledivim
posledicama za covecanstvo. Rat bi, osim toga, izazvao
duboke poremecaje i nestabilnost i u medjunarodnim
ekonomskim i finansijskim odnosima, cije bi negativne
posledice dodatno pogorsale polo?aj, pre svega,
zemalja u razvoju, ali i drugih manje razvijenih
zemalja. ?elimo,medjutim, da verujemo da ce najzad
zdrav razum pobediti i da ce agresija na Irak biti
izbegnuta.
Polazeci od svega toga, Beogradski forum poziva domacu
i svetsku javnost da, poput anti-ratnih akcija
organizovanih u pojedinim zemljama Evrope i Amerike,
odlucno digne svoj glas protiv americkih ratnih
planova prema Iraku i protiv politike sile uopste u
medjunarodnim odnosima. Uporedo s tim, neophodno je
anga?ovanje svih miroljubivih i demokratskih snaga u
svetu u pravcu rehabilitacije i pune afirmacije
nezavisne i nepristrasne uloge Ujedinjenih nacija ,
kao cuvara svetskog mira i bezbednosti. To je bitna
predpostvka za suzbijanje svakog pokusaja primene sile
u medjunarodnim odnosima suprotno slovu i duhu Povelje
Ujedinjenih nacija i za striktno postovanje osnovnih
principa medjunarodnog prava, posebno principa
suverenosti, nezavisnosti i nemesanja u odnosima medju
dr?avama.
Otklanjanju ratne pretnje Iraku i miru u svetu veoma
bi doprinelo dosledno postovanje od strane Iraka
relevantnih rezolucija Saveta bezbednosti u vezi sa
ostvarivanjem mandata medjunarodnih inspektora za
kontrolu naoru?anja za masovno unistavanje.
Imajuci u vidu tragicne posledice koje je narod
Jugoslavije do?iveo zbog neopravdanih sankcija i
brutalne agresije, Beogradski forum izra?ava podrsku i
solidarnost sa irackim narodom koji je, takodje,
izlo?en dugogodisnjim sankcijama, cije su ?rtve
posebno deca i starije osobe. Zbog toga Beogradski
forum poziva domacu i svetsku javnost da se odlucno
anga?uje prema Savetu bezbednosti i za neodlo?no
ukidanje nepravednih sankcija irackom narodu, kao i za
prestanak nezakonitog i nicim opravdanog stalnog
bombardovanja Iraka. Od medjunarodne zajednice i, pre
svega, Ujedinjenih nacija ocekujemo da irackom narodu
obezbede striktno postovanje njegovog prava da sam
odlucuje o svojoj sudbini i da ?ivi u miru i slobodi,
kao i svaki drugi narod.
U Beogradu, 28. 10. 2002. godine
BEOGRADSKI FORUM ZA SVET RAVNOPRAVNIH
office@...
Datum: 30 oktobar 2002
Apel Skupstine "Beogradskog foruma" domacoj i
svetskoj javnosti povodom Americkih pretnji Iraku
SKUPSTINA BEOGRADSKOG FORUMA ZA SVET RAVNOPRAVNIH, NA
SVOJOJ REDOVNOJ GODISNJOJ SEDNICI, ODR?ANOJ 29.
OKTOBRA 2002. GODINE, USVOJILA JE SLEDECI
A P E L
DOMACOJ I SVETSKOJ JAVNOSTI
POVODOM AMERICKIH PRETNJI IRAKU
Beogradski forum za svet ravnopravnih, ciji je osnovni
cilj da promovise i unapredjuje ideje mira,
razumevanja i ravnopravne medjunarodne saradnje,
demokratskih standarda i prava coveka, izra?ava veliku
zabrinutost zbog sve direktnijih i nicim opravdanih
pretnji ratom protiv Iraka od strane Sjedinjenih
Americkih Dr?ava. Ovim obracanjem domacoj i svetskoj
javnosti, Breogradski forum ?eli da uka?e na motive i
dalekose?ne posledice eventualnog takvog napada.
