Informazione
* La NATO prepara nuove aggressioni umanitarie
* La NATO usa la menzogna sistematica come arma di guerra
>NATO PREPARING NEW MILITARY STRIKE IN BALKANS
>
>By Gregory Elich
>
>Quietly, NATO is laying plans for a new military strike against Yugoslavia.
>On August 13 through 15, CIA Director George Tenet visited Bulgaria. In a
>series of extraordinary meetings, Tenet met with Bulgarian President Petur
>Stoyanov, as well as the Prime Minister, Interior Minister and Defense
>Minister. Officially, the purpose of Tenet's visit was to discuss the
>problem of organized crime and narcotics. However, Tenet spent a combined
>total of only 20 minutes at the headquarters of the National Security
>Service and the National Service for Combating Organized Crime. Unnamed
>diplomatic sources revealed that the proposed oil transit pipeline from the
>Caspian Sea was also topic of discussion.
>
>The driving motivation for Tenet's visit, though, was to discuss
>Yugoslavia. According to an unnamed diplomatic source, Montenegrin
>secession from Yugoslavia topped the agenda. Following the meeting between
>Tenet and Major General Dimo Gyaurov, Director of the National Intelligence
>Service, a public statement was issued which stressed their "commonality of
>interests." Reports in the Bulgarian press revealed that various options
>were discussed with Bulgaria's president and prime minister. Tenet's
>preferred option is the removal of the Yugoslav government, either as a
>result of that country's election on September 24, or by a NATO military
>assault that would install a puppet government. Another scenario would
>follow the secession of Montenegro from Yugoslavia. If open warfare breaks
>out over Montenegro's secession, then the United States plans to wage a
>full-scale war against Yugoslavia, as it did in spring 1999. Sofia's
>Monitor reported that the "CIA coup machine" is forming. "A strike against
>Belgrade is imminent," it adds, and "Bulgaria will serve as a base." (1)
>
>The Italian army recently signed a lease contract to conduct training
>exercises beginning in October at the Koren training ground, near Kaskovo
>in southeast Bulgaria. The French army signed a similar agreement, in which
>French soldiers and tanks will train at the Novo Selo grounds in central
>Bulgaria from October 11 to December 12. Talks are also underway for the
>U.S. military to lease the Shabla training grounds in northeastern
>Bulgaria. Scheduled to take place following the election in Yugoslavia, the
>training exercises could serve as a launching pad for NATO's planned
>military strike. It was recently announced that the British aircraft
>carrier HMS Invincible is to be redeployed to the Adriatic over the next
>few months in support of a potential conflict over Montenegro (2)
>
>Military force is only one component of the West's destabilization campaign
>against Yugoslavia. In November 1998, President Clinton launched a plan for
>the overthrow of the government of Yugoslavia. The initial emphasis of the
>plan centered on supporting secessionist forces in Montenegro and the
>right-wing opposition in Serbia. (3) Several months later, during the
>bombing of Yugoslavia, Clinton signed a secret paper instructing the CIA to
>topple the Yugoslav government. The plan called for the CIA to secretly
>fund opposition groups and the recruitment of moles in the Yugoslav
>government and military. (4) On July 8, 1999, U.S. and British officials
>revealed that commando teams were training snatch operations to seize
>alleged war criminals and Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. As an
>encouragement to mercenaries, the U.S. State Department also announced a $5
>million bounty for President Milosevic. (5)
>
>Several Yugoslav government officials and prominent individuals, including
>Defense Minister Pavle Bulatovic, have been gunned down. Most of these
>crimes remain unsolved, as the assassins managed to escape. Police
>apprehended one assassin, Milivoje Gutovic, after he shot Vojvodina
>Executive Council President Bosko Perosevic at an agricultural fair in Novi
>Sad. During interrogations, Gutovic admitted to police that he worked for
>the right-wing Serbian Renewal Movement. (6)
>
>Goran Zugic, security advisor to secessionist Montenegrin President Milo
>Djukanovic, was murdered late on May 31, 2000. The assassin escaped,
>allowing Western leaders to blame President Milosevic. Coming just one week
>before crucial local elections in Montenegro, forces opposing President
>Milosevic stood to gain from the murder, as the effect would tend to sway
>undecided voters in favor of secessionist parties. A few days after the
>assassination, Yugoslav Minister of Information Goran Matic held a press
>conference, at which he accused the CIA of complicity in the murder. Matic
>played a taped recording of two telephone conversations between head of the
>US mission in Dubrovnik Sean Burns, US State Department official James
>Swaggert, Gabriel Escobar of the US economic group in Montenegro and Paul
>Davies of the US Agency for International Development. Excerpts of the
>conversations, recorded 20 minutes after the assassination and again three
>hours later, included comments such as, "It was professional," and "Mission
>accomplished." (7)
>
>The first publicly known Western plan to assassinate President Milosevic
>was drafted in 1992. Richard Tomlinson, a former British MI6 employee,
>later disclosed the plan. His task as an MI6 agent was to carry out
>undercover operations in Eastern Europe posing as a businessman or
>journalist. Tomlinson frequently met with MI6 officer Nick Fishwick. During
>one their meetings, Fishwick showed Tomlinson a document entitled, "The
>Need to Assassinate President Milosevic of Serbia." Three methods were
>proposed for the assassination of Milosevic. The first method, Tomlinson
>recalled, "was to train and equip a Serbian paramilitary opposition group,"
>which would have the advantage of deniability but an unpredictable chance
>of success. The second method would employ a specially trained British SAS
>squad to murder President Milosevic "either with a bomb or sniper ambush."
>Fishwick considered this more reliable, but it lacked deniability. The
>third method would be to kill Milosevic "in a staged car crash." (8) Seven
>years later, on October 3, 1999, the third method was employed against the
>leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement, Vuk Draskovic, when a truck filled
>with sand plowed into his car, killing everyone inside except for
>Draskovic. The temperamental Draskovic had been a major factor in the
>chronic fragmentation of the right-wing opposition, frustrating
>Washington's efforts to forge a unified opposition. (9)
>
>During NATO's war against Yugoslavia, a missile struck President
>Milosevic's home on April 22, 1999. He and his wife were staying elsewhere
>that evening. Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon was quick to announce that "we
>are not targeting President Milosevic." It is impossible, though, to view a
>missile striking Milosevic's bedroom at 3:10 AM as anything but an
>assassination attempt. (10)
>
>In November 1999, members of an assassination squad, code-named "Spider,"
>were arrested in Yugoslavia. According to Minister Goran Matic, "French
>intelligence was behind" the Spider group, whose aim was the assassination
>of President Milosevic. Planned scenarios included a sniper attack,
>planting an explosive device alongside a route they expected Milosevic to
>travel, planting an explosive in his car, and organizing 10 trained
>commandos to storm the presidential residence. The leader of the group,
>Jugoslav Petrusic, had dual Yugoslav and French citizenship. Matic claimed
>that Petrusic worked for French intelligence for ten years. During
>interrogations, Petrusic said that he had killed 50 men on orders by French
>intelligence. Matic announced that one of the members of Spider was a
>"specialist for killings with a truck full of sand" - the same method used
>against Draskovic the previous month.
>
>Following the Bosnian war, Petrusic organized the transport of 180 Bosnian
>Serb mercenaries to fight for Mobutu Sese Seku in Zaire, an affair that was
>managed by French intelligence. According to a Bosnian Serb businessman,
>Petrusic "did not hide the fact that he was working for the French
>intelligence service. I have personally seen a photo of him next to
>Mitterand as his bodyguard." In younger days, Petrusic was a member of the
>French Foreign Legion. During NATO's war against Yugoslavia, the Spider
>group infiltrated the Yugoslav Army, supplying information to the French
>and guiding NATO warplanes to their targets.
>
>Yugoslav secret service sources revealed that the Spider group trained at
>NATO bases in Bosnia where "buildings resembling those where Milosevic
>lives were constructed." Money from the French intelligence service for
>Spider was brought to the border between Hungary and Yugoslavia by a man
>named Serge Lazarevic. (11)
>
>One month later, the members of a second hit team, calling itself the
>Serbian Liberation Army, was arrested. Their aim was to assassinate
>President Milosevic and restore the monarchy. (12)
>
>At the end of July 2000, a squad of four Dutch commandos was apprehended
>while attempting to cross into Serbia from Montenegro. During the
>investigation, they admitted that they intended to kill or kidnap President
>Milosevic. The four said that they were informed that $30 million had been
>offered for "Milosevic's head," and that they intended to "claim a reward."
>One of the men said that the group planned to abduct Milosevic or former
>Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic and "surrender them to The Hague."
>The group planned to put them atop a car "in a ski box and transport
>them.out of the country." If the abduction failed, one of the men "had the
>idea to kill the president, to decapitate his head, to put it in the box
>and to send it home" to the Netherlands.
>
>One of the arrested men, Gotfrides de Ri, belonged to the openly racist
>neo-nazi Center Party. During the wars in Croatia and Bosnia, the Center
>Party sent Dutch mercenaries to fight in right-wing Croatian paramilitary
>units. At the time of their arrest, the four were found with several
>knives, including one with a swastika, and wires with hooks for
>strangulation. All four admitted that they had trained under the British
>SAS. At a news conference on August 1, Goran Matic accused the U.S of being
>the prime sponsor of assassinations and attempted assassinations. "It is
>obvious that they are recruiting various terrorist groups because they are
>frustrated with the fact that their military, political and economic goals
>in southeastern Europe have not been realized. [They are] trying to send
>them into the country so that they can change our political and social
>environment." (13) Jonathan Eyal, an advisor to the British government,
>commented recently, "I can't say when it will happen, but I can guarantee
>that Milosevic will end up dead, and he will be followed by a more
>pro-Western government." (14)
>
>Flagrant Western interference is distorting the political process in
>Yugoslavia. U.S. and Western European funds are channelled to right-wing
>opposition parties and media through such organizations as the National
>Endowment for Democracy and George Soros' Open Society Institute. The
>National Democratic Institute (NDI) is yet another of the myriad
>semi-private organizations that have attached themselves like leeches on
>Eastern Europe. The NDI opened an office in Belgrade in 1997, hoping to
>capitalize on opposition attempts to bring down the government through
>street demonstrations. By 1999, the NDI had already trained over 900
>right-wing party leaders and activists on "message development, public
>outreach and election strategy." NDI also claimed to have provided
>"organizational training and coalition-building expertise" to the
>opposition. (15)
>
>The New Serbia Forum, funded by the British Foreign Office, brings Serbian
>professionals and academics to Hungary on a regular basis for discussions
>with British and Central European "experts." The aim of the meetings is to
>"design a blueprint for post-Milosevic society." The Forum develops reports
>intended to serve as "an action plan" for a future pro-Western government.
>Subjects under discussion have included privatization and economic
>stabilization. The Forum calls for the "reintegration of Yugoslavia into
>the European family," a phrase that translates into the dismantling of the
>socialist economy and inviting Western corporations to swarm in. (16)
>
>Western aims were clearly spelled out in the Stability Pact for
>Southeastern Europe of June 10, 1999. This document called for "creating
>vibrant market economies" in the Balkans, and "markets open to greatly
>expanded foreign trade and private sector investment." One year later, the
>White House issued a fact sheet detailing the "major achievements" of the
>Pact. Among the achievements listed, the European Bank for Reconstruction
>and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporations are said
>to be "mobilizing private investment." By 2002, "new private investment in
>the region" is expected to reach nearly $2 billion. The Pact's Business
>Advisory Council "is visiting all of the countries of Southeast Europe" to
>"offer advice" on investment issues. Another initiative is Hungarian
>involvement with opposition-led local governments and opposition media in
>Serbia.
>
>The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), on July 26, 2000,
>inaugurated an investment fund to be managed by Soros Private Funds
>Management. The Southeast Europe Equity Fund, "will invest in companies in
>the region in a range of sectors." Its purpose, according to the U.S.
>Embassy in Macedonia, is "to provide capital for new business development,
>expansion and privatization." In March 2000, Montenegro signed an agreement
>permitting the operation of OPIC on its territory. Billionaire George Soros
>spelled out what all this means. U.S. involvement in the region, he said,
>"creates investment opportunities," and "I am happy to put my money where
>they are putting theirs." In other words, there is money to be made. George
>Munoz, President and CEO of OPIC was also blunt. "The Southeast Europe
>Equity Fund," he announced, "is an ideal vehicle to connect American
>institutional capital with European entrepreneurs eager to help Americans
>tap their growing markets. OPIC is pleased that Soros Private Funds
>Management has chosen to send a strong, positive signal that Southeast
>Europe is open for business."
>
>The final text of the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe suggested that a
>Yugoslavia that would "respect" the Pact's "principles and objectives"
>would be "welcome" to become a full member. "In order to draw the Federal
>Republic of Yugoslavia closer to this goal," the document declared,
>Montenegro would be an "early beneficiary." Western leaders hope that a
>future pro-Western Yugoslavia would, as has the rest of Eastern Europe, be
>
>"eager to help Americans" make money. (17)
>
>Western leaders yearn to install a puppet government in Belgrade, and place
>their hopes in the fragmented right-wing opposition parties in Serbia. In
>1999, American officials encouraged these parties to organize mass
>demonstrations to overthrow the government, but these rallies quickly
>fizzled due to lack of popular support. When Yugoslav Federal and local
>elections were announced for July 24, 2000, American and Western European
>officials met with leaders of the Serbian opposition parties, urging them
>to unite behind one presidential candidate. Despite U.S. efforts, three
>candidates emerged in opposition to President Milosevic.
>
>At the beginning of August 2000, the U.S. opened an office in Budapest
>specifically tasked to assist opposition parties in Yugoslavia. Among the
>staff are 24 psychological warfare specialists who engaged in psychological
>operations during NATO's war against Yugoslavia and earlier against Iraq in
>the Gulf War. During those operations, the team also fabricated news items
>in an effort to sway Western public opinion.
>
>If President Milosevic is re-elected, then U.S. Secretary of State
>Madeleine Albright expects street demonstrations to overturn the election
>results and topple the government. In meetings held in Banja Luka in spring
>2000, Albright expressed disappointment with the failure of past efforts to
>overthrow the legally elected Yugoslav government. Albright said that she
>had hoped sanctions would lead people to "blame Milosevic for this
>suffering." An exasperated Albright wondered, "What was stopping the people
>from taking to the streets?" Indicating that the U.S. was casting about for
>a pretext for intervention, she added, "Something needs to happen in Serbia
>that the West can support." (18)
>
>The paths of Yugoslavia's two republics are sharply diverging, and
>Montenegro has embarked on a program to place its entire economy at the
>service of the West. November 1999 saw the introduction in Montenegro of
>the German mark as an official currency and the passage of legislation
>eliminating socially owned property. One month later, several large firms
>were publicly offered for sale, including the Electric Power Company, the
>13th July Agricultural Complex, the Hotel-Tourist firm Boka and many
>others. (19) The republic's privatization program for 2000 calls for the
>privatization of most state-owned industries, and includes measures to
>"protect domestic and foreign investors." Three hundred firms will be
>privatized in the initial stage of the plan. In early 2000, the U.S. signed
>an agreement to provide Montenegro $62 million, including $44 million from
>the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). According to the
>agency, it will also undertake "assistance programs to support economic
>reform and restructuring the economy..to advance Montenegro toward a free
>market economy." U.S. policy advisor on the Balkans James Dobbins indicated
>that the U.S. viewed the "market-oriented reforms of the Djukanovic regime
>as a model and stimulus for similar reforms throughout the former
>Yugoslavia." The U.S. is also offering guarantees for private investors in
>the republic. Additional aid is provided by the European Union, which has
>approved $36 million for Montenegro. "From the first day," admitted
>Djukanovic, "we have had British and European consultants." (20)
>
>The Center for International Private Enterprise, an affiliate of the U.S.
>Chamber of Commerce, is providing support to the Center for
>Entrepreneurship (CEP) in Montenegro. According to the center's executive
>director, Petar Ivanovic, the organization "focuses on elementary and high
>schools," establishing entrepreneurship as a new subject to be taught in
>schools. As Ivanovic explains it, "Introducing young people to the concept
>of entrepreneurship will make them less resistant to the private sector."
>The CEP also intends to "educate government officials about the potential
>rewards of the private sector," and to help them "understand the benefits
>of economic reform and privatization." (21) According to Djukanovic, when
>he met with President Clinton on June 21, 1999, the U.S. president gave the
>privatization process a push by telling Djukanovic that the U.S. planned to
>"stimulate the economy" by "encouraging US corporations and banks to invest
>capital in Montenegro." (22)
>
>Djukanovic has moved steadily toward secession from Yugoslavia, indicating
>that he will push for separation if the right-wing opposition loses the
>September 24 election. In a phone call to Djukanovic in July 2000,
>Madeleine Albright promised that the U.S would provide him with an
>additional $16.5 million. That same week, Djukanovic blurted out that
>Montenegro "is no longer part of Yugoslavia." He also made the astonishing
>claim that he considered it a "priority" for Montenegro to join NATO, the
>organization that had bombed his country only the year before. The next
>month, Albright announced that she and Djukanovic "try and talk to each
>other and meet on a regular basis," and that the "United States is
>supportive of the approach that President Djukanovic has taken in terms of
>democratic development and his approach to the economic reforms also." (23)
>
>Western support for secession extends beyond Albright meeting and talking
>with Djukanovic. More than half of the population of Montenegro opposes
>secession, and any such move is likely to explode into violence. In
>preparation for that rift, Djukanovic is building up a private army of over
>20,000 soldiers, the Special Police, including special forces armed with
>anti-tank weapons. Sources in Montenegro revealed that Western special
>forces are training this private army. Djukanovic has requested that NATO
>establish an "air shield over Montenegro" as he moves toward secession. One
>member of the Special Police, named Velibor, confirmed that they were
>receiving training from the British SAS. "If there is a situation where
>weapons will decide the outcome, we are ready," he said. "We are training
>for that." At a press conference on August 1, 2000, Minister Goran Matic
>declared that the "British are carrying out part of the training of the
>Montenegrin special units. It is also true," he added, that the Special
>Police "are intensively obtaining various kinds and types of weapons,
>starting with anti-aircraft and anti-helicopter weapons and so on, and they
>are also being assisted by Croatia, as the weapons go through Dubrovnik and
>other places." Furthermore, Matic pointed out that, "last year, before and
>after the aggression, a group from within the Montenegrin MUP [Ministry of
>Interior Affairs] structure left for training within the U.S. police
>structure and the U.S. intelligence structures." In August, two armored
>vehicles bound for Montenegro were discovered in the port of Ancona, Italy.
>One of the vehicles was fitted with a turret suitable for mounting a
>machine gun or anti-tank weapon. Italian customs officials, reports the
>Italian news service ANSA, are "convinced" that arms trafficking to
>Montenegro "is of far greater magnitude than this single episode might lead
>one to believe." Revelling in anticipation of armed conflict, Djukanovic
>bragged that "many will tuck their tails between their legs and will soon
>have to flee Montenegro." (24)
>
>A violent conflict in Montenegro would provide NATO with its long-desired
>pretext for intervention. As early as October 1999, General Wesley Clark
>drew up plans for a NATO invasion of Montenegro. The plan envisions an
>amphibious assault by more than 2,000 Marines storming the port of Bar and
>securing the port as a beachhead for pushing inland. Troops ferried by
>helicopters would seize the airport at Podgorica, while NATO warplanes
>would bomb and strafe resisting Yugoslav forces. According to U.S.
>officials, other Western countries have also developed invasion plans. (25)
>Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Ambassador to the UN declared, "We are in constant
>touch with the leadership of Montenegro," and warned that a conflict in
>Montenegro "would be directly affecting NATO's vital interest." (26) NATO
>General Secretary George Robertson was more explicit. "I say to Milosevic:
>watch out, look what happened the last time you miscalculated." (27)
>
>President Milosevic and the ruling coalition enjoy considerable popular
>support in Yugoslavia, and many Western analysts admit they are likely to
>emerge victorious in the September 24 election. This will set in motion,
>possibly within a few months, a NATO strike launched from Bulgaria intended
>to overthrow the legally elected government of Yugoslavia. If the coup
>fails, then Montenegro could declare independence, setting in motion a
>chain of events that would lead to a second all out war by NATO against
>Yugoslavia. The war in 1999 brought immense suffering to the Balkans. The
>next war promises to be catastrophic.