Pretnje za napad na Irak, Americka administracija
opravdava opasnoscu za sopstvenu bezbednost od oru?ja
za masovno unistavanje koje Irak, navodno, proizvodi
ili poseduje. Reagujuci na te pretnje, iracka vlada je
nedavno odlucila da prihvati bezuslovan povratak
inspektora Ujedinjenih nacija, kojima omogucuje da se
na licu mesta, i bez ikakvih ogranicenja, uvere u
opravdanost ili neopravdanost takvih americkih
tvrdnji. To, medjutim, nije odvratilo Americku
administraciju da nastavi sa jos ?escim pritiscima i
pripremama za oru?ani napad na Irak, cak i mimo
saglasnosti Saveta bezbednosti Ujedinjenih nacija, u
kojem se vecina zemalja zala?e za resavanje spora sa
Irakom mirnim putem i u duhu Povelje UN .
Takvo ponasanje pokazuje da Americku administraciju, u
stvari, ne interesuje utvrdjivanje istine u vezi sa
eventualnom proizvodnjom, ili posedovanjem oru?ja za
masovno unistavanje, jer to nije u prvom planu njene
politike i strategije. Ona, u stvari, samo tra?i povod
za oru?ani napad na Irak, rukovodjena iskljucivo sirim
interesima i ciljevima Amerike kao jedine globalne
sile. Radi se o te?nji Amerike da primenom sile
likvidira sadasnji iracki re?im koji smatra
"neposlusnim". Ona time, kao i ranije agresijom na
Jugoslaviju, ?eli da poka?e da ista ili slicna sudbina
ceka svaku zemlju koja, po njenim merilima, bude
svrstana u kategoriju "odmetnickih" zemalja, odnosno
onih koje ne prihvataju americki koncept novog
svetskog poretka, tj. njenu dominaciju.
U stvari, iza takve ratoborne politike Amerike prema
Iraku stoji njen interes i te?nja da potvrdi svoj
status jedine preostale supersile i time, posebno, jos
vise ucvrsti svoje pozicije na strateski va?nom
prostoru Bliskog i Srednjeg istoka i, sto je narocito
va?no, stavi pod kontrlu ogromne rezerve iracke nafte.
Amerika ovim nastoji da obezbedi dalje jacanje svojih
pozicija u svim strateski va?nim delovima sveta,
nametne marionetske re?ime u njima i stavi pod
kontrolu najva?nije sirovinske i energetske izvore u
svetu, kao i strateske saobracajne pravce. Sve to
predstavlja sustinu nove, nedavno razradjene, americke
bezbednosne doktrine i njene te?nje za hegemonijom i
dominacijom.
Beogradski forum izra?ava zadovoljstvo sto se u
pojedinim zemljama, ukljucujuci i same Sjedinjene
Americke Dr?ave, sve jace cuju glasovi protiv
americkih ratnih planova i pretnji Iraku. Ti planovi,
objektivno, izra?avaju politiku koja danas predstavlja
jednu od najvecih opasnosti za mir, bezbednost i
stabilnost medjunarodnog poretka uopste. Sve je
prisutnije saznanje da bi agresija na Irak, pored
velikog broja ljudskih ?rtava, razaranja i ogromnih
dodatnih patnji irackog naroda, predstavljala, bez
sumnje, i te?ak udarac za medjunarodne odnose, mir i
stabilnost u svetu.Ona bi krajnje zaostrila inace
slo?ene odnose izmedju Zapada i muslimanskog sveta,
dodatno destabilizovala stanje na Bliskom istoku,
pogorsavajuci ionako tragican polo?aj palestinskog
naroda. Agresija bi, takodje, otvorila put za dalje
akte bezakonja i samovolju svetskih mocnika na
najsirem medjunarodnom planu, uz realan rizik da
izazove sire medjunarodne sukobe sa nesagledivim
posledicama za covecanstvo. Rat bi, osim toga, izazvao
duboke poremecaje i nestabilnost i u medjunarodnim
ekonomskim i finansijskim odnosima, cije bi negativne
posledice dodatno pogorsale polo?aj, pre svega,
zemalja u razvoju, ali i drugih manje razvijenih
zemalja. ?elimo,medjutim, da verujemo da ce najzad
zdrav razum pobediti i da ce agresija na Irak biti
izbegnuta.
Polazeci od svega toga, Beogradski forum poziva domacu
i svetsku javnost da, poput anti-ratnih akcija
organizovanih u pojedinim zemljama Evrope i Amerike,
odlucno digne svoj glas protiv americkih ratnih
planova prema Iraku i protiv politike sile uopste u
medjunarodnim odnosima. Uporedo s tim, neophodno je
anga?ovanje svih miroljubivih i demokratskih snaga u
svetu u pravcu rehabilitacije i pune afirmacije
nezavisne i nepristrasne uloge Ujedinjenih nacija ,
kao cuvara svetskog mira i bezbednosti. To je bitna
predpostvka za suzbijanje svakog pokusaja primene sile
u medjunarodnim odnosima suprotno slovu i duhu Povelje
Ujedinjenih nacija i za striktno postovanje osnovnih
principa medjunarodnog prava, posebno principa
suverenosti, nezavisnosti i nemesanja u odnosima medju
dr?avama.
Otklanjanju ratne pretnje Iraku i miru u svetu veoma
bi doprinelo dosledno postovanje od strane Iraka
relevantnih rezolucija Saveta bezbednosti u vezi sa
ostvarivanjem mandata medjunarodnih inspektora za
kontrolu naoru?anja za masovno unistavanje.
Imajuci u vidu tragicne posledice koje je narod
Jugoslavije do?iveo zbog neopravdanih sankcija i
brutalne agresije, Beogradski forum izra?ava podrsku i
solidarnost sa irackim narodom koji je, takodje,
izlo?en dugogodisnjim sankcijama, cije su ?rtve
posebno deca i starije osobe. Zbog toga Beogradski
forum poziva domacu i svetsku javnost da se odlucno
anga?uje prema Savetu bezbednosti i za neodlo?no
ukidanje nepravednih sankcija irackom narodu, kao i za
prestanak nezakonitog i nicim opravdanog stalnog
bombardovanja Iraka. Od medjunarodne zajednice i, pre
svega, Ujedinjenih nacija ocekujemo da irackom narodu
obezbede striktno postovanje njegovog prava da sam
odlucuje o svojoj sudbini i da ?ivi u miru i slobodi,
kao i svaki drugi narod.
U Beogradu, 28. 10. 2002. godine
BEOGRADSKI FORUM ZA SVET RAVNOPRAVNIH
ONOREFICENZA CROATA PER I RADICALI
I leaders del Partito Radicale Transnazionale - Marco Pannella, Emma
Bonino ed Olivier Dupuis - sono stati insigniti dell'Ordine del Principe
Branimiro, una importante decorazione che lo Stato Croato Indipendente,
in continuita' con lo Stato nazista di Ante Pavelic, assegna ai
personaggi che hanno avuto grandi meriti per la realizzazione della
indipendenza nazionale.
I Radicali Transnazionali hanno infatti contribuito con convinzione allo
scatenamento della guerra fratricida nella Repubblica Federativa
Socialista di Jugoslavia, plaudendo in particolare alla pulizia etnica
nei territori dell'attuale Croazia fino a pochi anni fa abitati in
maggioranza da serbi. Una fotografia di Marco Pannella che veste la
divisa dell'esercito croato, risalente all'autunno 1991, si puo' trovare
alla URL:
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/files/pannella.jpg
>
http://www.hina.hr/nws-bin/genews.cgi?TOP=ehot&NID=ehot/politika/HA287375.2yc
EUROPEAN RADICALS MEET PARLIAMENT'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
ZAGREB, Oct 28 (Hina) - A delegation of the Transnational Radical Party
at the European Parliament held talks in Zagreb on Monday with
representatives of the Croatian parliamentary committee on foreign
affairs, discussing European Union (EU) expansion following the
admission of ten new members in 2004. #L#
The delegation, including party president Marco Pannella, Emma Bonino,
and Olivier Dupuis, arrived in Croatia to receive Prince Branimir Order
decorations, conferred by President Stjepan Mesic, for their
contribution to the strengthening of Croatian interests.