>
>NOTES
>
>1) "Bulgaria - Press Review" BTA (Sofia), August 12, 2000 "Bulgaria - Us
>CIA Director's Visit," BTA (Sofia), August 15, 2000 "CIA Did Not Tell Us
>the Most Important Thing," Trud (Sofia), August 16, 2000 "Bulgaria - Press
>Review," BTA (Sofia), August 14, 2000 "Bulgaria - Press Review," BTA
>(Sofia), August 16, 2000
>
>2) Mila Avramova, "Italians Lease Training Ground for 400,000 Leva," Trud
>(Sofia), August 9, 2000 Michael Evans, "Balkans Watch for 'Invincible',"
>The Times (London), August 26, 2000.
>
>3) Paul Beaver, "Clinton Tells CIA to Oust Milosevic," The Observer,
>November 29, 2000. Fran Visnar, "Clinton and the CIA Have Created a
>Scenario to Overthrow Milosevic," Vijesnik (Zagreb), November 30, 2000.
>
>4) Douglas Waller, "Tearing Down Milosevic," Time Magazine, July 12, 1999.
>
>5) Michael Moran, "A Threat to 'Snatch' Milosevic," MSNBC, July 8, 1999.
>
>6) "Yugoslav Police Say Killer of Local Leader Worked for Opposition,"
>Agence France-Presse,
>
>May 15, 2000.
>
>"Arrested Assassin Gutovic Member of Otpor and SPO," Tanjug (Belgrade), May
>15, 2000.
>
>7) "Yugoslav Official Accuses CIA of Being Behind Montenegro Murder,"
>Agence France-Presse, June 6, 2000. Aleksandar Vasovic, "Serb Aide Says CIA
>Behind Slaying," Associated Press, June 6, 2000 "Yugoslav Information
>Minister Accuses CIA of Complicity in Zugic Murder," Borba (Belgrade), June
>6, 2000
>
>8) Statement by Richard Tomlinson, addressed to John Wadham, September 11,
>1998.
>
>9) "Serb Consensus: Draskovic Crash Was No Accident," Seattle Times News
>Services, October 13, 1999.
>
>10) "NATO: Milosevic Not Target," BBC News, April 22, 1999.
>
>11) "Serbs Allege Milosevic Assassination Plot," Reuters, November 25,
>1999. "France Plots to Murder Milosevic," Agence France-Presse, November
>26, 1999. "SFOR Units Involved in a Plot to Kill Milosevic," Agence
>France-Presse, December 1, 1999. Gordana Igric, "Alleged 'Assassins' Were
>No Stranger to France," IWPR Balkan Crisis Report (London), November 26,
>1999. Milenko Vasovic, "Belgrade's French Connection," IWPR Balkan Crisis
>Report (London), November 26, 1999.
>
>12) "Lt. Testifies at Milosevic Trial," Associated Press, April 26, 2000.
>
>13) Aleksandar Vasovic, "4 Accused of Milosevic Death Plot," Associated
>Press, July 31, 2000. "Dutchmen Arrested, Accused of Plotting Against
>Milosevic," Agence France-Presse, July 31, 2000. Email correspondence from
>Herman de Tollenaere, quoting from NRC- Business Paper of August 1, 2000.
>"Arrested Dutchmen Admitted Plans to Kill, Kidnap Milosevic," BETA
>(Belgrade), August 17, 2000. "Dutch Espionage Terrorist Gang Arrested in
>Yugoslavia - Minister," Tanjug (Belgrade), July 31, 2000. "Yugoslav
>Information Minister Says U.S. Behind Dutch 'Mercenaries'," BBC Monitoring
>Service, August 1, 2000.
>
>14) "West Sees Noose Tightening Around Milosevic," Reuters, June 9, 2000.
>
>15) "NDI Activities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
>(Serbia-Montenegro)," NDI Worldwide Activities, www.ndi.org
>
>16) "Britain Trains New Elite for Post-Milosevic Era," The Independent, May
>3, 2000. The New Serbia Forum web page,
>http://ds.dial.pipex.com/town/way/glj77/Serbia.htm
>
>17) "Final Text of Stability Pact for Southeast Europe," June 10, 1999.
>U.S. Embassy, Skopje, Macedonia, "Southeast Europe Equity Fund Launched
>July 26," July 27, 2000. White House Fact Sheet, "The Stability Pact for
>Southeast Europe: One Year Later," July 27, 2000.
>
>18) Borislav Komad, "At Albright's Signal," Vecernje Novosti, May 18, 2000.
>"US Anti-Yugoslav Office Opens in Budapest," Tanjug (Belgrade), August 21,
>2000.
>
>19) Ljubinka Cagorovic, "Montenegro Assembly Scraps Socially-Owned
>Property," Reuters, November 13, 1999. "Montenegrin Government Prepares to
>Privatise Economy," Tanjug (Belgrade), December 25, 1999.
>
>20) Central and Eastern European Business Information Center, "Southeastern
>Europe Business Brief," February 3, 2000. Central and Eastern European
>Business Information Center, "Southeastern Europe Business Brief," April
>27, 2000. Anne Swardson, "West Grows Close to Montenegro," Washington Post,
>May 24, 2000.
>
>21) Petar Invanovic, "Montenegro: Laying the Foundation of
>Entrepreneurship," Center for International Private Enterprise.
>
>22) Statement by Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, "Important Step in
>Opening New Perspectives For Montenegrin State Policy," Pobjeda
>(Podgorica), June 22, 1999.
>
>23) "Albright Renews Montenegro Support," Associated Press, July 13, 2000.
>"Montenegro Wants to Join NATO and the EU," Agence France-Presse, July 10,
>2000. Office of the Spokesman, U.S. Department of State, "Secretary of
>State Madeleine K. Albright and Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic,"
>Press Stakeout at Excelsior Hotel, Rome, Italy, August 1, 2000.
>
>24) "Montenegro Ahead of Elections: Boycott and Threats," BETA (Belgrade),
>August 9, 2000. "Montenegro and Elections - Boycott Becomes Official," BETA
>(Belgrade), August 17, 2000. Phil Reese, "We Have the Heart for Battle,
>Says Montenegrin Trained by SAS," The Independent, July 30, 2000. "Yugoslav
>Information Minister Says U.S. Behind Dutch 'Mercenaries'", BBC Monitoring
>Service, August 1, 2000. "Yugoslavia Says British SAS Trains Montenegrins,"
>Reuters, August 1, 2000. "Information Minister Sees Montenegrin Arms
>Purchases, Croatian Assistance," BETA (Belgrade), July 31, 2000. "Foreign
>'Dogs of War' Training Montenegrin Police to Attack Army," Tanjug
>(Belgrade), August 9, 2000. "Montenegro: Camouflaged Military Vehicles
>Seized in Ancona," ANSA (Rome), August 21, 2000. "Montenegro: Traffic in
>Camouflaged Armored Vehicles: Investigation into Documentation," ANSA
>(Rome), August 22, 2000.
>
>25) Richard J. Newman, "Balkan Brinkmanship," US News and World Report,
>November 15, 1999.
>
>26) "Clinton Warns Milosevic 'Remains a Threat to Peace'," Agence
>France-Presse, July 29, 2000.
>
>27) "NATO's Robertston Warns Milosevic on Montenegro," Reuters, July 27, 2000.
>
>
>
>Louis Proyect
>Marxism mailing list: http://www.marxmail.org/
>-------------------------
>Via Workers World News Service
>Reprinted from the Aug. 31, 2000
>issue of Workers World newspaper
>-------------------------
>
>It was all a lie
>
>NATO ADMITS YUGOSLAVS CARRIED OUT NO MASS KILLINGS IN KOSOVO
>
>By John Catalinotto
>
>On Aug. 17 NATO officials conceded that the figures they
>released in 1999, allegedly a count of the people killed by
>Yugoslav forces in Kosovo, were much higher than the actual
>number of people killed there.
>
>Findings by forensic teams from the International Criminal
>Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in the Hague forced
>NATO's admission. The ICTY exhumed 3,000 bodies and examined
>them.
>
>While they have not yet released a report, ICTY spokespeople
>said that at most 3,000 people were killed. They said there
>was no evidence of mutilations. And they said that not all
>the dead can be proved to be victims of murder or execution.
>
>Last year NATO had charged that Yugoslav forces massacred at
>least 10,000 people. NATO spokespeople implied that 500,000
>supposedly "missing" people also had been killed.
>
>They used these claims to justify NATO bombings that had no
>basis in United Nations treaties or NATO's own charter.
>
>NATO has now been forced to admit in effect that it waged a
>lying propaganda war to win support for its own illegal
>intervention that killed over 3,000 Yugoslavs, about one-
>third of them children.
>
>Washington and NATO have no hard evidence that Yugoslav
>forces carried out even a small-scale massacre of civilians,
>let alone the "genocide" they were charged with.
>
>The ICTY--itself created and funded by the NATO powers--has
>exposed this "Big Lie" of NATO's.
>
>According to a report in the Aug. 18 British Guardian, Mark
>Laity, the acting NATO spokesperson, said: "NATO never said
>the missing were all dead. The figure we stood by was
>10,000." Laity even tried to claim that NATO's intervention
>stopped further killing.
>
>The truth is that since NATO occupied Kosovo, right-wing
>Albanian forces have killed some 1,000 people, mostly Serb
>and Romani, while pushing all non-Albanian peoples out of
>the region.
>
>NATO FORCES LIE AGAIN ABOUT TREPCA
>
>While this exposure of NATO's lies came too late to stop
>last year's bombing, it should be kept in mind by anyone
>evaluating NATO leaders' current statements regarding
>Yugoslavia.
>
>On Aug. 14, French and British forces occupying the Serbian
>province of Kosovo and Metohija seized the smelter at the
>Trepca mines near Kosovo Mitrovica. These are the richest
>nickel and lead mines in Europe. Corporate forces in the
>United States, Britain and France want these mines in their
>hands and not in the hands of the Yugoslav government.
>
>This time the excuse for the action was that the smelter was
>"polluting" the environment. Compared to the pollution
>caused by NATO's deliberate bombing of Pancevo and other
>Yugoslav chemical complexes, not to mention the use of
>radioactive depleted uranium weapons, this pollution is
>minor. In any case, Yugoslav authorities reported that steps
>had already been taken to reduce the smelter's pollution.
>
>The United States, Britain and France--the major NATO powers-
>-are again using a lie to justify an unwarranted and illegal
>seizure of Yugoslav property, just as they lied to justify
>the war in the first place.
>
>The NATO powers and Washington in particular have been
>attempting to intervene in the Yugoslav election scheduled
>for Sept. 24. They have set up an office in Budapest,
>Hungary, to deliver funds to parties in Yugoslavia that
>oppose the current elected president, Slobodan Milosevic.
>
>Seizing the Trepca smelter must be seen as part of this
>election strategy. By taking this step before the election,
>NATO hopes to put the blame for the "loss of Trepca" on
>Milosevic rather than on his opposition.
>
>This strategy was spelled out last fall in a study prepared
>by a think tank funded by multi-billionaire George Soros.
>The report suggested that NATO use the excuse of pollution
>to seize the Trepca mines, and to do it before the election.
>
>Besides trying to undermine the Yugoslav government by
>meddling in the national election, NATO forces have been
>supporting a pro-Western leadership in Montenegro, the
>republic that with Serbia makes up present-day Yugoslavia.
>British officers have been training the Montenegrin police
>to combat the Yugoslav Army.
>
>This was underlined when Yugoslav forces caught two British
>officers who were doing this training, along with two
>Canadians who had equipment that could be used for setting
>explosives. Whatever the outcome of the hearing over charges
>that these four were conducting terrorism, the case has made
>it clear that British imperialism is trying to help pro-
>Western political groups split Montenegro from Yugoslavia.
>
>- END -
>
>(Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to
>copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but
>changing it is not allowed. For more information contact
>Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail:
>ww@.... For subscription info send message to:
>info@.... Web: http://www.workers.org)
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
* La NATO usa la menzogna sistematica come arma di guerra
>NATO PREPARING NEW MILITARY STRIKE IN BALKANS
>
>By Gregory Elich
>
>Quietly, NATO is laying plans for a new military strike against Yugoslavia.
>On August 13 through 15, CIA Director George Tenet visited Bulgaria. In a
>series of extraordinary meetings, Tenet met with Bulgarian President Petur
>Stoyanov, as well as the Prime Minister, Interior Minister and Defense
>Minister. Officially, the purpose of Tenet's visit was to discuss the
>problem of organized crime and narcotics. However, Tenet spent a combined
>total of only 20 minutes at the headquarters of the National Security
>Service and the National Service for Combating Organized Crime. Unnamed
>diplomatic sources revealed that the proposed oil transit pipeline from the
>Caspian Sea was also topic of discussion.
>
>The driving motivation for Tenet's visit, though, was to discuss
>Yugoslavia. According to an unnamed diplomatic source, Montenegrin
>secession from Yugoslavia topped the agenda. Following the meeting between
>Tenet and Major General Dimo Gyaurov, Director of the National Intelligence
>Service, a public statement was issued which stressed their "commonality of
>interests." Reports in the Bulgarian press revealed that various options
>were discussed with Bulgaria's president and prime minister. Tenet's
>preferred option is the removal of the Yugoslav government, either as a
>result of that country's election on September 24, or by a NATO military
>assault that would install a puppet government. Another scenario would
>follow the secession of Montenegro from Yugoslavia. If open warfare breaks
>out over Montenegro's secession, then the United States plans to wage a
>full-scale war against Yugoslavia, as it did in spring 1999. Sofia's
>Monitor reported that the "CIA coup machine" is forming. "A strike against
>Belgrade is imminent," it adds, and "Bulgaria will serve as a base." (1)
>
>The Italian army recently signed a lease contract to conduct training
>exercises beginning in October at the Koren training ground, near Kaskovo
>in southeast Bulgaria. The French army signed a similar agreement, in which
>French soldiers and tanks will train at the Novo Selo grounds in central
>Bulgaria from October 11 to December 12. Talks are also underway for the
>U.S. military to lease the Shabla training grounds in northeastern
>Bulgaria. Scheduled to take place following the election in Yugoslavia, the
>training exercises could serve as a launching pad for NATO's planned
>military strike. It was recently announced that the British aircraft
>carrier HMS Invincible is to be redeployed to the Adriatic over the next
>few months in support of a potential conflict over Montenegro (2)
>
>Military force is only one component of the West's destabilization campaign
>against Yugoslavia. In November 1998, President Clinton launched a plan for
>the overthrow of the government of Yugoslavia. The initial emphasis of the
>plan centered on supporting secessionist forces in Montenegro and the
>right-wing opposition in Serbia. (3) Several months later, during the
>bombing of Yugoslavia, Clinton signed a secret paper instructing the CIA to
>topple the Yugoslav government. The plan called for the CIA to secretly
>fund opposition groups and the recruitment of moles in the Yugoslav
>government and military. (4) On July 8, 1999, U.S. and British officials
>revealed that commando teams were training snatch operations to seize
>alleged war criminals and Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. As an
>encouragement to mercenaries, the U.S. State Department also announced a $5
>million bounty for President Milosevic. (5)
>
>Several Yugoslav government officials and prominent individuals, including
>Defense Minister Pavle Bulatovic, have been gunned down. Most of these
>crimes remain unsolved, as the assassins managed to escape. Police
>apprehended one assassin, Milivoje Gutovic, after he shot Vojvodina
>Executive Council President Bosko Perosevic at an agricultural fair in Novi
>Sad. During interrogations, Gutovic admitted to police that he worked for
>the right-wing Serbian Renewal Movement. (6)
>
>Goran Zugic, security advisor to secessionist Montenegrin President Milo
>Djukanovic, was murdered late on May 31, 2000. The assassin escaped,
>allowing Western leaders to blame President Milosevic. Coming just one week
>before crucial local elections in Montenegro, forces opposing President
>Milosevic stood to gain from the murder, as the effect would tend to sway
>undecided voters in favor of secessionist parties. A few days after the
>assassination, Yugoslav Minister of Information Goran Matic held a press
>conference, at which he accused the CIA of complicity in the murder. Matic
>played a taped recording of two telephone conversations between head of the
>US mission in Dubrovnik Sean Burns, US State Department official James
>Swaggert, Gabriel Escobar of the US economic group in Montenegro and Paul
>Davies of the US Agency for International Development. Excerpts of the
>conversations, recorded 20 minutes after the assassination and again three
>hours later, included comments such as, "It was professional," and "Mission
>accomplished." (7)
>
>The first publicly known Western plan to assassinate President Milosevic
>was drafted in 1992. Richard Tomlinson, a former British MI6 employee,
>later disclosed the plan. His task as an MI6 agent was to carry out
>undercover operations in Eastern Europe posing as a businessman or
>journalist. Tomlinson frequently met with MI6 officer Nick Fishwick. During
>one their meetings, Fishwick showed Tomlinson a document entitled, "The
>Need to Assassinate President Milosevic of Serbia." Three methods were
>proposed for the assassination of Milosevic. The first method, Tomlinson
>recalled, "was to train and equip a Serbian paramilitary opposition group,"
>which would have the advantage of deniability but an unpredictable chance
>of success. The second method would employ a specially trained British SAS
>squad to murder President Milosevic "either with a bomb or sniper ambush."
>Fishwick considered this more reliable, but it lacked deniability. The
>third method would be to kill Milosevic "in a staged car crash." (8) Seven
>years later, on October 3, 1999, the third method was employed against the
>leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement, Vuk Draskovic, when a truck filled
>with sand plowed into his car, killing everyone inside except for
>Draskovic. The temperamental Draskovic had been a major factor in the
>chronic fragmentation of the right-wing opposition, frustrating
>Washington's efforts to forge a unified opposition. (9)
>
>During NATO's war against Yugoslavia, a missile struck President
>Milosevic's home on April 22, 1999. He and his wife were staying elsewhere
>that evening. Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon was quick to announce that "we
>are not targeting President Milosevic." It is impossible, though, to view a
>missile striking Milosevic's bedroom at 3:10 AM as anything but an
>assassination attempt. (10)
>
>In November 1999, members of an assassination squad, code-named "Spider,"
>were arrested in Yugoslavia. According to Minister Goran Matic, "French
>intelligence was behind" the Spider group, whose aim was the assassination
>of President Milosevic. Planned scenarios included a sniper attack,
>planting an explosive device alongside a route they expected Milosevic to
>travel, planting an explosive in his car, and organizing 10 trained
>commandos to storm the presidential residence. The leader of the group,
>Jugoslav Petrusic, had dual Yugoslav and French citizenship. Matic claimed
>that Petrusic worked for French intelligence for ten years. During
>interrogations, Petrusic said that he had killed 50 men on orders by French
>intelligence. Matic announced that one of the members of Spider was a
>"specialist for killings with a truck full of sand" - the same method used
>against Draskovic the previous month.
>
>Following the Bosnian war, Petrusic organized the transport of 180 Bosnian
>Serb mercenaries to fight for Mobutu Sese Seku in Zaire, an affair that was
>managed by French intelligence. According to a Bosnian Serb businessman,
>Petrusic "did not hide the fact that he was working for the French
>intelligence service. I have personally seen a photo of him next to
>Mitterand as his bodyguard." In younger days, Petrusic was a member of the
>French Foreign Legion. During NATO's war against Yugoslavia, the Spider
>group infiltrated the Yugoslav Army, supplying information to the French
>and guiding NATO warplanes to their targets.
>
>Yugoslav secret service sources revealed that the Spider group trained at
>NATO bases in Bosnia where "buildings resembling those where Milosevic
>lives were constructed." Money from the French intelligence service for
>Spider was brought to the border between Hungary and Yugoslavia by a man
>named Serge Lazarevic. (11)
>
>One month later, the members of a second hit team, calling itself the
>Serbian Liberation Army, was arrested. Their aim was to assassinate
>President Milosevic and restore the monarchy. (12)
>
>At the end of July 2000, a squad of four Dutch commandos was apprehended
>while attempting to cross into Serbia from Montenegro. During the
>investigation, they admitted that they intended to kill or kidnap President
>Milosevic. The four said that they were informed that $30 million had been
>offered for "Milosevic's head," and that they intended to "claim a reward."