Foreign affairs committee chairman Zdravko Tomac told reporters the
talks mentioned a Transnational Radical Party initiative aimed at
warning the EU that the admission of 13 candidate countries must not be
the end of the enlargement process.
"We also mentioned the possibility of Croatia's being the leader of
Euro-Atlantic integration in the region," said Tomac.
"In our country, however, there is fear that if Croatia accepted that
role it would accept the fate of those countries as well. Croatia is
twice as developed (as them) and the difference between Croatia and
those countries is like the difference between the EU and Croatia," said
Tomac.
According to Dupuis, the Radicals believe the EU enlargement process is
incomplete if Croatia and the countries of the Balkans and Caucasia are
left out. A scandal should be caused to remind Brussels that important
parts of Europe have been excluded from the expansion process, he said.
Bonino pointed to the feeling in Brussels that the upcoming admission of
13 new members should end expansion to central and eastern Europe.
The Radicals maintain the doors should be opened to other areas as well,
said Bonino. Croatia has to see if it is more effective to open the
doors to the EU at the head of several countries or to try to enter the
EU by itself, she added.
The objective is for these countries to become candidates, and then to
have each individually meet the criteria to join the EU, she stated.
"The Radicals' concept is democratic. They have realised that nobody in
Europe has the right to exclude a part of Europe from the EU. Croatia
has the right to be in the group with Romania and Bulgaria, and not to
be left out," said Tomac.
Ten candidates for EU membership, Slovenia, Poland, Hungary, the Czech
Republic, Slovakia, Cyprus, Malta, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia,
should join in 2004.
Romania and Bulgaria still do not meet the admission criteria. As for
the 13th candidate, the EU has still not commenced negotiations with
Turkey.
The Radicals' delegation was also received by Foreign Minister Tonino
Picula, who presented them with the Prince Branimir Order with chain,
the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Pannella, Bonino, and Dupuis were decorated by President Mesic for their
merits in the promotion of Croatia's international position and
reputation, as well as its relations with other states, and for their
outstanding contribution to Croatia's international recognition, the
ministry said.
(hina) ha sb
(C) Copyright Hina 2002. All rights reserved.
I leaders del Partito Radicale Transnazionale - Marco Pannella, Emma
Bonino ed Olivier Dupuis - sono stati insigniti dell'Ordine del Principe
Branimiro, una importante decorazione che lo Stato Croato Indipendente,
in continuita' con lo Stato nazista di Ante Pavelic, assegna ai
personaggi che hanno avuto grandi meriti per la realizzazione della
indipendenza nazionale.
I Radicali Transnazionali hanno infatti contribuito con convinzione allo
scatenamento della guerra fratricida nella Repubblica Federativa
Socialista di Jugoslavia, plaudendo in particolare alla pulizia etnica
nei territori dell'attuale Croazia fino a pochi anni fa abitati in
maggioranza da serbi. Una fotografia di Marco Pannella che veste la
divisa dell'esercito croato, risalente all'autunno 1991, si puo' trovare
alla URL:
http://it.groups.yahoo.com/group/crj-mailinglist/files/pannella.jpg
>
http://www.hina.hr/nws-bin/genews.cgi?TOP=ehot&NID=ehot/politika/HA287375.2yc
EUROPEAN RADICALS MEET PARLIAMENT'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
ZAGREB, Oct 28 (Hina) - A delegation of the Transnational Radical Party
at the European Parliament held talks in Zagreb on Monday with
representatives of the Croatian parliamentary committee on foreign
affairs, discussing European Union (EU) expansion following the
admission of ten new members in 2004. #L#
The delegation, including party president Marco Pannella, Emma Bonino,
and Olivier Dupuis, arrived in Croatia to receive Prince Branimir Order
decorations, conferred by President Stjepan Mesic, for their
contribution to the strengthening of Croatian interests.
Foreign affairs committee chairman Zdravko Tomac told reporters the
talks mentioned a Transnational Radical Party initiative aimed at
warning the EU that the admission of 13 candidate countries must not be
the end of the enlargement process.
"We also mentioned the possibility of Croatia's being the leader of
Euro-Atlantic integration in the region," said Tomac.
"In our country, however, there is fear that if Croatia accepted that
role it would accept the fate of those countries as well. Croatia is
twice as developed (as them) and the difference between Croatia and
those countries is like the difference between the EU and Croatia," said
Tomac.
According to Dupuis, the Radicals believe the EU enlargement process is
incomplete if Croatia and the countries of the Balkans and Caucasia are
left out. A scandal should be caused to remind Brussels that important
parts of Europe have been excluded from the expansion process, he said.
Bonino pointed to the feeling in Brussels that the upcoming admission of
13 new members should end expansion to central and eastern Europe.
The Radicals maintain the doors should be opened to other areas as well,
said Bonino. Croatia has to see if it is more effective to open the
doors to the EU at the head of several countries or to try to enter the
EU by itself, she added.
The objective is for these countries to become candidates, and then to
have each individually meet the criteria to join the EU, she stated.
"The Radicals' concept is democratic. They have realised that nobody in
Europe has the right to exclude a part of Europe from the EU. Croatia
has the right to be in the group with Romania and Bulgaria, and not to
be left out," said Tomac.
Ten candidates for EU membership, Slovenia, Poland, Hungary, the Czech
Republic, Slovakia, Cyprus, Malta, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia,
should join in 2004.
Romania and Bulgaria still do not meet the admission criteria. As for
the 13th candidate, the EU has still not commenced negotiations with
Turkey.
The Radicals' delegation was also received by Foreign Minister Tonino
Picula, who presented them with the Prince Branimir Order with chain,
the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Pannella, Bonino, and Dupuis were decorated by President Mesic for their
merits in the promotion of Croatia's international position and
reputation, as well as its relations with other states, and for their
outstanding contribution to Croatia's international recognition, the
ministry said.
(hina) ha sb
(C) Copyright Hina 2002. All rights reserved.
IL REGIME SERBO IMPLORA IN GINOCCHIO L'AMMISSIONE NELLA "PARTNERSHIP FOR
PEACE" (ANTICAMERA DELLA N.A.T.O.)
Gen. Krga in Brussels
BRUSSELS, Oct 28 (Tanjug) - Repersentative of Yugoslav
Army general staff Gen. Branko Krga arrived on Monday on a
two-day official visit to the Belgian armed forces. Gen. Krga, after a
welcome ceremony reserved for him at the Belgian supreme command,
immediately started talks with Belgian Belgian chief of staff Admiral
Vili
Herteler. This is the second meeting of Krga and Herteler in the past
month and a half. Gen. Krga was in Brussels on September 18, when he
met with Adm. Herteler, but the one-day stay in the Belgian capital
was in the srevice of talks of Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran
Svilanovic
and Gen. Krga with NATO Secretary General George Robertson.
International conference on Yugoslavia, Partnership for Peace
BELGRADE, Oct 20 (Tanjug) - Yugoslavia's joining the
Partnersip for Peace, as one of the major medium term objectives of
the Yugoslav foreign policy, is the topic of a two-day
international conference called Towards Euro-Atlantic Partnership, held
in Belgrade on Monday and on Tuesday. In the meeting are taking part
representatives of the Defense and Foreign Ministries, of the Yugoslav
and
Serbian government, the Yugoslav Army, NATO, UN representatives and of
NATO member countries.