>One of the men said that the group planned to abduct Milosevic or former
>Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic and "surrender them to The Hague."
>The group planned to put them atop a car "in a ski box and transport
>them.out of the country." If the abduction failed, one of the men "had the
>idea to kill the president, to decapitate his head, to put it in the box
>and to send it home" to the Netherlands.
>
>One of the arrested men, Gotfrides de Ri, belonged to the openly racist
>neo-nazi Center Party. During the wars in Croatia and Bosnia, the Center
>Party sent Dutch mercenaries to fight in right-wing Croatian paramilitary
>units. At the time of their arrest, the four were found with several
>knives, including one with a swastika, and wires with hooks for
>strangulation. All four admitted that they had trained under the British
>SAS. At a news conference on August 1, Goran Matic accused the U.S of being
>the prime sponsor of assassinations and attempted assassinations. "It is
>obvious that they are recruiting various terrorist groups because they are
>frustrated with the fact that their military, political and economic goals
>in southeastern Europe have not been realized. [They are] trying to send
>them into the country so that they can change our political and social
>environment." (13) Jonathan Eyal, an advisor to the British government,
>commented recently, "I can't say when it will happen, but I can guarantee
>that Milosevic will end up dead, and he will be followed by a more
>pro-Western government." (14)
>
>Flagrant Western interference is distorting the political process in
>Yugoslavia. U.S. and Western European funds are channelled to right-wing
>opposition parties and media through such organizations as the National
>Endowment for Democracy and George Soros' Open Society Institute. The
>National Democratic Institute (NDI) is yet another of the myriad
>semi-private organizations that have attached themselves like leeches on
>Eastern Europe. The NDI opened an office in Belgrade in 1997, hoping to
>capitalize on opposition attempts to bring down the government through
>street demonstrations. By 1999, the NDI had already trained over 900
>right-wing party leaders and activists on "message development, public
>outreach and election strategy." NDI also claimed to have provided
>"organizational training and coalition-building expertise" to the
>opposition. (15)
>
>The New Serbia Forum, funded by the British Foreign Office, brings Serbian
>professionals and academics to Hungary on a regular basis for discussions
>with British and Central European "experts." The aim of the meetings is to
>"design a blueprint for post-Milosevic society." The Forum develops reports
>intended to serve as "an action plan" for a future pro-Western government.
>Subjects under discussion have included privatization and economic
>stabilization. The Forum calls for the "reintegration of Yugoslavia into
>the European family," a phrase that translates into the dismantling of the
>socialist economy and inviting Western corporations to swarm in. (16)
>
>Western aims were clearly spelled out in the Stability Pact for
>Southeastern Europe of June 10, 1999. This document called for "creating
>vibrant market economies" in the Balkans, and "markets open to greatly
>expanded foreign trade and private sector investment." One year later, the
>White House issued a fact sheet detailing the "major achievements" of the
>Pact. Among the achievements listed, the European Bank for Reconstruction
>and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporations are said
>to be "mobilizing private investment." By 2002, "new private investment in
>the region" is expected to reach nearly $2 billion. The Pact's Business
>Advisory Council "is visiting all of the countries of Southeast Europe" to
>"offer advice" on investment issues. Another initiative is Hungarian
>involvement with opposition-led local governments and opposition media in
>Serbia.
>
>The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), on July 26, 2000,
>inaugurated an investment fund to be managed by Soros Private Funds
>Management. The Southeast Europe Equity Fund, "will invest in companies in
>the region in a range of sectors." Its purpose, according to the U.S.
>Embassy in Macedonia, is "to provide capital for new business development,
>expansion and privatization." In March 2000, Montenegro signed an agreement
>permitting the operation of OPIC on its territory. Billionaire George Soros
>spelled out what all this means. U.S. involvement in the region, he said,
>"creates investment opportunities," and "I am happy to put my money where
>they are putting theirs." In other words, there is money to be made. George
>Munoz, President and CEO of OPIC was also blunt. "The Southeast Europe
>Equity Fund," he announced, "is an ideal vehicle to connect American
>institutional capital with European entrepreneurs eager to help Americans
>tap their growing markets. OPIC is pleased that Soros Private Funds
>Management has chosen to send a strong, positive signal that Southeast
>Europe is open for business."
>
>The final text of the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe suggested that a
>Yugoslavia that would "respect" the Pact's "principles and objectives"
>would be "welcome" to become a full member. "In order to draw the Federal
>Republic of Yugoslavia closer to this goal," the document declared,
>Montenegro would be an "early beneficiary." Western leaders hope that a
>future pro-Western Yugoslavia would, as has the rest of Eastern Europe, be
>
>"eager to help Americans" make money. (17)
>
>Western leaders yearn to install a puppet government in Belgrade, and place
>their hopes in the fragmented right-wing opposition parties in Serbia. In
>1999, American officials encouraged these parties to organize mass
>demonstrations to overthrow the government, but these rallies quickly
>fizzled due to lack of popular support. When Yugoslav Federal and local
>elections were announced for July 24, 2000, American and Western European
>officials met with leaders of the Serbian opposition parties, urging them
>to unite behind one presidential candidate. Despite U.S. efforts, three
>candidates emerged in opposition to President Milosevic.
>
>At the beginning of August 2000, the U.S. opened an office in Budapest
>specifically tasked to assist opposition parties in Yugoslavia. Among the
>staff are 24 psychological warfare specialists who engaged in psychological
>operations during NATO's war against Yugoslavia and earlier against Iraq in
>the Gulf War. During those operations, the team also fabricated news items
>in an effort to sway Western public opinion.
>
>If President Milosevic is re-elected, then U.S. Secretary of State
>Madeleine Albright expects street demonstrations to overturn the election
>results and topple the government. In meetings held in Banja Luka in spring
>2000, Albright expressed disappointment with the failure of past efforts to
>overthrow the legally elected Yugoslav government. Albright said that she
>had hoped sanctions would lead people to "blame Milosevic for this
>suffering." An exasperated Albright wondered, "What was stopping the people
>from taking to the streets?" Indicating that the U.S. was casting about for
>a pretext for intervention, she added, "Something needs to happen in Serbia
>that the West can support." (18)
>
>The paths of Yugoslavia's two republics are sharply diverging, and
>Montenegro has embarked on a program to place its entire economy at the
>service of the West. November 1999 saw the introduction in Montenegro of
>the German mark as an official currency and the passage of legislation
>eliminating socially owned property. One month later, several large firms
>were publicly offered for sale, including the Electric Power Company, the
>13th July Agricultural Complex, the Hotel-Tourist firm Boka and many
>others. (19) The republic's privatization program for 2000 calls for the
>privatization of most state-owned industries, and includes measures to
>"protect domestic and foreign investors." Three hundred firms will be
>privatized in the initial stage of the plan. In early 2000, the U.S. signed
>an agreement to provide Montenegro $62 million, including $44 million from
>the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). According to the
>agency, it will also undertake "assistance programs to support economic
>reform and restructuring the economy..to advance Montenegro toward a free
>market economy." U.S. policy advisor on the Balkans James Dobbins indicated
>that the U.S. viewed the "market-oriented reforms of the Djukanovic regime
>as a model and stimulus for similar reforms throughout the former
>Yugoslavia." The U.S. is also offering guarantees for private investors in
>the republic. Additional aid is provided by the European Union, which has
>approved $36 million for Montenegro. "From the first day," admitted
>Djukanovic, "we have had British and European consultants." (20)
>
>The Center for International Private Enterprise, an affiliate of the U.S.
>Chamber of Commerce, is providing support to the Center for
>Entrepreneurship (CEP) in Montenegro. According to the center's executive
>director, Petar Ivanovic, the organization "focuses on elementary and high
>schools," establishing entrepreneurship as a new subject to be taught in
>schools. As Ivanovic explains it, "Introducing young people to the concept
>of entrepreneurship will make them less resistant to the private sector."
>The CEP also intends to "educate government officials about the potential
>rewards of the private sector," and to help them "understand the benefits
>of economic reform and privatization." (21) According to Djukanovic, when
>he met with President Clinton on June 21, 1999, the U.S. president gave the
>privatization process a push by telling Djukanovic that the U.S. planned to
>"stimulate the economy" by "encouraging US corporations and banks to invest
>capital in Montenegro." (22)
>
>Djukanovic has moved steadily toward secession from Yugoslavia, indicating
>that he will push for separation if the right-wing opposition loses the
>September 24 election. In a phone call to Djukanovic in July 2000,
>Madeleine Albright promised that the U.S would provide him with an
>additional $16.5 million. That same week, Djukanovic blurted out that
>Montenegro "is no longer part of Yugoslavia." He also made the astonishing
>claim that he considered it a "priority" for Montenegro to join NATO, the
>organization that had bombed his country only the year before. The next
>month, Albright announced that she and Djukanovic "try and talk to each
>other and meet on a regular basis," and that the "United States is
>supportive of the approach that President Djukanovic has taken in terms of
>democratic development and his approach to the economic reforms also." (23)
>
>Western support for secession extends beyond Albright meeting and talking
>with Djukanovic. More than half of the population of Montenegro opposes
>secession, and any such move is likely to explode into violence. In
>preparation for that rift, Djukanovic is building up a private army of over
>20,000 soldiers, the Special Police, including special forces armed with
>anti-tank weapons. Sources in Montenegro revealed that Western special
>forces are training this private army. Djukanovic has requested that NATO
>establish an "air shield over Montenegro" as he moves toward secession. One
>member of the Special Police, named Velibor, confirmed that they were
>receiving training from the British SAS. "If there is a situation where
>weapons will decide the outcome, we are ready," he said. "We are training
>for that." At a press conference on August 1, 2000, Minister Goran Matic
>declared that the "British are carrying out part of the training of the
>Montenegrin special units. It is also true," he added, that the Special
>Police "are intensively obtaining various kinds and types of weapons,
>starting with anti-aircraft and anti-helicopter weapons and so on, and they
>are also being assisted by Croatia, as the weapons go through Dubrovnik and
>other places." Furthermore, Matic pointed out that, "last year, before and
>after the aggression, a group from within the Montenegrin MUP [Ministry of
>Interior Affairs] structure left for training within the U.S. police
>structure and the U.S. intelligence structures." In August, two armored
>vehicles bound for Montenegro were discovered in the port of Ancona, Italy.
>One of the vehicles was fitted with a turret suitable for mounting a
>machine gun or anti-tank weapon. Italian customs officials, reports the
>Italian news service ANSA, are "convinced" that arms trafficking to
>Montenegro "is of far greater magnitude than this single episode might lead
>one to believe." Revelling in anticipation of armed conflict, Djukanovic
>bragged that "many will tuck their tails between their legs and will soon
>have to flee Montenegro." (24)
>
>A violent conflict in Montenegro would provide NATO with its long-desired
>pretext for intervention. As early as October 1999, General Wesley Clark
>drew up plans for a NATO invasion of Montenegro. The plan envisions an
>amphibious assault by more than 2,000 Marines storming the port of Bar and
>securing the port as a beachhead for pushing inland. Troops ferried by
>helicopters would seize the airport at Podgorica, while NATO warplanes
>would bomb and strafe resisting Yugoslav forces. According to U.S.
>officials, other Western countries have also developed invasion plans. (25)
>Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Ambassador to the UN declared, "We are in constant
>touch with the leadership of Montenegro," and warned that a conflict in
>Montenegro "would be directly affecting NATO's vital interest." (26) NATO
>General Secretary George Robertson was more explicit. "I say to Milosevic:
>watch out, look what happened the last time you miscalculated." (27)
>
>President Milosevic and the ruling coalition enjoy considerable popular
>support in Yugoslavia, and many Western analysts admit they are likely to
>emerge victorious in the September 24 election. This will set in motion,
>possibly within a few months, a NATO strike launched from Bulgaria intended
>to overthrow the legally elected government of Yugoslavia. If the coup
>fails, then Montenegro could declare independence, setting in motion a
>chain of events that would lead to a second all out war by NATO against
>Yugoslavia. The war in 1999 brought immense suffering to the Balkans. The
>next war promises to be catastrophic.
>
>NOTES
>
>1) "Bulgaria - Press Review" BTA (Sofia), August 12, 2000 "Bulgaria - Us
>CIA Director's Visit," BTA (Sofia), August 15, 2000 "CIA Did Not Tell Us
>the Most Important Thing," Trud (Sofia), August 16, 2000 "Bulgaria - Press
>Review," BTA (Sofia), August 14, 2000 "Bulgaria - Press Review," BTA
>(Sofia), August 16, 2000
>
>2) Mila Avramova, "Italians Lease Training Ground for 400,000 Leva," Trud
>(Sofia), August 9, 2000 Michael Evans, "Balkans Watch for 'Invincible',"
>The Times (London), August 26, 2000.
>
>3) Paul Beaver, "Clinton Tells CIA to Oust Milosevic," The Observer,
>November 29, 2000. Fran Visnar, "Clinton and the CIA Have Created a
>Scenario to Overthrow Milosevic," Vijesnik (Zagreb), November 30, 2000.
>
>4) Douglas Waller, "Tearing Down Milosevic," Time Magazine, July 12, 1999.
>
>5) Michael Moran, "A Threat to 'Snatch' Milosevic," MSNBC, July 8, 1999.
>
>6) "Yugoslav Police Say Killer of Local Leader Worked for Opposition,"
>Agence France-Presse,
>
>May 15, 2000.
>
>"Arrested Assassin Gutovic Member of Otpor and SPO," Tanjug (Belgrade), May
>15, 2000.
>
>7) "Yugoslav Official Accuses CIA of Being Behind Montenegro Murder,"
>Agence France-Presse, June 6, 2000. Aleksandar Vasovic, "Serb Aide Says CIA
>Behind Slaying," Associated Press, June 6, 2000 "Yugoslav Information
>Minister Accuses CIA of Complicity in Zugic Murder," Borba (Belgrade), June
>6, 2000
>
>8) Statement by Richard Tomlinson, addressed to John Wadham, September 11,
>1998.
>
>9) "Serb Consensus: Draskovic Crash Was No Accident," Seattle Times News
>Services, October 13, 1999.
>
>10) "NATO: Milosevic Not Target," BBC News, April 22, 1999.
>
>11) "Serbs Allege Milosevic Assassination Plot," Reuters, November 25,
>1999. "France Plots to Murder Milosevic," Agence France-Presse, November
>26, 1999. "SFOR Units Involved in a Plot to Kill Milosevic," Agence
>France-Presse, December 1, 1999. Gordana Igric, "Alleged 'Assassins' Were
>No Stranger to France," IWPR Balkan Crisis Report (London), November 26,
>1999. Milenko Vasovic, "Belgrade's French Connection," IWPR Balkan Crisis
>Report (London), November 26, 1999.
>
>12) "Lt. Testifies at Milosevic Trial," Associated Press, April 26, 2000.
>
>13) Aleksandar Vasovic, "4 Accused of Milosevic Death Plot," Associated
>Press, July 31, 2000. "Dutchmen Arrested, Accused of Plotting Against
>Milosevic," Agence France-Presse, July 31, 2000. Email correspondence from
>Herman de Tollenaere, quoting from NRC- Business Paper of August 1, 2000.
>"Arrested Dutchmen Admitted Plans to Kill, Kidnap Milosevic," BETA
>(Belgrade), August 17, 2000. "Dutch Espionage Terrorist Gang Arrested in
>Yugoslavia - Minister," Tanjug (Belgrade), July 31, 2000. "Yugoslav
>Information Minister Says U.S. Behind Dutch 'Mercenaries'," BBC Monitoring
>Service, August 1, 2000.
>
>14) "West Sees Noose Tightening Around Milosevic," Reuters, June 9, 2000.
>
>15) "NDI Activities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
>(Serbia-Montenegro)," NDI Worldwide Activities, www.ndi.org
>
>16) "Britain Trains New Elite for Post-Milosevic Era," The Independent, May
>3, 2000. The New Serbia Forum web page,
>http://ds.dial.pipex.com/town/way/glj77/Serbia.htm
>
>17) "Final Text of Stability Pact for Southeast Europe," June 10, 1999.
>U.S. Embassy, Skopje, Macedonia, "Southeast Europe Equity Fund Launched
>July 26," July 27, 2000. White House Fact Sheet, "The Stability Pact for
>Southeast Europe: One Year Later," July 27, 2000.
>
>18) Borislav Komad, "At Albright's Signal," Vecernje Novosti, May 18, 2000.
>"US Anti-Yugoslav Office Opens in Budapest," Tanjug (Belgrade), August 21,
>2000.
>
>19) Ljubinka Cagorovic, "Montenegro Assembly Scraps Socially-Owned
>Property," Reuters, November 13, 1999. "Montenegrin Government Prepares to
>Privatise Economy," Tanjug (Belgrade), December 25, 1999.
>
>20) Central and Eastern European Business Information Center, "Southeastern
>Europe Business Brief," February 3, 2000. Central and Eastern European
>Business Information Center, "Southeastern Europe Business Brief," April
>27, 2000. Anne Swardson, "West Grows Close to Montenegro," Washington Post,
>May 24, 2000.
>
>21) Petar Invanovic, "Montenegro: Laying the Foundation of
>Entrepreneurship," Center for International Private Enterprise.
>
>22) Statement by Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, "Important Step in
>Opening New Perspectives For Montenegrin State Policy," Pobjeda
>(Podgorica), June 22, 1999.
>
>23) "Albright Renews Montenegro Support," Associated Press, July 13, 2000.
>"Montenegro Wants to Join NATO and the EU," Agence France-Presse, July 10,
>2000. Office of the Spokesman, U.S. Department of State, "Secretary of
>State Madeleine K. Albright and Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic,"
>Press Stakeout at Excelsior Hotel, Rome, Italy, August 1, 2000.
>
>24) "Montenegro Ahead of Elections: Boycott and Threats," BETA (Belgrade),
>August 9, 2000. "Montenegro and Elections - Boycott Becomes Official," BETA
>(Belgrade), August 17, 2000. Phil Reese, "We Have the Heart for Battle,
>Says Montenegrin Trained by SAS," The Independent, July 30, 2000. "Yugoslav
>Information Minister Says U.S. Behind Dutch 'Mercenaries'", BBC Monitoring
>Service, August 1, 2000. "Yugoslavia Says British SAS Trains Montenegrins,"
>Reuters, August 1, 2000. "Information Minister Sees Montenegrin Arms
>Purchases, Croatian Assistance," BETA (Belgrade), July 31, 2000. "Foreign
>'Dogs of War' Training Montenegrin Police to Attack Army," Tanjug
>(Belgrade), August 9, 2000. "Montenegro: Camouflaged Military Vehicles
>Seized in Ancona," ANSA (Rome), August 21, 2000. "Montenegro: Traffic in
>Camouflaged Armored Vehicles: Investigation into Documentation," ANSA
>(Rome), August 22, 2000.
>
>25) Richard J. Newman, "Balkan Brinkmanship," US News and World Report,
>November 15, 1999.
>
>26) "Clinton Warns Milosevic 'Remains a Threat to Peace'," Agence
>France-Presse, July 29, 2000.
>
>27) "NATO's Robertston Warns Milosevic on Montenegro," Reuters, July 27, 2000.
>
>
>
>Louis Proyect
>Marxism mailing list: http://www.marxmail.org/
>-------------------------
>Via Workers World News Service
>Reprinted from the Aug. 31, 2000
>issue of Workers World newspaper
>-------------------------
>
>It was all a lie
>
>NATO ADMITS YUGOSLAVS CARRIED OUT NO MASS KILLINGS IN KOSOVO
>
>By John Catalinotto
>
>On Aug. 17 NATO officials conceded that the figures they
>released in 1999, allegedly a count of the people killed by
>Yugoslav forces in Kosovo, were much higher than the actual
>number of people killed there.
>
>Findings by forensic teams from the International Criminal
>Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in the Hague forced
>NATO's admission. The ICTY exhumed 3,000 bodies and examined
>them.
>
>While they have not yet released a report, ICTY spokespeople
>said that at most 3,000 people were killed. They said there
>was no evidence of mutilations. And they said that not all
>the dead can be proved to be victims of murder or execution.