Assistant Foreign Minister Vuk Zugic, opening the conferece, said that
the
start of the rpocess of stabilization and association with the Europeon
Union, membership in the Council of Europe and in the Partnership for
Peace as the objectives of Yugoslavia were "a logical continuation of
the
integration of Yugoslabvia into the international community. "By
joining
the Partnership for Peace we are proving that we share the same values
on
which rest modern European and Euro-Atlantic structures - stability and
security, respect for human rights and freedoms, the rule of law,
commitment to democarcy, adherence to international conventions," he
said.
Joining Partnership for Peace, Zugic considered, would help stability
in
the Balkans - a region where only Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
are not yet in the NATO program. The Yugoslav Army, through a large
number
of contacts with Partnership for Peace member states, as well as with
NATO
member states, is drawing itself closer to NATO modern standards
and programs, Gen. Slobodan Kosovac said.
PEACE" (ANTICAMERA DELLA N.A.T.O.)
Gen. Krga in Brussels
BRUSSELS, Oct 28 (Tanjug) - Repersentative of Yugoslav
Army general staff Gen. Branko Krga arrived on Monday on a
two-day official visit to the Belgian armed forces. Gen. Krga, after a
welcome ceremony reserved for him at the Belgian supreme command,
immediately started talks with Belgian Belgian chief of staff Admiral
Vili
Herteler. This is the second meeting of Krga and Herteler in the past
month and a half. Gen. Krga was in Brussels on September 18, when he
met with Adm. Herteler, but the one-day stay in the Belgian capital
was in the srevice of talks of Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran
Svilanovic
and Gen. Krga with NATO Secretary General George Robertson.
International conference on Yugoslavia, Partnership for Peace
BELGRADE, Oct 20 (Tanjug) - Yugoslavia's joining the
Partnersip for Peace, as one of the major medium term objectives of
the Yugoslav foreign policy, is the topic of a two-day
international conference called Towards Euro-Atlantic Partnership, held
in Belgrade on Monday and on Tuesday. In the meeting are taking part
representatives of the Defense and Foreign Ministries, of the Yugoslav
and
Serbian government, the Yugoslav Army, NATO, UN representatives and of
NATO member countries.
Assistant Foreign Minister Vuk Zugic, opening the conferece, said that
the
start of the rpocess of stabilization and association with the Europeon
Union, membership in the Council of Europe and in the Partnership for
Peace as the objectives of Yugoslavia were "a logical continuation of
the
integration of Yugoslabvia into the international community. "By
joining
the Partnership for Peace we are proving that we share the same values
on
which rest modern European and Euro-Atlantic structures - stability and
security, respect for human rights and freedoms, the rule of law,
commitment to democarcy, adherence to international conventions," he
said.
Joining Partnership for Peace, Zugic considered, would help stability
in
the Balkans - a region where only Yugoslavia and Bosnia and Herzegovina
are not yet in the NATO program. The Yugoslav Army, through a large
number
of contacts with Partnership for Peace member states, as well as with
NATO
member states, is drawing itself closer to NATO modern standards
and programs, Gen. Slobodan Kosovac said.
SEGNALIAMO DUE IMPORTANTI APPUNTAMENTI
=== * ===
FIRENZE 7 NOVEMBRE 2002
"ZASTAVA": UNA VERGOGNA PER L'EUROPA
http://www.ecn.org/coord.rsu/doc/rsu2002/2002_1107fsf.htm
La classe operaia in Jugoslavia
colpita dai bombardamenti e dal modello liberista
"Zastava"
Una vergogna per l'Europa
Dal 9 al 12 aprile 1999, una serie di raids della Nato bombardano e
distruggono la Zastava di Kragujevac (fabbrica di auto e camion) che
occupava 36.000 lavoratori.
Sono centinaia le fabbriche bombardate in tutta la Jugoslavia, ed
assieme a queste sono colpite le strade, i ponti, le scuole, gli
ospedali. Oltre 3.000 le vittime civili. Oltre 700.000 i lavoratori
disoccupati.
La "guerra umanitaria" della Nato si svela per quello che è. Una
grande opera di distruzione per mettere in ginocchio un intero paese e
per spianare la strada al nuovo mercato capitalistico ed alle sue
leggi.