>
>Last year NATO had charged that Yugoslav forces massacred at
>least 10,000 people. NATO spokespeople implied that 500,000
>supposedly "missing" people also had been killed.
>
>They used these claims to justify NATO bombings that had no
>basis in United Nations treaties or NATO's own charter.
>
>NATO has now been forced to admit in effect that it waged a
>lying propaganda war to win support for its own illegal
>intervention that killed over 3,000 Yugoslavs, about one-
>third of them children.
>
>Washington and NATO have no hard evidence that Yugoslav
>forces carried out even a small-scale massacre of civilians,
>let alone the "genocide" they were charged with.
>
>The ICTY--itself created and funded by the NATO powers--has
>exposed this "Big Lie" of NATO's.
>
>According to a report in the Aug. 18 British Guardian, Mark
>Laity, the acting NATO spokesperson, said: "NATO never said
>the missing were all dead. The figure we stood by was
>10,000." Laity even tried to claim that NATO's intervention
>stopped further killing.
>
>The truth is that since NATO occupied Kosovo, right-wing
>Albanian forces have killed some 1,000 people, mostly Serb
>and Romani, while pushing all non-Albanian peoples out of
>the region.
>
>NATO FORCES LIE AGAIN ABOUT TREPCA
>
>While this exposure of NATO's lies came too late to stop
>last year's bombing, it should be kept in mind by anyone
>evaluating NATO leaders' current statements regarding
>Yugoslavia.
>
>On Aug. 14, French and British forces occupying the Serbian
>province of Kosovo and Metohija seized the smelter at the
>Trepca mines near Kosovo Mitrovica. These are the richest
>nickel and lead mines in Europe. Corporate forces in the
>United States, Britain and France want these mines in their
>hands and not in the hands of the Yugoslav government.
>
>This time the excuse for the action was that the smelter was
>"polluting" the environment. Compared to the pollution
>caused by NATO's deliberate bombing of Pancevo and other
>Yugoslav chemical complexes, not to mention the use of
>radioactive depleted uranium weapons, this pollution is
>minor. In any case, Yugoslav authorities reported that steps
>had already been taken to reduce the smelter's pollution.
>
>The United States, Britain and France--the major NATO powers-
>-are again using a lie to justify an unwarranted and illegal
>seizure of Yugoslav property, just as they lied to justify
>the war in the first place.
>
>The NATO powers and Washington in particular have been
>attempting to intervene in the Yugoslav election scheduled
>for Sept. 24. They have set up an office in Budapest,
>Hungary, to deliver funds to parties in Yugoslavia that
>oppose the current elected president, Slobodan Milosevic.
>
>Seizing the Trepca smelter must be seen as part of this
>election strategy. By taking this step before the election,
>NATO hopes to put the blame for the "loss of Trepca" on
>Milosevic rather than on his opposition.
>
>This strategy was spelled out last fall in a study prepared
>by a think tank funded by multi-billionaire George Soros.
>The report suggested that NATO use the excuse of pollution
>to seize the Trepca mines, and to do it before the election.
>
>Besides trying to undermine the Yugoslav government by
>meddling in the national election, NATO forces have been
>supporting a pro-Western leadership in Montenegro, the
>republic that with Serbia makes up present-day Yugoslavia.
>British officers have been training the Montenegrin police
>to combat the Yugoslav Army.
>
>This was underlined when Yugoslav forces caught two British
>officers who were doing this training, along with two
>Canadians who had equipment that could be used for setting
>explosives. Whatever the outcome of the hearing over charges
>that these four were conducting terrorism, the case has made
>it clear that British imperialism is trying to help pro-
>Western political groups split Montenegro from Yugoslavia.
>
>- END -
>
>(Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to
>copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but
>changing it is not allowed. For more information contact
>Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail:
>ww@.... For subscription info send message to:
>info@.... Web: http://www.workers.org)
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
SULLA INCIDENZA DELL'AUMENTO DEL COSTO DELLA BENZINA ED ALTRE TARIFFE
PER IL PORTAFOGLIO DEL SIGNOR FELTRI VITTORIO
Vittorio Feltri.
Pensione di lire 347.817.030 annue.
56 anni, giornalista-editore, ex direttore di "Europeo", "Indipendente"
e "Giornale".
Oggi dirige il foglio populista-scandalistico "Libero".
Pensione Inps (dal maggio 1997): 13 mensilità da 408.050 lire.
Pensione Inpgi (dal maggio 1997): 14 mensilità da 24.465.170 lire.
Fonte: L'Espresso on-line
del 19 agosto 1999
(grazie a Gian per la segnalazione)
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
PER IL PORTAFOGLIO DEL SIGNOR FELTRI VITTORIO
Vittorio Feltri.
Pensione di lire 347.817.030 annue.
56 anni, giornalista-editore, ex direttore di "Europeo", "Indipendente"
e "Giornale".
Oggi dirige il foglio populista-scandalistico "Libero".
Pensione Inps (dal maggio 1997): 13 mensilità da 408.050 lire.
Pensione Inpgi (dal maggio 1997): 14 mensilità da 24.465.170 lire.
Fonte: L'Espresso on-line
del 19 agosto 1999
(grazie a Gian per la segnalazione)
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
GLI STESSI VALORI UMANI DEL SENATORE LIEBERMANN
(CANDIDATO SEGRETARIO DI STATO ALLA CASA BIANCA)
"Insieme, Al (Gore) ed io abbiamo valicato i confini del partito per
appoggiare la guerra del Golfo. Io ero nella sua stanza quando si rese
conto che i principi e gli interessi dell'America erano in pericolo in
Kosovo ed in Bosnia"
(Discorso alla Convention nazionale democratica, 16/8/2000)
"Gli USA e l'UCK si battono per gli stessi valori e principi umani...
Combattere per l'UCK e' combattere per i diritti umani e per i valori
americani"
(Washington Post, 28/4/1999)
---
"Together, Al and I crossed party lines to support the
Gulf War. I was there in the room when he forcefully
argued that America's principles and interests were at
stake in Kosovo and Bosnia." (Address to the
Democratic National Convention, August 16, 2000)
"The United States of America and the Kosovo
Liberation Army stand for the same human values and
principles....Fighting for the KLA is fighting for
human rights and American values." (Washington Post,
April 28, 1999)
Or values of those living currently in The White House ?
> http://www.newsmax.com/articles/?a=2000/8/11/190221
Surprised Hashim Thaqi, KLA commander is guest
on Democratic Convention?
> http://www.truthinmedia.org/Bulletins2000/tim2000-8-3.html
More on the esteemed guest:
In February, U.S. special envoy Robert Gelbard asserted that
the KLA "is, without any questions, a terrorist group."
> http://www.cato.org/dailys/8-05-98.html
More on the same values:
> http://www.csmonitor.com/durable/2000/08/15/fp9s1-csm.shtml
Saturday August 12, 2000; 10:35 AM EDT
> http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover.shtml?a=2000/8/12/93845
'Jews for Morality' Web Site Shut Down After Lieberman Critique
Hours after telling NewsMax.com that Gore vice presidential pick Joe
Lieberman doesn't live up to the standards set by his Orthodox Jewish
faith, Rabbi Yehuda Levin found that his "Jews for Morality" Web site
had been shut down by hackers.
"It seems like Lieberman supporters don't believe in freedom of speech
on the Internet when it comes to people in the Orthodox Jewish community
dissenting from his Orthodoxy," Levin told NewsMax.com on Friday.
Before the hackers struck Wednesday, Levin had complained about
Lieberman's moral hypocrisy.
"It's very ironic that the liberal media is spinning Joe Lieberman as
'Mr. Morality' because he has made a few nice sound bites," said the
Brooklyn rabbi. "But the question is, where's the kosher beef when it
comes to morality?"
Levin repeated his arguments to San Francisco talk host Michael Savage
and on Bob Grant's nationally syndicated radio program.
In his comments to NewsMax.com, he zeroed in on the vice presidential
hopeful's pro-abortion stance, which includes support for the gruesome
procedure known as partial-birth abortion.
"There's no way in the world that any Orthodox Jew could possibly
support something so horrific," said Levin, noting that even Orthodox
children know that abortion is "akin to murder."
The Jews for Morality founder suggested that the hacker attack may be
connected to complaints earlier this week about religion-based smears
against the Connecticut senator on other Web sites.
"I think this is especially interesting in light of the fact that Mr.
Lieberman was crying foul and had Yahoo! shut down some anti-Semitic
sites shortly after it was announced that he was chosen as vice
presidential nominee."
Levin says the attempt to drive him from the Internet is no trifling
matter and urged the candidate to address the issue personally.
"I'm trying to get Senator Lieberman to issue an official statement
disassociating himself from any kind of censorship of Orthodox Jews or
others who are dissenting from Joe Lieberman based on his record of
Orthodoxy - or frankly for any other reason," he told NewsMax.com.
Read the NewsMax.com interview with Rabbi Levin that preceded the hacker
attack on his "Jews for Morality" Web site: Lieberman Void of Moral
'Kosher Beef,' Says Rabbi.
More on Senator Lieberman:
> http://www.rockfordinstitute.org/NewsST081600.htm
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
(CANDIDATO SEGRETARIO DI STATO ALLA CASA BIANCA)
"Insieme, Al (Gore) ed io abbiamo valicato i confini del partito per
appoggiare la guerra del Golfo. Io ero nella sua stanza quando si rese
conto che i principi e gli interessi dell'America erano in pericolo in
Kosovo ed in Bosnia"
(Discorso alla Convention nazionale democratica, 16/8/2000)
"Gli USA e l'UCK si battono per gli stessi valori e principi umani...
Combattere per l'UCK e' combattere per i diritti umani e per i valori
americani"
(Washington Post, 28/4/1999)
---
"Together, Al and I crossed party lines to support the
Gulf War. I was there in the room when he forcefully
argued that America's principles and interests were at
stake in Kosovo and Bosnia." (Address to the
Democratic National Convention, August 16, 2000)
"The United States of America and the Kosovo
Liberation Army stand for the same human values and
principles....Fighting for the KLA is fighting for
human rights and American values." (Washington Post,
April 28, 1999)
Or values of those living currently in The White House ?
> http://www.newsmax.com/articles/?a=2000/8/11/190221
Surprised Hashim Thaqi, KLA commander is guest
on Democratic Convention?
> http://www.truthinmedia.org/Bulletins2000/tim2000-8-3.html
More on the esteemed guest:
In February, U.S. special envoy Robert Gelbard asserted that
the KLA "is, without any questions, a terrorist group."
> http://www.cato.org/dailys/8-05-98.html
More on the same values:
> http://www.csmonitor.com/durable/2000/08/15/fp9s1-csm.shtml
Saturday August 12, 2000; 10:35 AM EDT
> http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover.shtml?a=2000/8/12/93845
'Jews for Morality' Web Site Shut Down After Lieberman Critique
Hours after telling NewsMax.com that Gore vice presidential pick Joe
Lieberman doesn't live up to the standards set by his Orthodox Jewish
faith, Rabbi Yehuda Levin found that his "Jews for Morality" Web site
had been shut down by hackers.
"It seems like Lieberman supporters don't believe in freedom of speech
on the Internet when it comes to people in the Orthodox Jewish community
dissenting from his Orthodoxy," Levin told NewsMax.com on Friday.
Before the hackers struck Wednesday, Levin had complained about
Lieberman's moral hypocrisy.
"It's very ironic that the liberal media is spinning Joe Lieberman as
'Mr. Morality' because he has made a few nice sound bites," said the
Brooklyn rabbi. "But the question is, where's the kosher beef when it
comes to morality?"
Levin repeated his arguments to San Francisco talk host Michael Savage
and on Bob Grant's nationally syndicated radio program.
In his comments to NewsMax.com, he zeroed in on the vice presidential
hopeful's pro-abortion stance, which includes support for the gruesome
procedure known as partial-birth abortion.
"There's no way in the world that any Orthodox Jew could possibly
support something so horrific," said Levin, noting that even Orthodox
children know that abortion is "akin to murder."
The Jews for Morality founder suggested that the hacker attack may be
connected to complaints earlier this week about religion-based smears
against the Connecticut senator on other Web sites.
"I think this is especially interesting in light of the fact that Mr.
Lieberman was crying foul and had Yahoo! shut down some anti-Semitic
sites shortly after it was announced that he was chosen as vice
presidential nominee."
Levin says the attempt to drive him from the Internet is no trifling
matter and urged the candidate to address the issue personally.
"I'm trying to get Senator Lieberman to issue an official statement
disassociating himself from any kind of censorship of Orthodox Jews or
others who are dissenting from Joe Lieberman based on his record of
Orthodoxy - or frankly for any other reason," he told NewsMax.com.
Read the NewsMax.com interview with Rabbi Levin that preceded the hacker
attack on his "Jews for Morality" Web site: Lieberman Void of Moral
'Kosher Beef,' Says Rabbi.
More on Senator Lieberman:
> http://www.rockfordinstitute.org/NewsST081600.htm
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
No alla Guerra a stelle e strisce in Colombia !
Mercoled 30 Agosto 2000
Manifestazione di fronte a Palazzo Margherita
sede dell'ambasciata nordamericana in Italia
in via Vittorio Veneto 119/A a Roma
a partire dalle ore 17:00
¡CLINTON GO HOME!
http://www.marx2001.org/cnafarc
La pubblicizzata visita del presidente degli Stati Uniti in Colombia non
porterà nulla di buono a
questo paese, ragione per cui, le FARC-EP, al di là delle opinioni del
governo, a nome di milioni
di compatrioti, dichiarano non grata la presenza di Clinton in
territorio colombiano.
Clinton non viene sventolando la bandiera della pace. Non viene
tantomeno a sostenere gli sforzi
per dare una soluzione politica al conflitto e né a sospendere le
bramanti politiche del Fondo
Monetario Internazionale. Clinton verrà a Cartagena per mettere in atto
il “Plan Colombia”, che più
che avere un proposito controinsorgente, è vero e proprio piano contro
la Colombia, in funzione
della geopolitica imperialista.
Il Plan Colombia, ideato fuori dalla Colombia, comporta una grave
minaccia al processo di pace ed
il grave pericolo di una generalizzazione della guerra, un incremento
dell’intervento militare
yankee, che potrebbe condurre alla sua vietnamizzazione, cosa che
richiede fin da ora la solidarietà
dei paesi amici.
Lo stesso piano implica maggiori vendite di apparati bellici e
tecnologici per il complesso militare
e industriale degli Stati Uniti, cosa che genererà una criminale corsa
agli armamenti nei paesi
poveri e maggiori finanziamenti per un esercito asservito che viola i
diritti umani e promuove il
paramilitarismo di stato.
E ancora il Plan prevede nuovi assessori nordamericani, come quelli che
presso Barrancón
Guaviare addestrarono i paramilitari che causarono il massacro di
Mapiripán e la repressione per i
contadini poveri. Ed infine al plan si accompagnerà la fumigazione con
sostanze chimiche e
biologiche che devasteranno l’Amazzonia, patrimonio ecologico
dell’umanità.
Con il Plan Colombia, l’imperialismo nordamericano cerca di consolidare,
attraverso l’intervento
militare, la politica economica neoliberista e così anche di aprire una
feritoia nella nostra
sovranità, per dare corso, senza resistenza alcuna, alle imposizioni del
Fondo Monetario
Internazionale, imposizioni che comporteranno più privatizzazioni, una
disoccupazione
progressiva, stipendi miserabili e tutti quei vantaggi e garanzie per lo
sfruttamento delle nostre
risorse naturali e per gli investimenti stranieri.
Per queste ragioni, il menzionato piano è di sostegno all’ingiusto e
violento Stato colombiano ed al
suo governo.
Washington sa di poter contare su una oligarchia servile e venduta che,
con il proposito di
preservare i propri privilegi ed il potere, è capace, non solo di
offrire più “sudore e lacrime” alla
popolazione, ma anche di consegnare tutto il paese e la sua sovranità
alla voracità insaziabile
dell’Impero.
Ma bisogna anche sapere che in Colombia esiste un popolo disposto a
giocarsi il tutto per tutto per
la patria.
Dato che il Plan Colombia è anche un tentativo di dissuasione
statunitense diretto alle forze
insorgenti, possiamo assicurare che le FARC, appoggiate dal popolo, sono
fatte a prova di
ultimatum. La nostra indomabile volontà di lotta è indissolubilmente
legata alla giustizia sociale,
alla vera democrazia, alla piena sovranità ed al nuovo Stato, del popolo
e per il popolo.
Esortiamo i Colombiani affinchè, con senso di patria e dignità, ispirati
dall’antimperialismo e
dall’unità latinoamericana, predicate dal nostro liberatore, Simón
Bolívar, esprimano in ogni modo
possibile il rifiuto alla visita imperialista, al loro Plan Colombia ed
alla venduta oligarchia.
Con Bolivar, per la Pace e la Sovranità Nazionale!
Segretariato dello Stato Maggiore Centrale delle
Forze Armate Rivoluzionarie della Colombia, Esercito del Popolo
Montagne della Colombia, 23 Agosto 2000
--------
Informazione tradotta e diffusa dal
Coordinamento Nazionale di Appoggio alle FARC-EP
e-mail: "cna_farc_italia@..."
Tel: 0335-8059837
Pagina web: http://www.marx2001.org/cnafarc
[ solo per sottoscrizione o esclusione dalla
ricezione delle notizie:"cnafarc@..." ]
=========
Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia - Ejercito del Pueblo
FARC-EP
Comision Internacional
E-mail: elbarcino@... [Commissione Internazionale ]
Email: tematicosfarcep@... [Tavolo dei Dialoghi FARC-EP]
http://tierra.ucsd.edu/farc-ep [Pagina Principale FARC-EP]
http://www.resistencianacional.org [Pagina del Segretariato]
http://orbita.starmedia.com/~caelos1 [Pagina in Francese]
http://www.qualinet.com.br/farc-ep [Pagina in Portoghese]
================================================================
Comunicato dell'ELN: VISITA NON GRATA
http://www.eln-voces.com/
http://utenti.tripod.it/elnitalia/prima.htm
Negli Stati Uniti, la marijuana è il primo prodotto agricolo ed il loro
sistema finanziario si arricchisce ogni anno di più di 150 milioni di
dollari, grazie al lavaggio dei narco-capitali; per questa ragione è
chiaro che l'intenzione del governo degli Stati Uniti non è quella di
porre fine a questo affare tanto redditizio, ma quella di accenttrare
totalmente questo monopolio. La DEA e la CIA che si allearono con il
cartello di Cali per porre fine a Pablo Escobar, oggi sostengono il
cartello paramilitare dei Castaño e dei Carranza, con l'obiettivo di
affrontare le guerriglie colombiane.
Con il pretesto di lottare contro il narcotraffico, gli Stati Uniti
hanno elaborato il piano di invasione della Colombia, con lo scopo di
contenere la crescita del movimento insorto e per incrementare il loro
intervento economico, politico e militare, già iniziato agli inizi del
secolo scorso.
Quasi l'80% dei 930 milioni di dollari che sono stati destinati al Plan
Colombia hanno come destinazione obbligatoria risorse belliche. In
questo ambito, la visita di Clinton è una benedizione alla guerra
sporca, promossa dal cartello narco-paramilitare dei Castaño e dei
Carranza ed è un invito al resto dei narcotrafficanti, affinchè
continuino a legalizzare i loro capitali negli Stati Uniti. La visita
del presidente William Clinton a Cartagena è inoltre una cerimonia di
dominio coloniale e di inaugurazione di una nuova fase della guerra,
dove risulta evidente la politica antisovrana del governo Andrés
Pastrana.
L'ELN si unisce a tutte le manifestazioni di rifiuto popolare, contro la
presenza di questa Persona Non Grata, che aggredisce la dignità e la
sovranità colombiana.
Dalle Montagne della Colombia, 28 Agosto 2000.
La Colombia per i Lavoratori !
Non un passo indietro!
Liberazione o Morte !
Per il Comando Centrale:
Nicolás Rodríguez Bautista, Antonio García e Pablo Beltrán
>
> Voce Operaia
> 29 agosto 2000
>
> Invitiamo tutti i compagni e le compagne a fare ogni sforzo per essere
> presenti domani alle ore 17,00, a Roma sotto l'Ambasciata U.S.A. (Via
> Veneto) alla manifestazione unitaria in difesa della resistenza
> colombiana e contro la minaccia di aggressione imperialistica.
> Sottolineiamo il risultato straordinario gia' ottenuto dai promotori.
> In solo quattro giorni ecco le adesioni giunte:
>
> Promuovono:
>
> Campo Antimperialista
> COBAS Confederazione dei comitati di base
> Comitato di Solidarietà Con i popoli del LatinoAmerica "Carlos
> Fonseca"
> Comitato Internazionalista Arco Iris
> Comitato Solidaridad Colombia "Giacomo Turra"
> Coordinamento MAGMA/Manziana
> Radio Città Aperta/Contropiano
> Voce Operaia
>
> Aderiscono:
>
> Federazione dei Verdi
> Coordinamento Nazionale di Appoggio alle FARC-EP
> Ass. Culturale Punto Rosso - Collettivo Spartakus (Vicenza)
> Associazione Vientos del Sur (Udine)
> Circolo ARCI Agorà (Pisa)
> Partito della Rifondazione Comunista, Federazione di Roma
> Partito della Rifondazione Comunista, Federazione di Udine
> Partito della Rifondazione Comunista Circolo di Fiumicello (Udine)
> C.S.O. Ricomincio dal FARO
> AIASP
> Casa dei popoli di Roma
> Rete Associazioni Popolari
> Democrazia Popolare
> Giovani Comunisti del Partito della Rifondazione Comunista
> Spazio Libero Autogestito Pellerossa (Cesena)
> Comitato Antimperialista Romano
> Collettivo Antagonista Primavalle
> AZAD-Senza Confine
> SIMA- Solidarietà Italiana con le Madri Argentine (Roma)
> Comitato Umbro Antimperialista
> Associazione Italia-Jugoslavia (Perugia)
> Partito della Rifondazione Comunista, Federazione di Pisa
> Partito della Rifondazione Comunista - Circolo del Cividalese (Ud)
> Circolo Culturale della Sinistra Antagonista ISKRA - Cividale (Ud)
>
> Adesioni Internazionali:
>
> Corrente Leninista Internazionale (Italia-Austria)
> Associazione degli Insegnanti del Cauca - ASOINCA (Colombia)
> Netzwerk Resistenza (Svizzera)
> Organizzazione di Difesa Popolare - ODEP (Cile)
> Rivista "Resumen Latinoamericano" (Spagna)
> Rifondazione Comunista, sezione di Buenos Aires (Argentina)
> Rete Solidale per i Diritti Umani (Argentina)
> Gruppo di Appoggio Mutuo (Guatemala)
> Associazione Franco-Cilena la Cordigliera, Villeneuve d'Ascq (Francia)
>
> Associazione Culturale "Yaki Kandru" (Colombia-Francia)
> Area per la Pace e la Solidarietà di "Esquerra Unida", Valencia
> (Spagna)
> H.I.J.O.S. Chaco - Rete Nazionale (Argentina)
> Coordinamento Culturale Simón Bolívar 23 Gennaio (Venezuela)
> Gioventù Comuniste (Spagna)
> Sinistra Democratica Popolare (Messico)
> Movimento della Sinistra Rivoluzionaria (Ecuador)
> Comitato di Difesa dei Diritti Umani - CODEHCO (Spagna)
> Comitato di Solidarietà Internazionalista, Zaragoza (Spagna)
> Associazione Culturale Progetto Sud, Montreal (Canada)
> Aggruppamento degli Ex Prigionieri Politici, Familiari ed Amici
> (Argentina)
> Sa Cunfederatzione de sos Comunistas Sardos (Sardegna)
> Partito Comunista Operaio-Contadino - CMKP (Pakistan)
> Lealtà all'Uomo ed alla Terra (Libano-Palestina)
>
> Adesioni Personali:
>
> Nieves y Miro Fuenzalida (Canada)
> Antonio José Vélez Toro, avvocato dell'Illustre Collegio di Granada
> (Spagna)
> Leon Rozitchner, scrittore e professore della Università di B.Aires
> (Argentina)
> F. Dorado, membro del Istituto per la Pace ed i Conflitti (Spagna)
> Mario Amorós (Spagna)
> Leslie Salgado, Columbia MD (Stati Uniti)
> Francesco Rusin (Italia)
Mercoled 30 Agosto 2000
Manifestazione di fronte a Palazzo Margherita
sede dell'ambasciata nordamericana in Italia
in via Vittorio Veneto 119/A a Roma
a partire dalle ore 17:00
¡CLINTON GO HOME!
http://www.marx2001.org/cnafarc
La pubblicizzata visita del presidente degli Stati Uniti in Colombia non
porterà nulla di buono a
questo paese, ragione per cui, le FARC-EP, al di là delle opinioni del
governo, a nome di milioni
di compatrioti, dichiarano non grata la presenza di Clinton in
territorio colombiano.
Clinton non viene sventolando la bandiera della pace. Non viene
tantomeno a sostenere gli sforzi
per dare una soluzione politica al conflitto e né a sospendere le
bramanti politiche del Fondo
Monetario Internazionale. Clinton verrà a Cartagena per mettere in atto
il “Plan Colombia”, che più
che avere un proposito controinsorgente, è vero e proprio piano contro
la Colombia, in funzione
della geopolitica imperialista.
Il Plan Colombia, ideato fuori dalla Colombia, comporta una grave
minaccia al processo di pace ed
il grave pericolo di una generalizzazione della guerra, un incremento
dell’intervento militare
yankee, che potrebbe condurre alla sua vietnamizzazione, cosa che
richiede fin da ora la solidarietà
dei paesi amici.
Lo stesso piano implica maggiori vendite di apparati bellici e
tecnologici per il complesso militare
e industriale degli Stati Uniti, cosa che genererà una criminale corsa
agli armamenti nei paesi
poveri e maggiori finanziamenti per un esercito asservito che viola i
diritti umani e promuove il
paramilitarismo di stato.
E ancora il Plan prevede nuovi assessori nordamericani, come quelli che
presso Barrancón
Guaviare addestrarono i paramilitari che causarono il massacro di
Mapiripán e la repressione per i
contadini poveri. Ed infine al plan si accompagnerà la fumigazione con
sostanze chimiche e
biologiche che devasteranno l’Amazzonia, patrimonio ecologico
dell’umanità.
Con il Plan Colombia, l’imperialismo nordamericano cerca di consolidare,
attraverso l’intervento
militare, la politica economica neoliberista e così anche di aprire una
feritoia nella nostra
sovranità, per dare corso, senza resistenza alcuna, alle imposizioni del
Fondo Monetario
Internazionale, imposizioni che comporteranno più privatizzazioni, una
disoccupazione
progressiva, stipendi miserabili e tutti quei vantaggi e garanzie per lo
sfruttamento delle nostre
risorse naturali e per gli investimenti stranieri.
Per queste ragioni, il menzionato piano è di sostegno all’ingiusto e
violento Stato colombiano ed al
suo governo.
Washington sa di poter contare su una oligarchia servile e venduta che,
con il proposito di
preservare i propri privilegi ed il potere, è capace, non solo di
offrire più “sudore e lacrime” alla
popolazione, ma anche di consegnare tutto il paese e la sua sovranità
alla voracità insaziabile
dell’Impero.
Ma bisogna anche sapere che in Colombia esiste un popolo disposto a
giocarsi il tutto per tutto per
la patria.
Dato che il Plan Colombia è anche un tentativo di dissuasione
statunitense diretto alle forze
insorgenti, possiamo assicurare che le FARC, appoggiate dal popolo, sono
fatte a prova di
ultimatum. La nostra indomabile volontà di lotta è indissolubilmente
legata alla giustizia sociale,
alla vera democrazia, alla piena sovranità ed al nuovo Stato, del popolo
e per il popolo.
Esortiamo i Colombiani affinchè, con senso di patria e dignità, ispirati
dall’antimperialismo e
dall’unità latinoamericana, predicate dal nostro liberatore, Simón
Bolívar, esprimano in ogni modo
possibile il rifiuto alla visita imperialista, al loro Plan Colombia ed
alla venduta oligarchia.
Con Bolivar, per la Pace e la Sovranità Nazionale!
Segretariato dello Stato Maggiore Centrale delle
Forze Armate Rivoluzionarie della Colombia, Esercito del Popolo
Montagne della Colombia, 23 Agosto 2000
--------
Informazione tradotta e diffusa dal
Coordinamento Nazionale di Appoggio alle FARC-EP
e-mail: "cna_farc_italia@..."
Tel: 0335-8059837
Pagina web: http://www.marx2001.org/cnafarc
[ solo per sottoscrizione o esclusione dalla
ricezione delle notizie:"cnafarc@..." ]
=========
Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia - Ejercito del Pueblo
FARC-EP
Comision Internacional
E-mail: elbarcino@... [Commissione Internazionale ]
Email: tematicosfarcep@... [Tavolo dei Dialoghi FARC-EP]
http://tierra.ucsd.edu/farc-ep [Pagina Principale FARC-EP]
http://www.resistencianacional.org [Pagina del Segretariato]
http://orbita.starmedia.com/~caelos1 [Pagina in Francese]
http://www.qualinet.com.br/farc-ep [Pagina in Portoghese]
================================================================
Comunicato dell'ELN: VISITA NON GRATA
http://www.eln-voces.com/
http://utenti.tripod.it/elnitalia/prima.htm
Negli Stati Uniti, la marijuana è il primo prodotto agricolo ed il loro
sistema finanziario si arricchisce ogni anno di più di 150 milioni di
dollari, grazie al lavaggio dei narco-capitali; per questa ragione è
chiaro che l'intenzione del governo degli Stati Uniti non è quella di
porre fine a questo affare tanto redditizio, ma quella di accenttrare
totalmente questo monopolio. La DEA e la CIA che si allearono con il
cartello di Cali per porre fine a Pablo Escobar, oggi sostengono il
cartello paramilitare dei Castaño e dei Carranza, con l'obiettivo di
affrontare le guerriglie colombiane.
Con il pretesto di lottare contro il narcotraffico, gli Stati Uniti
hanno elaborato il piano di invasione della Colombia, con lo scopo di
contenere la crescita del movimento insorto e per incrementare il loro
intervento economico, politico e militare, già iniziato agli inizi del
secolo scorso.
Quasi l'80% dei 930 milioni di dollari che sono stati destinati al Plan
Colombia hanno come destinazione obbligatoria risorse belliche. In
questo ambito, la visita di Clinton è una benedizione alla guerra
sporca, promossa dal cartello narco-paramilitare dei Castaño e dei
Carranza ed è un invito al resto dei narcotrafficanti, affinchè
continuino a legalizzare i loro capitali negli Stati Uniti. La visita
del presidente William Clinton a Cartagena è inoltre una cerimonia di
dominio coloniale e di inaugurazione di una nuova fase della guerra,
dove risulta evidente la politica antisovrana del governo Andrés
Pastrana.
L'ELN si unisce a tutte le manifestazioni di rifiuto popolare, contro la
presenza di questa Persona Non Grata, che aggredisce la dignità e la
sovranità colombiana.
Dalle Montagne della Colombia, 28 Agosto 2000.
La Colombia per i Lavoratori !
Non un passo indietro!
Liberazione o Morte !
Per il Comando Centrale:
Nicolás Rodríguez Bautista, Antonio García e Pablo Beltrán
>
> Voce Operaia
> 29 agosto 2000
>
> Invitiamo tutti i compagni e le compagne a fare ogni sforzo per essere
> presenti domani alle ore 17,00, a Roma sotto l'Ambasciata U.S.A. (Via
> Veneto) alla manifestazione unitaria in difesa della resistenza
> colombiana e contro la minaccia di aggressione imperialistica.
> Sottolineiamo il risultato straordinario gia' ottenuto dai promotori.
> In solo quattro giorni ecco le adesioni giunte:
>
> Promuovono:
>
> Campo Antimperialista
> COBAS Confederazione dei comitati di base
> Comitato di Solidarietà Con i popoli del LatinoAmerica "Carlos
> Fonseca"
> Comitato Internazionalista Arco Iris
> Comitato Solidaridad Colombia "Giacomo Turra"
> Coordinamento MAGMA/Manziana
> Radio Città Aperta/Contropiano
> Voce Operaia
>
> Aderiscono:
>
> Federazione dei Verdi
> Coordinamento Nazionale di Appoggio alle FARC-EP
> Ass. Culturale Punto Rosso - Collettivo Spartakus (Vicenza)
> Associazione Vientos del Sur (Udine)
> Circolo ARCI Agorà (Pisa)
> Partito della Rifondazione Comunista, Federazione di Roma
> Partito della Rifondazione Comunista, Federazione di Udine
> Partito della Rifondazione Comunista Circolo di Fiumicello (Udine)
> C.S.O. Ricomincio dal FARO
> AIASP
> Casa dei popoli di Roma
> Rete Associazioni Popolari
> Democrazia Popolare
> Giovani Comunisti del Partito della Rifondazione Comunista
> Spazio Libero Autogestito Pellerossa (Cesena)
> Comitato Antimperialista Romano
> Collettivo Antagonista Primavalle
> AZAD-Senza Confine
> SIMA- Solidarietà Italiana con le Madri Argentine (Roma)
> Comitato Umbro Antimperialista
> Associazione Italia-Jugoslavia (Perugia)
> Partito della Rifondazione Comunista, Federazione di Pisa
> Partito della Rifondazione Comunista - Circolo del Cividalese (Ud)
> Circolo Culturale della Sinistra Antagonista ISKRA - Cividale (Ud)
>
> Adesioni Internazionali:
>
> Corrente Leninista Internazionale (Italia-Austria)
> Associazione degli Insegnanti del Cauca - ASOINCA (Colombia)
> Netzwerk Resistenza (Svizzera)
> Organizzazione di Difesa Popolare - ODEP (Cile)
> Rivista "Resumen Latinoamericano" (Spagna)
> Rifondazione Comunista, sezione di Buenos Aires (Argentina)
> Rete Solidale per i Diritti Umani (Argentina)
> Gruppo di Appoggio Mutuo (Guatemala)
> Associazione Franco-Cilena la Cordigliera, Villeneuve d'Ascq (Francia)
>
> Associazione Culturale "Yaki Kandru" (Colombia-Francia)
> Area per la Pace e la Solidarietà di "Esquerra Unida", Valencia
> (Spagna)
> H.I.J.O.S. Chaco - Rete Nazionale (Argentina)
> Coordinamento Culturale Simón Bolívar 23 Gennaio (Venezuela)
> Gioventù Comuniste (Spagna)
> Sinistra Democratica Popolare (Messico)
> Movimento della Sinistra Rivoluzionaria (Ecuador)
> Comitato di Difesa dei Diritti Umani - CODEHCO (Spagna)
> Comitato di Solidarietà Internazionalista, Zaragoza (Spagna)
> Associazione Culturale Progetto Sud, Montreal (Canada)
> Aggruppamento degli Ex Prigionieri Politici, Familiari ed Amici
> (Argentina)
> Sa Cunfederatzione de sos Comunistas Sardos (Sardegna)
> Partito Comunista Operaio-Contadino - CMKP (Pakistan)
> Lealtà all'Uomo ed alla Terra (Libano-Palestina)
>
> Adesioni Personali:
>
> Nieves y Miro Fuenzalida (Canada)
> Antonio José Vélez Toro, avvocato dell'Illustre Collegio di Granada
> (Spagna)
> Leon Rozitchner, scrittore e professore della Università di B.Aires
> (Argentina)
> F. Dorado, membro del Istituto per la Pace ed i Conflitti (Spagna)
> Mario Amorós (Spagna)
> Leslie Salgado, Columbia MD (Stati Uniti)
> Francesco Rusin (Italia)
L'ATTO D'ACCUSA DI JAIME Y. PRIETO
Mentre in Cile si uccidono lentamente gli ultimi prigionieri politici,
detenuti in carceri di massima sicurezza, in Italia le forze di polizia
minacciano un difensore della democrazia cilena. Così, mentre in Cile
Pedro Rosas Aravena, affetto da cancro, viene curato (meglio torturato)
con semplici anestetici e a Marcela Rodríguez Valdivieso, paraplegica
dal 1990, non si concede un visto per andare a curarsi in qualsiasi
paese straniero (unica speranza che le garantirebbe il diritto alla
vita), in Italia la Questura di Perugia si permette di minacciare,
maltrattare e vessare Jaime Yovanovic Prieto, cittadino cileno che lottò
per la democrazia cilena.
Che la vergogna smuova quanti si professano democratici in questo paese,
per verificare le responsabilità sui fatti descritti e procedere, di
conseguenza, a punire i responsabili delle violazioni dei diritti umani
cui è stato sottoposto Jaime Yovanovic Prieto!
Che la vergogna generi una solidarietà concreta verso i Prigionieri
Politici, per Marcela Rodríguez Valdivieso (l'Italia potrebbe salvarle
la vita!), per Pedro Rosas Aravena, per Oriana Alcayaga, per María
Cristina San Juan e per tutti gli altri !
Che i 1500 fax ricevuti dal Ministero di Giustizia si trasformino in
solidarietà concreta.
Dal racconto di Jaime Yovanovic Prieto
Al termine del Campo Antimperialista di Assisi, di grande successo per
la
quantità e la qualità dei gruppi e delle Persone presenti, per i temi
affrontati, per la convivenza e lo spirito rivoluzionario che univa i
presenti, nonché per le conclusioni raggiunte (tra cui quella di aprire
un
portale web antimperialista e di creare una rete antimperialista), venni
accompagnato alla stazione ferroviaria dove avrei dovuto prendere il
treno
per Roma.
Fin dall'uscita dal campeggio mi era sembrato che la nostra auto fosse
sotto
controllo, dal momento che una vettura bianca con un uomo e una donna a
bordo si manteneva costantemente a vista dietro di noi, benché il nostro
percorso avesse molteplici varianti di rotta.
Alla stazione venni circondato da quattro persone, tre uomini e una
donna,
la stessa dell'auto bianca. Due di loro, dopo aver mostrato un tesserino
della polizia, pretesero che li seguissi, adducendo il pretesto che il
passaporto non aveva il visto consolare.
Durante il tragitto mi dissero invece che il motivo era un altro, ovvero
il
fatto che non mi ero presentato alla polizia negli otto giorni seguenti
il
mio arrivo. In seguito dissero che il mio nome, Jaime Yovanovic Prieto,
appariva nell'elenco degli espulsi dalla Germania e che pertanto mi
avrebbero portato in caserma per accertamenti.
La caserma in cui venni portato è una caserma della Polizia, mentre
coloro
che mi hanno arrestato sono uomini della DIGOS, Direzione Investigazioni
Generali Operazioni Speciali, vale a dire uomini della sicurezza dello
Stato.
Lì sono stato trattenuto per alcune ore, nella giornata di domenica 6
agosto, a partire dalle ore 18.
Alla fine mi hanno detto la verità, e cioè che la polizia cilena, venuta
a
conoscenza della mia presenza in Italia, aveva chiesto alla polizia
italiana
di arrestarmi, sulla base dell'accusa di omicidio del generale di
brigata di
Santiago, Carol Urúa, nel 1983, e cioè in piena dittatura militare!
In caserma mi chiesero, come se stessero facendo conversazione, se avevo
ucciso io il generale. Risposi che rifiutavo fermamente l'accusa. Poiché
insistevano ad affermare che ero un terrorista, sono stato obbligato a
rifiutare di continuare
la "conversazione" senza la presenza di un avvocato.
A quel punto mi informarono che secondo la legge italiana potevano
mantenermi in stato di detenzione per 24 ore, senza alcuna accusa, con
il
solo pretesto di identificazione, e che siccome era tardi (quasi
mezzanotte), mi avrebbero tenuto a dormire nel carcere per continuare il
giorno seguente. Si trattava di un meschino inganno, perché la scorta
armata
che ci accompagnava dimostrava che in realtà ero formalmente prigioniero
e
non in "stato di detenzione".