Indebolita da dieci anni di embargo, colpita dalla guerra, la classe
operaia Jugoslava è oggi chiamata ad una difficile lotta di resistenza
contro le conseguenze di una politica iperliberista con cui
l'occidente capitalistico vuole ora affermare la sua egemonia politica
ed economica.
La Zastava di Kragujevac rappresenta un simbolo di questa lotta di
resistenza, per la difesa della fabbrica, contro le privatizzazioni e
le nuove leggi per il lavoro che mirano a smantellare i contratti di
lavoro ed i diritti. Una lotta che è al tempo stesso una difficile
ricostruzione sindacale e un rilancio del mondo del lavoro come
soggetto protagonista di una ricostruzione sociale ed economica
fondata sui valori dell'uguaglianza e della solidarietà.
Nell'ambito del programma di iniziative
del Firenze Social Forum
Giovedì 7 novembre 2002
Dalle ore 9,30 alle 13
Presso la sede dello Snur Cgil di Firenze
In P.zza Indipendenza n.8 (3° piano) - 5 minuti a piedi dalla Fortezza
da basso
Introducono e conducono i lavori
Anelli Lino (Cgil Lombardia) - Perini Fulvio (Cgil Torino)
Intervengono:
Ruzica Milosavljevic (del sindacato metalmeccanici Jugoslavo)
Rajka Veljovic - Radoslav Delic (rappresentanti sindacali della
Zastava)
per informazioni - Rossi Alma - alma@...
=== * ===
TRIESTE 16 NOVEMBRE 2002
"...PASSANDO SEMPRE PER LA JUGOSLAVIA"
Dopo l'abbattimento del Muro di Berlino si parlava di pace e di
progresso. In tutti questi anni abbiamo visto invece solamente un
crescendo di guerre e di miserie: dall'Iraq all'Afghanistan alla
Palestina per ritornare di nuovo all'Iraq...
...PASSANDO SEMPRE PER LA JUGOSLAVIA.
In Jugoslavia, al centro dell'Europa, l'aggressione e' stata
inininterrotta e la spoliazione procede oggi a gonfie vele. Quale e'
la vera situazione economica e sociale sul terreno, al di la' della
disinformazione o dell'omerta' dei mass-media? Come far procedere le
tante iniziative di solidarieta' verso la popolazione bombardata?
Una giornata di dibattito organizzata da
Coordinamento Nazionale per la Jugoslavia
e Gruppo "Zastava Trieste"
con la partecipazione del
Partito della Rifondazione Comunista - Federazione di Trieste
Il programma provvisorio prevede gli interventi di:
LINO ANELLI (CGIL Lombardia)
IGOR CANCIANI (PRC Trieste)
ANDREA CATONE (CNJ / Most za Beograd, Bari)
FULVIO GRIMALDI (CNJ / L'Ernesto)
VLADIMIR KAPURALIN (Partito Socialista Operaio, Pola)
RENATO KNEIPP (CGIL Trieste)
GORDANA PAVLOVIC (Ass. Decja Istina, Belgrado)
FABIO SEBASTIANI (Liberazione, Roma)
GILBERTO VLAIC (CNJ / Zastava Trieste)
Un esponente del PARTITO COMUNISTA DI SLOVENIA
Dettagli precisi sugli orari, sul luogo della iniziativa e su come
raggiungerlo saranno forniti in prossime comunicazioni.
Per maggiori informazioni: <jugocoord@...>
=== * ===
FIRENZE 7 NOVEMBRE 2002
"ZASTAVA": UNA VERGOGNA PER L'EUROPA
http://www.ecn.org/coord.rsu/doc/rsu2002/2002_1107fsf.htm
La classe operaia in Jugoslavia
colpita dai bombardamenti e dal modello liberista
"Zastava"
Una vergogna per l'Europa
Dal 9 al 12 aprile 1999, una serie di raids della Nato bombardano e
distruggono la Zastava di Kragujevac (fabbrica di auto e camion) che
occupava 36.000 lavoratori.