Nel carcere mi fecero togliere i vestiti e controllarono tutte le mie
cose,
perfino il minimo dettaglio. Mi chiesero anche se ero della mafia o
della
camorra. Di fronte al mio sorriso, si innervosirono, e mi ordinarono a
voce
alta di tacere. A questo punto mi arrabbiai e dissi loro che ero stato
perseguitato e avevo sofferto la repressione sotto la dittatura e che
non
volevo sentirmi perseguitato qui, che cambiassero il tono della voce e
che
non avrei accettato di essere trattato con urla. La mia scarsa
conoscenza
dell'italiano non mi permetteva di esprimermi bene, però immagino che
abbiano inteso il messaggio, dal momento che fino ad ora mi hanno
parlato
con cortesia.
Verso le tre del mattino mi portarono dal medico, che dormiva
felicemente, e
mi sottoposero ad un superficiale esame del cuore, della pressione e dei
polmoni […]
Poi venni messo nell'ala medica, perché chiesi di rimanere da solo. Ero
nella cella n°4, una cella di 3x5 metri con due letti e un bagno di 1x5
metri, senza doccia e senza scolo nel pavimento per l'acqua. Nella cella
c'erano poi due
catini, uno in bagno e l'altro fuori, due banchi di legno e un armadio a
due
ante.
La porta, larga 1 metro, era di sbarre spesse e di notte veniva chiusa
anche
una seconda porta, tutta di metallo e molto pesante, che lasciava solo
una
finestrella nel centro. Sopra la porta c'era una televisione, dalla
quale ho
potuto seguire le mobilitazioni dei compagni italiani e di altri paesi
che
protestavano per il mio arresto.
Il lunedì la colazione venne distribuita alle 8:30. Un uomo ed una donna
passarono a consegnarmi un pacchetto di plastica trasparente, sigillato,
che
conteneva alcune fette di pane italiano senza sale, un pezzetto di
anguria
avvolto in un tovagliolo di carta, burro e una tazza di plastica con del
the
al limone.
L'uomo è un detenuto marocchino e distribuisce il cibo, oltre a
raccogliere
la spazzatura. La donna è invece etiope ed è una infermiera, che lavora
presso il carcere. Entrambi molto seri, silenziosi e timidi […].
Alle 9:00 mi portarono al piano terra (io ero detenuto al terzo piano)
per
essere interrogato dall' "educatore", che affermava di non essere né un
poliziotto né un magistrato, ma di lavorare da 20 anni come volontario,
occupandosi di diverse questioni dei prigionieri, come orientamento ,
ecc…
Costui stava preparando un esame per il suo titolo di sociologo e aveva
con
sé un libro di Max Weber. Io gli diedi alcuni suggerimenti per capire
meglio
questo autore e lui alla fine ne rimase soddisfatto, tanto che disse
alle
guardie che
il professore cileno gli aveva tenuto una lezione su Weber che gli
sarebbe
stata utile per l'esame. Questo sembra che abbia aiutato, dal momento
che in
Italia un professore universitario è molto ben visto e rispettato da
tutti.
Alle 11 circa, venni portato a pranzo nella cella. Il pranzo consisteva
in
una zuppa di riso, dal sapore orribile, che fui costretto a gettare nel
sanitario.
Così al mattino ho mangiato solo del pane e ho conservato il resto per
supplire alle cattive condizioni del cibo.
Alla sera mi portarono da una psicologa che mi fece molte domande e
concluse
alla fine che io ero un uomo forte e profondo. Replicai che anche un
torturatore poteva essere forte, ma io in più ero cosciente, il che
rappresentava la
differenza sostanziale.
Conversammo quindi sulla psicologia del detenuto e concordammo che di
fronte
a tanta ingiustizia è necessario riscattare l'essere umano concreto. Che
dal
quotidiano bisogna sviluppare il suo grido e la sua lotta per la
libertà.
Lo stesso lunedì 7 agosto, ricevetti un telegramma di Moreno, Alessandro
ed
Elias, che mi consigliavano di scegliere come mio difensore l'avvocato
Francesco Innamorati. Mi comunicavano inoltre che stavano combattendo e
che
si erano ben organizzati per la campagna contro la mia estradizione in
Cile.
L'emozione è stata forte, e la riconoscenza e l'allegria che ho provato
nel
recepire la determinazione dell'azione di solidarietà che andava
strutturandosi mi hanno commosso fino alle lacrime.
Moreno è uno dei dirigenti della Associazione Voce Operaia e della
Corrente
Leninista Internazionale. E' un uomo chiaro e molto umano, uno degli
organizzatori del Campo Antimperialista, e mi azzardo a dire uno degli
imprescindibili di Bertold Brecht.
Alessandro è uno dei compagni del Comitato Internazionalista Arco Iris,
grande amico, molto sensibile e molto cosciente. Il lavoro che fanno di
divulgazione delle lotte di tutto il mondo è insostituibile.
Elias Letelier è cileno, poeta, fu anche ufficiale dell'Esercito
Sandinista;
attualmente coordina la Rete per i Prigionieri Politici e ha realizzato
con
successo la magnifica responsabilità di creare il portale web della Rete
Antimperialista.
Potrete immaginare cosa abbia significato per me ricevere il telegramma
di
questi tre compagni. Questo mi ha trasmesso molta tranquillità.
Lo stesso lunedì, però, non mi venne concesso di inviare il telegramma
per
nominare l'avvocato.
Il giorno successivo, martedì, accettarono il telegramma, che però venne
inviato solo il giorno seguente (mercoledì 9 agosto). Sempre martedì
ricevetti un telegramma di Melinka, questo indomabile che non si stanca
mai,
che mi trasmetteva forza e mi informava che una avvocatessa di Roma si
sta
unendo al gruppo. E' l'avvocatessa che difende i cileni a Roma.
Nuova emozione, nuove lacrime, in particolare adesso che è prossimo il
15
agosto, giorno in cui celebriamo l'anniversario del MIR, più saldi che
mai,
e io qui in questa nuova trincea che mi è toccata e che assumo con
responsabilità. Grazie Melinka. Grazie a tutti. La lotta è una, la lotta
continua e solo la lotta ci renderà liberi.
Mi hanno anche dato e fatto firmare un comunicato della Corte d'Appello
di
Perugia, dove mi informano che le autorità giudiziarie di Santiago del
Cile
mi accusano di omicidio e porto d'armi e di esplosivo, e che il giorno
10
agosto verrà un giudice a chiedermi se accetto o meno l'estradizione.
Ho elaborato la mia difesa per iscritto e in qualche modo risponderò a
questa domanda, che lascerò alla coscienza dei giudici, ma continuo a
rifiutare con decisione le accuse. Spero che il testo completo della mia
difesa già stia circolando su internet e sulla stampa prima che io sia
interrogato.
Oggi 9 agosto ho colloquiato con l'avvocato che mi è sembrato
sensazionale,
dal momento che si tratta di un vecchio partigiano che ha combattuto
contro
Mussolini.
Mi ha spiegato che può passare un certo tempo prima della decisione
sull'estradizione e che cercheranno di commutare l'arresto in arresti
domiciliari, cosa che mi sembra difficile da ottenere. Mi hanno anche
informato che domani, a partire dalle 10:00 fino alle 12:00 ci sarà una
manifestazione davanti all'ingresso del carcere, visto che alle 10:30
viene
il giudice per interrogarmi.
Il giorno della Manifestazione e della Libertà
Il giudice è entrato nel carcere accompagnato da due persone, credo una
segretaria e una dattilografa, oltre all'interprete, che lavora al primo
piano della Polizia e aveva svolto lo stesso lavoro il primo giorno del
mio
arresto, cioè domenica 6 agosto, il che dimostra una relazione operativa
tra
la polizia e il potere giudiziario. Il potere giudiziario utilizza
l'interprete della polizia!!!
E' arrivato anche il mio avvocato, Francesco Innamorati, insieme a una
avvocatessa del suo gruppo. Sono stato quindi ricevuto con un sorriso
immenso dal giudice, che si è alzato dal tavolo per stringermi la mano,
la
qual cosa ha richiamato la mia attenzione; inoltre l'interprete
insisteva
perché mi sedessi e mi diceva che fuori c'erano molte persone, e nel
frattempo osservava il mio volto per captare le mie reazioni.
La prima cosa che fece l'avvocato fu di segnalare il mio diritto ad
avere
due avvocati, quindi io procedetti a nominare l'avvocatessa che mi
mandavano
i cileni di Roma, che entrò in aula e si sedette al lato di Innamorati.
Il giudice volle quindi sapere se accettavo l'estradizione in Cile. Lo
informai che la mia risposta era lì scritta, e gliene consegnai una
copia,
ma lui in un primo momento non vi diede molta importanza, preoccupato di
parlare di altre
cose. Quando si rese conto che il passaporto era stato emesso dal Cile
nel
1999, ordinò di chiedere i miei documenti alla direzione del carcere.
Nuova
attesa. Quando tornò, raccontò che avevano chiamato da Roma perché fossi
rimesso in
libertà, poiché non c'erano i presupposti per un processo di
estradizione.
Il giudice ripetè due volte che all'uscita avrei dovuto presentarmi alla
polizia prima di circolare liberamente, però non disse che sarei stato
ritirato dal carcere dalla stessa polizia.
Chiesi all'avvocato che rimanesse con me fino a che uscissi o almeno che
lasciasse un altro avvocato o un'altra persona. Gli dissi che non mi
sentivo
tranquillo e che avevo bisogno di maggiore forza nella pressione verso
le
autorità carcerarie e di polizia. Però non fu possibile. Quindi arrivò
la
polizia internazionale e quando domandai che cosa ci facessero lì visto
che
io ero libero, mi dissero che il giudice mi aveva già informato che
prima di
uscire dovevo passare dalla polizia. Mi giurarono che tutto era a posto,
che
era un semplice passaggio, ma che io dovevo capire che prima dovevo
chiarire
la mancanza del visto, che dovevo parlare con la stampa e poi tutto si
sarebbe concluso.
Adesso penso che avrei dovuto scendere dall'auto e mischiarmi alla
moltitudine per creare un caso politico più forte, però nulla sembrava
indicare la trappola che si stava preparando.
Parlai quindi con i giornalisti e lessi la mia dichiarazione pubblica
che
consegnai al giudice. La manifestazione era bella. Molti compagni
gridavano
per me, cantavano, agitavano bandiere e cartelli. Mi emozionai tanto che
sentii una
gran voglia di gridare e piangere. La voce mi si bloccò due volte mentre
leggevo il comunicato. Poi mi portarono alla polizia dove mi lasciarono
con
il questore ed il suo vice, che mi comunicarono che la Germania aveva
detto
che io non
potevo entrare nel suo territorio; mi informarono inoltre che dalla
Germania
avevano inviato una nota ufficiale all'Italia su questa decisione, cosa
che
suppongo avere a che fare con le pressioni cilene.
Quindi mi spiegarono che poiché vi è un accordo tra i paesi della
Comunità
Europea, nessun altro paese avrebbe potuto accogliermi, ragion per cui
dovevano espellermi verso il mio paese, ovvero in Cile. Dal momento che
io
ero residente in Brasile, avrebbero potuto espellermi (utilizzarono
questa
parola 23 volte) anche in questo paese; potevo scegliere io.
E' chiaro che considerai questo un ricatto assurdo, dal momento che non
c'era alternativa possibile, e i termini delle frasi che mi gettavano
addosso non lasciavano nessun dubbio: o il Cile o il Brasile. Di fronte
a
questo optai per mandare a chiamare un compagno della manifestazione per
vedere quello che si poteva fare ed arrivò Marcello, grande amico e
compagno, che mi trasmise la solidarietà e l'appoggio di tutti quelli
che
stavano fuori.
A lui spiegai la sintesi: avevo deciso di ritornare in Brasile di fronte
alla mancanza di alternative, strizzando l'occhio perché capisse che non
mi
stavano lasciando altre opportunità. Considerai che il trattamento
ricevuto
era umiliante e vessatorio; varie volte il questore mi minacciò con la
possibilità di spedirmi in Cile e si arrabbiava perché fuori c'era la
manifestazione e i compagni italiani che esigevano un'altra conferenza
stampa, che i poliziotti non permisero, temendo che io dicessi che stavo
subendo minacce.
Dico ed affermo davanti all'opinione pubblica italiana e internazionale:
1. che sono stato sottoposto ad un trattamento umiliante e vessatorio da
parte della polizia italiana, con costanti minacce di espulsione in
Cile;
2. che sono stato ingannato dal giudice, che ha detto che ero in libertà
e
non mi ha avvisato che sarei stato trattenuto dalla polizia. Non ho
nessun
dubbio che il giudice sapesse della questione tedesca;
3. che l'interrogatorio con il giudice è stato controllato totalmente
dalla
polizia, dal momento che l'interprete, la stessa utilizzata il primo
giorno
del mio arresto, è stata fornita dalla polizia stessa;
4. che il mio arresto è stato ingannevole, poiché inizialmente mi fu
detto
di stare tranquillo che venivo portato alla sede della polizia, perché
mancava un visto sul passaporto, situazione questa che si era già
verificata
con un compagno messicano;
5. che la polizia dell'aeroporto di Milano ha cercato di umiliarmi
quando il
responsabile della DIGOS di Milano mi ha offeso in pubblico,
obbligandomi a
chiedergli di tacere;
6. per finire, sostengo che la democrazia italiana è uscita molto male
da
questa situazione, perché hanno trattato come un nemico un lottatore per
la
democrazia.
Esigo che il governo italiano mi permetta di entrare e circolare
liberamente
nel paese, che non vengano accettate le pressioni cilene e mi vengano
chieste pubbliche scuse per il maltrattamento, il ricatto e le minacce
ricevute dalla
polizia italiana.
Momentaneamente dal Brasile,
Jaime Yovanovic Prieto
Profesor J
cittadino libero, secondo la giustizia italiana
cittadino perseguitato, secondo la polizia italiana
Campo Antimperialista
www.antiimperialista.com
campo@...
---
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DHKC
Information Bureau Brussels
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FEHRIYE E' SEMPRE IN PERICOLO
LO SCIOPERO DELLA FAME DI FERHIYE CONTINUA
Il 16 agosto, su decisione comune delle diverse istanze dello Stato
Belga,
Ferhiye Erdal e stata liberata su condizione e messa agli arresti
domiciliari.
Mentre il luogo di confino doveva rimanere segreto, il gabinetto del
ministero delle finanze ha dato lo indirizzo agli organi di
informazione,
mettendo cosi in pericolo la vita della compagna del DHKC Questo
comportamento dimostra come sia poco credibile e irresponsabile il
governo
Belga.
Il giorno del rilascio dal carcere di Bruges e` cosi scoppiata la
polemica
che ha costretto le autorita` ad assegnare un nuovo posto per la
detenzione.
Ma il giorno dopo il ministero ha subito comunicato il nuovo indirizzo
ai
media turchi, dimostrando questa volta che piu` che negligenza bisogna
parlare di complotto.
Il Belgio deve dare la dimostrazione di essere uno Stato serio
Fin dall`inizio del processo di Ferhiye, il Belgio si e` astenuto dal
rispettare il suo stesso diritto e questo sia per le pressioni dello
Stato
Turco sia per quelle dei Sabanci. La stessa sua liberazione tardiva e`
un
atto illegale.
Cosi` per la legge Ferhiye e` libera ma e` lo stesso sequestrata in
una
residenza sorvegliata.
Per di piu` la polizia seguita a far subire alla famiglia di
accoglienza
di
Ferhiye continue vessazioni e a fermare gli abitanti del quartiere per
controlli di identita', mentre non sono assolutamente intervenuti ieri
quando dei provocatori travestiti da giornalisti turchi hanno fatto 15
minuti di riprese davanti alla casa dove la compagna e` trattenuta e
hanno
intervistato i vicini.
La polizia si dovrebbe occupare della sua sicurezza, ma di che
sicurezza
si
sta parlando e' difficile capirlo. Non hanno mai rispettato la
segretezza
dell`indirizzo, mentre questa era una delle condizioni concordate con
le
autorita'.
Ma le fughe di notizie, che avvengono sempre per canali ufficiali, non
implicano solo la comunicazione dell`indirizzo. Esse mettono in causa
la
serieta` dello Stato Belga. Durante tutto il processo ci sono state
varie
violazioni del diritto e sono spesso emerse contraddizioni pesanti.
Fino a
rendere caduche decisioni prese dagli organi giuridici supremi in
seguitop
alle minacce dello stato Turco e del partito di azione nazionalista, il
MHP
fascista.
Il Belgio ha il dovere di garantire la sicurezza di Ferhiye.
Ogni volta viene pubblicato l`indirizzo aumenta il pericolo per la vita
della nostra compagna, e deve essere considerato come un tentativo di
omicidio.
L`unica soluzione che potrebbe garantire la sicurezza di Ferhiye e` la
sua
liberazione.
NON CHIEDIAMO REGALI MA GIUSTIZIA
VOGLIAMO LA LIBERAZIONE DI FERHIYE
Il Belgio deve liberare Ferhiye. E questo sarebbe semplicemente
l`applicazione di quanto deciso in sede giudiziaria.
La liberazione e`l`unico modo per assicurare la sua sicurezza.
L`identirta` di Ferhiye e` stata ufficialmente accertata dai tribunali
e
Ferhiye spera di potere ottenere il diritto d`asilo politico, sempre
che
la
decisione dei magistrati non venga influenzata da pressioni esterne.
Teoricamente Ferhiye potra` beneficiare dell`asilo politico.
Ma illegalita` commesse fino adora e I contatti segreti fra stati
dimostrano
come il vero problema sia dello Stato Belga. Ogni segno di impotenza di
fronte alla Turchia e a Sabanci e` una nuova palla al piede che rimanda
sempre piu` la liberazione di Ferhiye e legittima di fatto tutte le
irregolarita` commesse dallo Stato.
Difendere la causa di Ferhiye diventa cosi il problema anche di tutti I
Belgi di fronte agli abusi commessi dai loro dirigenti.
In virtu` della nostra tradizione di Detenuta Libera, Ferhiye e` libera
di
fatto, questo grazie alle sue convinzioni e al suo spirito. Ma quello
che
non e` libera e` sicuramente la concezione del diritto secondo loStato
Belga.
FERHIYE NON FA ALTRO CHE FARE IL SUO DOVERE
Ferhiye ha iniziato lo scorso 14 luglio uno sciopero della fame per
protestare contro le irregolarita` subite. Ha gia` perso piu` di dieci
chili
e rischia di perdere la vista.
Dopo 35 giorni di sciopero della fame Ferhiye ha deciso di continuare
fino
a
quando non fosse liberata.
Chiediamo pertanto la solidarieta` di tutti nel sostenere Ferhiye in
questa
dura lotta.
FERMIAMO TUTTE LE RESTRIZIONI CHE COLPISCONO Ferhiye
FERMIAMO L`ARBITRIO, E CHIEDIAMO DIRITTI SICURI E GIUSTIZIA
LIBERTA` PER FERHIYE
FRONTE RIVOLUZIONARIO DI LIBERAZIONE DEL POPOLO
DHKC- belgio-
DHKC - Information Bureau Brussels
Rue Belliard 197 Bte 8 Bruxelles
tel:003222802228 - fax:003222802229
mail: dhkc.bruxelles@... mail: dhkc@... Internetsite:
www.dhkc.org
Fehriye e' in sciopero della fame da 41 giorni
Fehriye deve vivere
La sua vita dipende dalla sua liberta'
Lo scorso 16 agosto, la militante del Dhkc Fehriye Erdal e' stata
trasferita
dal carcere di Bruges dove era detenuta illegalmente, verso una casa
dove e'
stata messa agli arresti domiciliari.
In 24 ore le autorita' belghe hanno divulgato alla stampa due indirizzi
dei
luoghi di detenzione di Fehriye malgrado il governo si fosse impegnato a
tenerli segreti. E cosi Fehriye continua a subire le ingiustizie, le
illegalita' e gli arbitri che i dirigenti del Belgi ; le stanno
infliggendo
ormai da mesi.
In Turchia Fehriye e' stata giudicata da un tribunale militari, e per
motivi
politici e' stata condannata a morte.
Il potere fascista e repressivo della Turchia, deciso ad eliminarla non
bada
ai mezzi per catturarla. Questo accanimento e' totalmente caratteristico
di
un paese la cui politica si basa sui massacri e la tortura. Cosi la base
della poltica dello stato turco e` la minaccia, il ricatto, il
non-diritto e
la tirannide.
Fehriye Erdal e' in scipero della fame da 41 giorni ormai.
E' per difendere la sua dignita', la sua liberta' e la sua vita, ma
anche
per resistere contro le ingiustizie, il non-diritto e i giochetti
politici
del governo belga che questa giovane compagna di soli 23 anni
compromette il
suo corpo [rischia di diventare cieca] e la sua salute da piu' di 40
giorni.
Fehriye vuole vivere.
Mal sua vita dipende dalla sua sicurezza, e la sua sicurezza dipende
dalla
sua liberta'. Da 41 giorni Fehriye paga il suo tributo alla liberta'.
La sua liberta' sono i membri del governo belga, primo fra i quali il
ministro ndegli Interni Duquesne ad avergliela rubata. Sono loro che
mettono
in pericolo la sua vita. Loro, sono grandi personaggi fieri,
dall'aspetto
sobrio, tipico degli uomini si stato, che si riuniscono per speculare
sulla
vita di una ragazza che non hanno mai visto ne' incontrata e con la
quale
non hanno avuto nessun contatto.
Il problema, il dilemma per loro e' solo «come fare per consegnarla
nelle
mani insanguinate dei boia turchi, per via diretta o via transito in uno
Stato terzo ?»
Nel quadro degli accordi segreti che legano il Belgio alla Turchia, il
Belgio voleva estradare Fehriye in Turchia. Il progetto e' fallito. E
ora il
Belgio punta su un paese terzo come intermediario.
Prima di essere un omicidio sarebbe una palese violazione del diritto.
Ma da quando gli accordi segreti si sono scontrati alle conclusioni dei
tribunali, le minacce della Turchia sono diventate sempre piu'
pressanti.
In uno scenario gia' visto con l'Italia, la Turchia ha subito minacciato
il
Belgio di un bel embargo econimico sui prodotti belgi.
Il Belgio cedera' ancora una volta ?
Di fronte alla minaccia il Belgio decidera' di nuovo di violare il
proprio
diritto ?
Chiedera' grazia sacrificando Fehriye ?
La dignita' del popolo belga verra' di nuovo macchiata?
Dipende tutto dal signor Duquesne e dal governo.
Fehriye vuole vivere e cio' dipende dalla sua liberta'. La sua liberta'
dipende dal riconoscimento del diritto d'asilo e dall'abbandandono del
progetto di espulsione anche verso uno mstato terzo, vera spada di
Damocle
che pende sulla testa di Fehriye.
Fehriye deve vivere
Liberta' per Fehriye
Per esprimere solidarieta' o per contatti : Rue Belliard, 197 bte 8
1050 Bruxelles
Tel 00322 2802228 Fax 2802229
Internet : www.dhkc.org
Fehriyeye ozgurluk (lista di solidarieta`) : fehriye@...
Ufficio dhkc: dhkc@...
Oppure : dhkc.bruxelles@...
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
Mentre in Cile si uccidono lentamente gli ultimi prigionieri politici,
detenuti in carceri di massima sicurezza, in Italia le forze di polizia
minacciano un difensore della democrazia cilena. Così, mentre in Cile
Pedro Rosas Aravena, affetto da cancro, viene curato (meglio torturato)
con semplici anestetici e a Marcela Rodríguez Valdivieso, paraplegica
dal 1990, non si concede un visto per andare a curarsi in qualsiasi
paese straniero (unica speranza che le garantirebbe il diritto alla
vita), in Italia la Questura di Perugia si permette di minacciare,
maltrattare e vessare Jaime Yovanovic Prieto, cittadino cileno che lottò
per la democrazia cilena.
Che la vergogna smuova quanti si professano democratici in questo paese,
per verificare le responsabilità sui fatti descritti e procedere, di
conseguenza, a punire i responsabili delle violazioni dei diritti umani
cui è stato sottoposto Jaime Yovanovic Prieto!
Che la vergogna generi una solidarietà concreta verso i Prigionieri
Politici, per Marcela Rodríguez Valdivieso (l'Italia potrebbe salvarle
la vita!), per Pedro Rosas Aravena, per Oriana Alcayaga, per María
Cristina San Juan e per tutti gli altri !
Che i 1500 fax ricevuti dal Ministero di Giustizia si trasformino in
solidarietà concreta.
Dal racconto di Jaime Yovanovic Prieto
Al termine del Campo Antimperialista di Assisi, di grande successo per
la
quantità e la qualità dei gruppi e delle Persone presenti, per i temi
affrontati, per la convivenza e lo spirito rivoluzionario che univa i
presenti, nonché per le conclusioni raggiunte (tra cui quella di aprire
un
portale web antimperialista e di creare una rete antimperialista), venni
accompagnato alla stazione ferroviaria dove avrei dovuto prendere il
treno
per Roma.
Fin dall'uscita dal campeggio mi era sembrato che la nostra auto fosse
sotto
controllo, dal momento che una vettura bianca con un uomo e una donna a
bordo si manteneva costantemente a vista dietro di noi, benché il nostro
percorso avesse molteplici varianti di rotta.
Alla stazione venni circondato da quattro persone, tre uomini e una
donna,
la stessa dell'auto bianca. Due di loro, dopo aver mostrato un tesserino
della polizia, pretesero che li seguissi, adducendo il pretesto che il
passaporto non aveva il visto consolare.
Durante il tragitto mi dissero invece che il motivo era un altro, ovvero
il
fatto che non mi ero presentato alla polizia negli otto giorni seguenti
il
mio arrivo. In seguito dissero che il mio nome, Jaime Yovanovic Prieto,
appariva nell'elenco degli espulsi dalla Germania e che pertanto mi
avrebbero portato in caserma per accertamenti.
La caserma in cui venni portato è una caserma della Polizia, mentre
coloro
che mi hanno arrestato sono uomini della DIGOS, Direzione Investigazioni
Generali Operazioni Speciali, vale a dire uomini della sicurezza dello
Stato.
Lì sono stato trattenuto per alcune ore, nella giornata di domenica 6
agosto, a partire dalle ore 18.
Alla fine mi hanno detto la verità, e cioè che la polizia cilena, venuta
a
conoscenza della mia presenza in Italia, aveva chiesto alla polizia
italiana
di arrestarmi, sulla base dell'accusa di omicidio del generale di
brigata di
Santiago, Carol Urúa, nel 1983, e cioè in piena dittatura militare!
In caserma mi chiesero, come se stessero facendo conversazione, se avevo
ucciso io il generale. Risposi che rifiutavo fermamente l'accusa. Poiché
insistevano ad affermare che ero un terrorista, sono stato obbligato a
rifiutare di continuare
la "conversazione" senza la presenza di un avvocato.
A quel punto mi informarono che secondo la legge italiana potevano
mantenermi in stato di detenzione per 24 ore, senza alcuna accusa, con
il
solo pretesto di identificazione, e che siccome era tardi (quasi
mezzanotte), mi avrebbero tenuto a dormire nel carcere per continuare il
giorno seguente. Si trattava di un meschino inganno, perché la scorta
armata
che ci accompagnava dimostrava che in realtà ero formalmente prigioniero
e
non in "stato di detenzione".
Nel carcere mi fecero togliere i vestiti e controllarono tutte le mie
cose,
perfino il minimo dettaglio. Mi chiesero anche se ero della mafia o
della
camorra. Di fronte al mio sorriso, si innervosirono, e mi ordinarono a
voce
alta di tacere. A questo punto mi arrabbiai e dissi loro che ero stato
perseguitato e avevo sofferto la repressione sotto la dittatura e che
non
volevo sentirmi perseguitato qui, che cambiassero il tono della voce e
che
non avrei accettato di essere trattato con urla. La mia scarsa
conoscenza
dell'italiano non mi permetteva di esprimermi bene, però immagino che
abbiano inteso il messaggio, dal momento che fino ad ora mi hanno
parlato
con cortesia.
Verso le tre del mattino mi portarono dal medico, che dormiva
felicemente, e
mi sottoposero ad un superficiale esame del cuore, della pressione e dei
polmoni […]
Poi venni messo nell'ala medica, perché chiesi di rimanere da solo. Ero
nella cella n°4, una cella di 3x5 metri con due letti e un bagno di 1x5
metri, senza doccia e senza scolo nel pavimento per l'acqua. Nella cella
c'erano poi due
catini, uno in bagno e l'altro fuori, due banchi di legno e un armadio a
due
ante.
La porta, larga 1 metro, era di sbarre spesse e di notte veniva chiusa
anche
una seconda porta, tutta di metallo e molto pesante, che lasciava solo
una
finestrella nel centro. Sopra la porta c'era una televisione, dalla
quale ho
potuto seguire le mobilitazioni dei compagni italiani e di altri paesi
che
protestavano per il mio arresto.
Il lunedì la colazione venne distribuita alle 8:30. Un uomo ed una donna
passarono a consegnarmi un pacchetto di plastica trasparente, sigillato,
che
conteneva alcune fette di pane italiano senza sale, un pezzetto di
anguria
avvolto in un tovagliolo di carta, burro e una tazza di plastica con del
the
al limone.
L'uomo è un detenuto marocchino e distribuisce il cibo, oltre a
raccogliere
la spazzatura. La donna è invece etiope ed è una infermiera, che lavora
presso il carcere. Entrambi molto seri, silenziosi e timidi […].
Alle 9:00 mi portarono al piano terra (io ero detenuto al terzo piano)
per
essere interrogato dall' "educatore", che affermava di non essere né un
poliziotto né un magistrato, ma di lavorare da 20 anni come volontario,
occupandosi di diverse questioni dei prigionieri, come orientamento ,
ecc…
Costui stava preparando un esame per il suo titolo di sociologo e aveva
con
sé un libro di Max Weber. Io gli diedi alcuni suggerimenti per capire
meglio
questo autore e lui alla fine ne rimase soddisfatto, tanto che disse
alle
guardie che
il professore cileno gli aveva tenuto una lezione su Weber che gli
sarebbe
stata utile per l'esame. Questo sembra che abbia aiutato, dal momento
che in
Italia un professore universitario è molto ben visto e rispettato da
tutti.
Alle 11 circa, venni portato a pranzo nella cella. Il pranzo consisteva
in
una zuppa di riso, dal sapore orribile, che fui costretto a gettare nel
sanitario.
Così al mattino ho mangiato solo del pane e ho conservato il resto per
supplire alle cattive condizioni del cibo.
Alla sera mi portarono da una psicologa che mi fece molte domande e
concluse
alla fine che io ero un uomo forte e profondo. Replicai che anche un
torturatore poteva essere forte, ma io in più ero cosciente, il che
rappresentava la
differenza sostanziale.
Conversammo quindi sulla psicologia del detenuto e concordammo che di
fronte
a tanta ingiustizia è necessario riscattare l'essere umano concreto. Che
dal
quotidiano bisogna sviluppare il suo grido e la sua lotta per la
libertà.
Lo stesso lunedì 7 agosto, ricevetti un telegramma di Moreno, Alessandro
ed
Elias, che mi consigliavano di scegliere come mio difensore l'avvocato
Francesco Innamorati. Mi comunicavano inoltre che stavano combattendo e
che
si erano ben organizzati per la campagna contro la mia estradizione in
Cile.
L'emozione è stata forte, e la riconoscenza e l'allegria che ho provato
nel
recepire la determinazione dell'azione di solidarietà che andava
strutturandosi mi hanno commosso fino alle lacrime.
Moreno è uno dei dirigenti della Associazione Voce Operaia e della
Corrente
Leninista Internazionale. E' un uomo chiaro e molto umano, uno degli
organizzatori del Campo Antimperialista, e mi azzardo a dire uno degli
imprescindibili di Bertold Brecht.
Alessandro è uno dei compagni del Comitato Internazionalista Arco Iris,
grande amico, molto sensibile e molto cosciente. Il lavoro che fanno di
divulgazione delle lotte di tutto il mondo è insostituibile.
Elias Letelier è cileno, poeta, fu anche ufficiale dell'Esercito
Sandinista;
attualmente coordina la Rete per i Prigionieri Politici e ha realizzato
con
successo la magnifica responsabilità di creare il portale web della Rete
Antimperialista.
Potrete immaginare cosa abbia significato per me ricevere il telegramma
di
questi tre compagni. Questo mi ha trasmesso molta tranquillità.
Lo stesso lunedì, però, non mi venne concesso di inviare il telegramma
per
nominare l'avvocato.
Il giorno successivo, martedì, accettarono il telegramma, che però venne
inviato solo il giorno seguente (mercoledì 9 agosto). Sempre martedì
ricevetti un telegramma di Melinka, questo indomabile che non si stanca
mai,
che mi trasmetteva forza e mi informava che una avvocatessa di Roma si
sta
unendo al gruppo. E' l'avvocatessa che difende i cileni a Roma.
Nuova emozione, nuove lacrime, in particolare adesso che è prossimo il
15
agosto, giorno in cui celebriamo l'anniversario del MIR, più saldi che
mai,
e io qui in questa nuova trincea che mi è toccata e che assumo con
responsabilità. Grazie Melinka. Grazie a tutti. La lotta è una, la lotta
continua e solo la lotta ci renderà liberi.
Mi hanno anche dato e fatto firmare un comunicato della Corte d'Appello
di
Perugia, dove mi informano che le autorità giudiziarie di Santiago del
Cile
mi accusano di omicidio e porto d'armi e di esplosivo, e che il giorno
10
agosto verrà un giudice a chiedermi se accetto o meno l'estradizione.
Ho elaborato la mia difesa per iscritto e in qualche modo risponderò a
questa domanda, che lascerò alla coscienza dei giudici, ma continuo a
rifiutare con decisione le accuse. Spero che il testo completo della mia
difesa già stia circolando su internet e sulla stampa prima che io sia
interrogato.
Oggi 9 agosto ho colloquiato con l'avvocato che mi è sembrato
sensazionale,
dal momento che si tratta di un vecchio partigiano che ha combattuto
contro
Mussolini.
Mi ha spiegato che può passare un certo tempo prima della decisione
sull'estradizione e che cercheranno di commutare l'arresto in arresti
domiciliari, cosa che mi sembra difficile da ottenere. Mi hanno anche
informato che domani, a partire dalle 10:00 fino alle 12:00 ci sarà una
manifestazione davanti all'ingresso del carcere, visto che alle 10:30
viene
il giudice per interrogarmi.
Il giorno della Manifestazione e della Libertà
Il giudice è entrato nel carcere accompagnato da due persone, credo una
segretaria e una dattilografa, oltre all'interprete, che lavora al primo
piano della Polizia e aveva svolto lo stesso lavoro il primo giorno del
mio
arresto, cioè domenica 6 agosto, il che dimostra una relazione operativa
tra
la polizia e il potere giudiziario. Il potere giudiziario utilizza
l'interprete della polizia!!!
E' arrivato anche il mio avvocato, Francesco Innamorati, insieme a una
avvocatessa del suo gruppo. Sono stato quindi ricevuto con un sorriso
immenso dal giudice, che si è alzato dal tavolo per stringermi la mano,
la
qual cosa ha richiamato la mia attenzione; inoltre l'interprete
insisteva
perché mi sedessi e mi diceva che fuori c'erano molte persone, e nel
frattempo osservava il mio volto per captare le mie reazioni.
La prima cosa che fece l'avvocato fu di segnalare il mio diritto ad
avere
due avvocati, quindi io procedetti a nominare l'avvocatessa che mi
mandavano
i cileni di Roma, che entrò in aula e si sedette al lato di Innamorati.
Il giudice volle quindi sapere se accettavo l'estradizione in Cile. Lo
informai che la mia risposta era lì scritta, e gliene consegnai una
copia,
ma lui in un primo momento non vi diede molta importanza, preoccupato di
parlare di altre
cose. Quando si rese conto che il passaporto era stato emesso dal Cile
nel
1999, ordinò di chiedere i miei documenti alla direzione del carcere.
Nuova
attesa. Quando tornò, raccontò che avevano chiamato da Roma perché fossi
rimesso in
libertà, poiché non c'erano i presupposti per un processo di
estradizione.
Il giudice ripetè due volte che all'uscita avrei dovuto presentarmi alla
polizia prima di circolare liberamente, però non disse che sarei stato
ritirato dal carcere dalla stessa polizia.
Chiesi all'avvocato che rimanesse con me fino a che uscissi o almeno che
lasciasse un altro avvocato o un'altra persona. Gli dissi che non mi
sentivo
tranquillo e che avevo bisogno di maggiore forza nella pressione verso
le
autorità carcerarie e di polizia. Però non fu possibile. Quindi arrivò
la
polizia internazionale e quando domandai che cosa ci facessero lì visto
che
io ero libero, mi dissero che il giudice mi aveva già informato che
prima di
uscire dovevo passare dalla polizia. Mi giurarono che tutto era a posto,
che
era un semplice passaggio, ma che io dovevo capire che prima dovevo
chiarire
la mancanza del visto, che dovevo parlare con la stampa e poi tutto si
sarebbe concluso.
Adesso penso che avrei dovuto scendere dall'auto e mischiarmi alla
moltitudine per creare un caso politico più forte, però nulla sembrava
indicare la trappola che si stava preparando.
Parlai quindi con i giornalisti e lessi la mia dichiarazione pubblica
che
consegnai al giudice. La manifestazione era bella. Molti compagni
gridavano
per me, cantavano, agitavano bandiere e cartelli. Mi emozionai tanto che
sentii una
gran voglia di gridare e piangere. La voce mi si bloccò due volte mentre
leggevo il comunicato. Poi mi portarono alla polizia dove mi lasciarono
con
il questore ed il suo vice, che mi comunicarono che la Germania aveva
detto
che io non
potevo entrare nel suo territorio; mi informarono inoltre che dalla
Germania
avevano inviato una nota ufficiale all'Italia su questa decisione, cosa
che
suppongo avere a che fare con le pressioni cilene.
Quindi mi spiegarono che poiché vi è un accordo tra i paesi della
Comunità
Europea, nessun altro paese avrebbe potuto accogliermi, ragion per cui
dovevano espellermi verso il mio paese, ovvero in Cile. Dal momento che
io
ero residente in Brasile, avrebbero potuto espellermi (utilizzarono
questa
parola 23 volte) anche in questo paese; potevo scegliere io.
E' chiaro che considerai questo un ricatto assurdo, dal momento che non
c'era alternativa possibile, e i termini delle frasi che mi gettavano
addosso non lasciavano nessun dubbio: o il Cile o il Brasile. Di fronte
a
questo optai per mandare a chiamare un compagno della manifestazione per
vedere quello che si poteva fare ed arrivò Marcello, grande amico e
compagno, che mi trasmise la solidarietà e l'appoggio di tutti quelli
che
stavano fuori.
A lui spiegai la sintesi: avevo deciso di ritornare in Brasile di fronte
alla mancanza di alternative, strizzando l'occhio perché capisse che non
mi
stavano lasciando altre opportunità. Considerai che il trattamento
ricevuto
era umiliante e vessatorio; varie volte il questore mi minacciò con la
possibilità di spedirmi in Cile e si arrabbiava perché fuori c'era la
manifestazione e i compagni italiani che esigevano un'altra conferenza
stampa, che i poliziotti non permisero, temendo che io dicessi che stavo
subendo minacce.
Dico ed affermo davanti all'opinione pubblica italiana e internazionale:
1. che sono stato sottoposto ad un trattamento umiliante e vessatorio da
parte della polizia italiana, con costanti minacce di espulsione in
Cile;
2. che sono stato ingannato dal giudice, che ha detto che ero in libertà
e
non mi ha avvisato che sarei stato trattenuto dalla polizia. Non ho
nessun
dubbio che il giudice sapesse della questione tedesca;
3. che l'interrogatorio con il giudice è stato controllato totalmente
dalla
polizia, dal momento che l'interprete, la stessa utilizzata il primo
giorno
del mio arresto, è stata fornita dalla polizia stessa;
4. che il mio arresto è stato ingannevole, poiché inizialmente mi fu
detto
di stare tranquillo che venivo portato alla sede della polizia, perché
mancava un visto sul passaporto, situazione questa che si era già
verificata
con un compagno messicano;
5. che la polizia dell'aeroporto di Milano ha cercato di umiliarmi
quando il
responsabile della DIGOS di Milano mi ha offeso in pubblico,
obbligandomi a
chiedergli di tacere;
6. per finire, sostengo che la democrazia italiana è uscita molto male
da
questa situazione, perché hanno trattato come un nemico un lottatore per
la
democrazia.