Sono centinaia le fabbriche bombardate in tutta la Jugoslavia, ed
assieme a queste sono colpite le strade, i ponti, le scuole, gli
ospedali. Oltre 3.000 le vittime civili. Oltre 700.000 i lavoratori
disoccupati.
La "guerra umanitaria" della Nato si svela per quello che è. Una
grande opera di distruzione per mettere in ginocchio un intero paese e
per spianare la strada al nuovo mercato capitalistico ed alle sue
leggi.
Indebolita da dieci anni di embargo, colpita dalla guerra, la classe
operaia Jugoslava è oggi chiamata ad una difficile lotta di resistenza
contro le conseguenze di una politica iperliberista con cui
l'occidente capitalistico vuole ora affermare la sua egemonia politica
ed economica.
La Zastava di Kragujevac rappresenta un simbolo di questa lotta di
resistenza, per la difesa della fabbrica, contro le privatizzazioni e
le nuove leggi per il lavoro che mirano a smantellare i contratti di
lavoro ed i diritti. Una lotta che è al tempo stesso una difficile
ricostruzione sindacale e un rilancio del mondo del lavoro come
soggetto protagonista di una ricostruzione sociale ed economica
fondata sui valori dell'uguaglianza e della solidarietà.
Nell'ambito del programma di iniziative
del Firenze Social Forum
Giovedì 7 novembre 2002
Dalle ore 9,30 alle 13
Presso la sede dello Snur Cgil di Firenze
In P.zza Indipendenza n.8 (3° piano) - 5 minuti a piedi dalla Fortezza
da basso
Introducono e conducono i lavori
Anelli Lino (Cgil Lombardia) - Perini Fulvio (Cgil Torino)
Intervengono:
Ruzica Milosavljevic (del sindacato metalmeccanici Jugoslavo)
Rajka Veljovic - Radoslav Delic (rappresentanti sindacali della
Zastava)
per informazioni - Rossi Alma - alma@...
=== * ===
TRIESTE 16 NOVEMBRE 2002
"...PASSANDO SEMPRE PER LA JUGOSLAVIA"
Dopo l'abbattimento del Muro di Berlino si parlava di pace e di
progresso. In tutti questi anni abbiamo visto invece solamente un
crescendo di guerre e di miserie: dall'Iraq all'Afghanistan alla
Palestina per ritornare di nuovo all'Iraq...
...PASSANDO SEMPRE PER LA JUGOSLAVIA.
In Jugoslavia, al centro dell'Europa, l'aggressione e' stata
inininterrotta e la spoliazione procede oggi a gonfie vele. Quale e'
la vera situazione economica e sociale sul terreno, al di la' della
disinformazione o dell'omerta' dei mass-media? Come far procedere le
tante iniziative di solidarieta' verso la popolazione bombardata?
Una giornata di dibattito organizzata da
Coordinamento Nazionale per la Jugoslavia
e Gruppo "Zastava Trieste"
con la partecipazione del
Partito della Rifondazione Comunista - Federazione di Trieste
Il programma provvisorio prevede gli interventi di:
LINO ANELLI (CGIL Lombardia)
IGOR CANCIANI (PRC Trieste)
ANDREA CATONE (CNJ / Most za Beograd, Bari)
FULVIO GRIMALDI (CNJ / L'Ernesto)
VLADIMIR KAPURALIN (Partito Socialista Operaio, Pola)
RENATO KNEIPP (CGIL Trieste)
GORDANA PAVLOVIC (Ass. Decja Istina, Belgrado)
FABIO SEBASTIANI (Liberazione, Roma)
GILBERTO VLAIC (CNJ / Zastava Trieste)
Un esponente del PARTITO COMUNISTA DI SLOVENIA
Dettagli precisi sugli orari, sul luogo della iniziativa e su come
raggiungerlo saranno forniti in prossime comunicazioni.
Per maggiori informazioni: <jugocoord@...>
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