Esigo che il governo italiano mi permetta di entrare e circolare
liberamente
nel paese, che non vengano accettate le pressioni cilene e mi vengano
chieste pubbliche scuse per il maltrattamento, il ricatto e le minacce
ricevute dalla
polizia italiana.
Momentaneamente dal Brasile,
Jaime Yovanovic Prieto
Profesor J
cittadino libero, secondo la giustizia italiana
cittadino perseguitato, secondo la polizia italiana
Campo Antimperialista
www.antiimperialista.com
campo@...
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DHKC
Information Bureau Brussels
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FEHRIYE E' SEMPRE IN PERICOLO
LO SCIOPERO DELLA FAME DI FERHIYE CONTINUA
Il 16 agosto, su decisione comune delle diverse istanze dello Stato
Belga,
Ferhiye Erdal e stata liberata su condizione e messa agli arresti
domiciliari.
Mentre il luogo di confino doveva rimanere segreto, il gabinetto del
ministero delle finanze ha dato lo indirizzo agli organi di
informazione,
mettendo cosi in pericolo la vita della compagna del DHKC Questo
comportamento dimostra come sia poco credibile e irresponsabile il
governo
Belga.
Il giorno del rilascio dal carcere di Bruges e` cosi scoppiata la
polemica
che ha costretto le autorita` ad assegnare un nuovo posto per la
detenzione.
Ma il giorno dopo il ministero ha subito comunicato il nuovo indirizzo
ai
media turchi, dimostrando questa volta che piu` che negligenza bisogna
parlare di complotto.
Il Belgio deve dare la dimostrazione di essere uno Stato serio
Fin dall`inizio del processo di Ferhiye, il Belgio si e` astenuto dal
rispettare il suo stesso diritto e questo sia per le pressioni dello
Stato
Turco sia per quelle dei Sabanci. La stessa sua liberazione tardiva e`
un
atto illegale.
Cosi` per la legge Ferhiye e` libera ma e` lo stesso sequestrata in
una
residenza sorvegliata.
Per di piu` la polizia seguita a far subire alla famiglia di
accoglienza
di
Ferhiye continue vessazioni e a fermare gli abitanti del quartiere per
controlli di identita', mentre non sono assolutamente intervenuti ieri
quando dei provocatori travestiti da giornalisti turchi hanno fatto 15
minuti di riprese davanti alla casa dove la compagna e` trattenuta e
hanno
intervistato i vicini.
La polizia si dovrebbe occupare della sua sicurezza, ma di che
sicurezza
si
sta parlando e' difficile capirlo. Non hanno mai rispettato la
segretezza
dell`indirizzo, mentre questa era una delle condizioni concordate con
le
autorita'.
Ma le fughe di notizie, che avvengono sempre per canali ufficiali, non
implicano solo la comunicazione dell`indirizzo. Esse mettono in causa
la
serieta` dello Stato Belga. Durante tutto il processo ci sono state
varie
violazioni del diritto e sono spesso emerse contraddizioni pesanti.
Fino a
rendere caduche decisioni prese dagli organi giuridici supremi in
seguitop
alle minacce dello stato Turco e del partito di azione nazionalista, il
MHP
fascista.
Il Belgio ha il dovere di garantire la sicurezza di Ferhiye.
Ogni volta viene pubblicato l`indirizzo aumenta il pericolo per la vita
della nostra compagna, e deve essere considerato come un tentativo di
omicidio.
L`unica soluzione che potrebbe garantire la sicurezza di Ferhiye e` la
sua
liberazione.
NON CHIEDIAMO REGALI MA GIUSTIZIA
VOGLIAMO LA LIBERAZIONE DI FERHIYE
Il Belgio deve liberare Ferhiye. E questo sarebbe semplicemente
l`applicazione di quanto deciso in sede giudiziaria.
La liberazione e`l`unico modo per assicurare la sua sicurezza.
L`identirta` di Ferhiye e` stata ufficialmente accertata dai tribunali
e
Ferhiye spera di potere ottenere il diritto d`asilo politico, sempre
che
la
decisione dei magistrati non venga influenzata da pressioni esterne.
Teoricamente Ferhiye potra` beneficiare dell`asilo politico.
Ma illegalita` commesse fino adora e I contatti segreti fra stati
dimostrano
come il vero problema sia dello Stato Belga. Ogni segno di impotenza di
fronte alla Turchia e a Sabanci e` una nuova palla al piede che rimanda
sempre piu` la liberazione di Ferhiye e legittima di fatto tutte le
irregolarita` commesse dallo Stato.
Difendere la causa di Ferhiye diventa cosi il problema anche di tutti I
Belgi di fronte agli abusi commessi dai loro dirigenti.
In virtu` della nostra tradizione di Detenuta Libera, Ferhiye e` libera
di
fatto, questo grazie alle sue convinzioni e al suo spirito. Ma quello
che
non e` libera e` sicuramente la concezione del diritto secondo loStato
Belga.
FERHIYE NON FA ALTRO CHE FARE IL SUO DOVERE
Ferhiye ha iniziato lo scorso 14 luglio uno sciopero della fame per
protestare contro le irregolarita` subite. Ha gia` perso piu` di dieci
chili
e rischia di perdere la vista.
Dopo 35 giorni di sciopero della fame Ferhiye ha deciso di continuare
fino
a
quando non fosse liberata.
Chiediamo pertanto la solidarieta` di tutti nel sostenere Ferhiye in
questa
dura lotta.
FERMIAMO TUTTE LE RESTRIZIONI CHE COLPISCONO Ferhiye
FERMIAMO L`ARBITRIO, E CHIEDIAMO DIRITTI SICURI E GIUSTIZIA
LIBERTA` PER FERHIYE
FRONTE RIVOLUZIONARIO DI LIBERAZIONE DEL POPOLO
DHKC- belgio-
DHKC - Information Bureau Brussels
Rue Belliard 197 Bte 8 Bruxelles
tel:003222802228 - fax:003222802229
mail: dhkc.bruxelles@... mail: dhkc@... Internetsite:
www.dhkc.org
Fehriye e' in sciopero della fame da 41 giorni
Fehriye deve vivere
La sua vita dipende dalla sua liberta'
Lo scorso 16 agosto, la militante del Dhkc Fehriye Erdal e' stata
trasferita
dal carcere di Bruges dove era detenuta illegalmente, verso una casa
dove e'
stata messa agli arresti domiciliari.
In 24 ore le autorita' belghe hanno divulgato alla stampa due indirizzi
dei
luoghi di detenzione di Fehriye malgrado il governo si fosse impegnato a
tenerli segreti. E cosi Fehriye continua a subire le ingiustizie, le
illegalita' e gli arbitri che i dirigenti del Belgi ; le stanno
infliggendo
ormai da mesi.
In Turchia Fehriye e' stata giudicata da un tribunale militari, e per
motivi
politici e' stata condannata a morte.
Il potere fascista e repressivo della Turchia, deciso ad eliminarla non
bada
ai mezzi per catturarla. Questo accanimento e' totalmente caratteristico
di
un paese la cui politica si basa sui massacri e la tortura. Cosi la base
della poltica dello stato turco e` la minaccia, il ricatto, il
non-diritto e
la tirannide.
Fehriye Erdal e' in scipero della fame da 41 giorni ormai.
E' per difendere la sua dignita', la sua liberta' e la sua vita, ma
anche
per resistere contro le ingiustizie, il non-diritto e i giochetti
politici
del governo belga che questa giovane compagna di soli 23 anni
compromette il
suo corpo [rischia di diventare cieca] e la sua salute da piu' di 40
giorni.
Fehriye vuole vivere.
Mal sua vita dipende dalla sua sicurezza, e la sua sicurezza dipende
dalla
sua liberta'. Da 41 giorni Fehriye paga il suo tributo alla liberta'.
La sua liberta' sono i membri del governo belga, primo fra i quali il
ministro ndegli Interni Duquesne ad avergliela rubata. Sono loro che
mettono
in pericolo la sua vita. Loro, sono grandi personaggi fieri,
dall'aspetto
sobrio, tipico degli uomini si stato, che si riuniscono per speculare
sulla
vita di una ragazza che non hanno mai visto ne' incontrata e con la
quale
non hanno avuto nessun contatto.
Il problema, il dilemma per loro e' solo «come fare per consegnarla
nelle
mani insanguinate dei boia turchi, per via diretta o via transito in uno
Stato terzo ?»
Nel quadro degli accordi segreti che legano il Belgio alla Turchia, il
Belgio voleva estradare Fehriye in Turchia. Il progetto e' fallito. E
ora il
Belgio punta su un paese terzo come intermediario.
Prima di essere un omicidio sarebbe una palese violazione del diritto.
Ma da quando gli accordi segreti si sono scontrati alle conclusioni dei
tribunali, le minacce della Turchia sono diventate sempre piu'
pressanti.
In uno scenario gia' visto con l'Italia, la Turchia ha subito minacciato
il
Belgio di un bel embargo econimico sui prodotti belgi.
Il Belgio cedera' ancora una volta ?
Di fronte alla minaccia il Belgio decidera' di nuovo di violare il
proprio
diritto ?
Chiedera' grazia sacrificando Fehriye ?
La dignita' del popolo belga verra' di nuovo macchiata?
Dipende tutto dal signor Duquesne e dal governo.
Fehriye vuole vivere e cio' dipende dalla sua liberta'. La sua liberta'
dipende dal riconoscimento del diritto d'asilo e dall'abbandandono del
progetto di espulsione anche verso uno mstato terzo, vera spada di
Damocle
che pende sulla testa di Fehriye.
Fehriye deve vivere
Liberta' per Fehriye
Per esprimere solidarieta' o per contatti : Rue Belliard, 197 bte 8
1050 Bruxelles
Tel 00322 2802228 Fax 2802229
Internet : www.dhkc.org
Fehriyeye ozgurluk (lista di solidarieta`) : fehriye@...
Ufficio dhkc: dhkc@...
Oppure : dhkc.bruxelles@...
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
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---
1999: UN CULT-MOVIE PER NEONAZISTI PRODOTTO DALLO STATO CROATO?
used without permission, for 'fair use" only
Film "In Four Rows" by Jakov Sedlar and Ivan Aralica Missed Chance to
Become Cult Film of European Neo-Nazism
Naked in Saddlear
If he managed to do what he had tried to do, Jakov Sedlar would have
entered
the history of
European culture as the director of the first openly revisionist,
neo-Nazi
movie, which in a radical
manner questions and distorts the results of WWII, and accuses war
victors of
crimes which have
been assigned to the losers for the last fifty years. God himself, if
that
was him indeed, saved us
from ignominy which we would not have been able to wash off for a long
time,
by denying Sedlar
all that is needed by a human or a creature to be an artist. Budak's
"Hearths" [Ognjista] are for
"In Four Rows" [Cetvorored], both the book and the movie, a highly
articulate, non-ideological
and modern work of art.
by Miljenko Jergovic
Feral Tribune, Split, Croatia, December 27 1999
If he managed to do what he had tried to do, Jakov Sedlar would have
entered
the history of European
culture as the director of the first openly revisionist, neo-Nazi movie,
which in a radical manner questions
and distorts the results of WWII, and accuses war victors of crimes
which
have been assigned to the
losers for the last fifty years.
Here is how, according to Sedlar's concept, "In Four Rows" was supposed
to
come out: two peaceful and
highly civilized inhabitants of Zagreb, a young actor and a make up
artist,
decided in May 1945 to leave
the city in front of an unstoppable antifascist beast. They join columns
of
Domobrans [conscript army of
the Independent State of Croatia, WWII Nazi puppet state in present
Croatia
and Bosnia-Hercegovina],
the peaceful Croatian Army, city gents and youth, among whom are four or
five
Ustashe [Croatian
pro-Nazi movement during and before WWII; the relationship between
Ustashe
and Domobrans is similar
to that of SS and German Army in the Nazi Germany] of whom one is a
criminal
(probably because he
lost an arm in the war). The column is bombarded by British airplanes
and on
the Bleiburg field they are
captured by cynical British officers, who turn all of these highly
cultured
and civilized people over to the
Partisans. After that, the Partisans slaughter them, execute by a firing
squad, rape, rob, and to make the
whole thing even clearer, at one point Soviet Red army soldiers show up
to
take away whatever the
Partisans hadn't already snatched away, and in the process cut off a
finger
of a high school graduate from
Zagreb in order to take his ring.
According to Sedlar's idea, the film ends after the surviving young
actor,
saved by the goodness of a
Jewish Partisan, vows not to say a word about these events as long as he
lives. The film refers to his act
as the Croatian silence, in order to make it crystal clear on behalf of
what
and against what it was
necessary to keep quiet.
Croatian Ed Wood
However, Jakov Sedlar did not know how to turn all of that into a movie,
nor
could Ivan Aralica offer a
story which would provide a framework for this construction, so that
instead
of a cult work of European
neo-Nazism that would find its underground audience from the Pyrenees to
the
Urals and Hamburg to
Piraeus, we got only another trivial product of Croatian Ed Wood,
something
that can even be amusing in
its inadequate execution.
For example, how does Jakov Sedlar imagine Partisan butchers? All of
them are
Serbs, men and women,
from different parts of the former Yugoslavia. Their origin is suggested
by
their accents. However, then
Sedlar decided that that was not enough, so that he made sure that every
Partisan butcher nicely
introduces himself or herself to their victims. Thus fat and mustachioed
Danko Ljustina plays a murderer
from Bosanska Krajina, Bozidar Alic portrays a slaughterer from Serbia,
and
Nives Ivankovic is supposed
to be a typical Jane Partisan, a Croat Serb woman who is jealous because
Partisans are mass raping
refined Zagreb women, so that she kills them all with a machine gun.
Sedlar's
Partisans usually confine
their acting to making facial expressions usually seen only on seriously
constipated persons. It is surprising
that Bozidar Alic did not end up with a hernia from all that hard work.
Of course, Sedlar had to explain why Partisans were so bloodthirsty.
With
that in mind a character, which
is not really a character but is there just for the hell of it, reads
Djilas'
[Yugoslav Communist official]
article from Borba [official publication of the Yugoslav Communist
party]
which clearly states what the
attitude of Partisans towards Ustashe should be; from a public
announcement
system at a train station we
can hear Tito's speech on the same topic, and it is indicated that one
of the
Partisans had been until
recently a Chetnik [Serb nationalist and monarchist guerrillas during
WWII],
although it is not entirely
clear whether Chetniks are worse or better than Partisans or whether
that
statement was simply supposed
to indicate the origin of all partisans.
Scandalous Idea
The victims are as a rule civilians with a Domobran thrown in here and
there.
A Domobran victim is, of
course, a Jehovah's Witness in a uniform of the Croatian Army. Domobrans
usually die because they
refuse to put on Ustashe insignia, nor admit in front of Partisan
butchers
that they are Ustashe. And all of
them are sooo good, peaceful and silky, and only Partisan crimes can
force
them to an occasional
self-sacrifice and a heroic deed.
But, how come that in all of that, there is a good Partisan? Very
simply:
Sedlar's and Aralica's revisionist
vision needed a place for a Jew. And since the authors drew their lesson
from
Tudman's "Wastelands of
Historical Reality", they decided to replace unnecessary and senseless
anti-Semitism by very deliberate
filo-Semitism. It seemed smart to them to, in the film with which they
intended to spread national hatred
and destroy the last traces of Croatian antifascism, use a Jew as the
most
positive character. Hey, there
are not any Jews in Croatia anyway and only fools would cause trouble
about
them. On the other hand,
believe Sedlar and Aralica, if you are nice to Jews, you can do with
Partisans and Serbs, as well as with
the results of the war, whatever you like. A smart Croatian revisionist
would
always praise Jews.
The very idea to shoot "In Four Rows" was scandalous since Aralica's
novel,
on which the movie is
based, was also scandalous. But the film was produced by four Croatian
Ministries, the Croatian
Privatization Fund, Croatian Tourist Association, Croatian
Telecommunications, the City of Zagreb,
Croatian Lottery, Croatian Oil Industry INA and many smaller and less
impressive sounding producers, so
that Sedlar's film is actually the result of a widely based social
action and
thereby similar to the Partisan
films from the former Yugoslavia, such as "Sutjeska" and "Neretva".
In practice, thousands of Croatian citizens have ended up in the role of
passive co-producers of "In Four
Rows". Perhaps, all of those who have paid a single Kuna of taxes to the
Croatian state budget deserve
such a credit. That does not mean that all of us share guilt for "In
Four
Rows", but it is the fact that all of
us have been involved in "In Four Rows" and that only unprecedented
Sedlar's
lack of talent saved us
from worse consequences. God himself, if that was him indeed, saved us
from
ignominy which we would
not have been able to wash off for a long time, by denying Sedlar all
that is
needed by a human or a
creature to be an artist.
Greatest Trickery
Actually, no matter now much we curse fate for sending us all those
Vukojevics, Krpinas, and midget
Rottweilers of Croatian judiciary, we should be at least grateful that
it
also included people like Sedlar and
Aralica. It has been proven, namely, that bastards can be extremely
talented,
that creeps can be terrific
writers and that very well articulated works of art can be motivated by
hatred and evil. What would have
happened if, for example, Sedlar were Kusturica [famous Serbian
film-maker]
and Aralica, for example,
Peter Handke [pro-Serb world-famous Austrian writer], and that the two
of
them took upon themselves
to re-tailor history and turn antifascists into fascists, and fascists
into
civilians and brothers of good soldier
Svejk? We would have had problems that we cannot even dream of today, we
would feel miserable and
empty, ungifted and lost with respect to our own enemies and enemies of
our
lives.
It is wonderful to have Sedlar and Aralica whose greatest trickery is to
include a Partisan-Jew. There is
nothing more harmless than filo-Semitic anti-Semitism, although it is
sickening and disgusting, but at least
it is so obvious and clear as every act rooted in unclear conscience. It
is
wonderful to have Sedlar because
of his fascination with male haircuts. Namely, as in "Mother of God"
[Gospa]
the hairdo on the head of
Martin Sheen, even after hours and days of torture looked as if it had
just
been sealed under a hairdryer
of a provincial hair salon, thus in "In Four Rows" the hairdo of Ivan
Marevic
is tussled in the same
seductive manner both at the start and the end of the Croatian Cavalry.
Unfortunate Jakov Sedlar does
not see such things and exactly that saves us from his idea. It is also
wonderful to have Sedlar because of
the fact that his main character can hardly speak the Croat language.
Actually, he speaks it as every
Australian, Canadian, or American of Croatian origin, and he is supposed
to
be a young actor from Zagreb
in the movie. What wonderful cynicism: In the most Croatian of all
Croatian
movies, the most valiant
Croat cannot speak Croatian. Something so mean would not have occurred
even
to the most evil of the
Partisan butchers from "In Four Rows".
Sanity Check
It is rumored among Zagreb actors that actor's wages for work in "In
Four
Rows" were enormous, the
highest in the more recent history of domestic film making, and that
that is
the reason that a team of our
best actors appears in the movie, as well as almost all young Croatian
actors. Their excuse is that Sedlar
was making offers that could not be refused, so that very few did
indeed, but
that is not a story about
historical revisionism, nor about lack of talent, but about misery and
poverty of the public scene on which
jobs are accepted and refused based on offered remuneration, so that
actors
play without any faith in their
characters.
After watching "In Four Rows", it is hard to understand why the Croatian
TV
decided to show that movie
two days after Christmas and on a day of electoral silence. Sedlar's and
Aralica's work is hardly good
propaganda; it cannot change anyone's opinion, apart from being a sanity
check for those who will watch
TV that night and nevertheless vote for HDZ. Essentially, for the
democratization of this country and
even for the opposition, it is useful to show "In Four Rows", and then
repeat
it as often as possible until
the last one among us realizes what has remained of the Independent
State of
Croatia fifty five years after
the war, and to what the old Ustashe have been transformed. Budak's
"Hearths"
[Ognjista] are for "In
Four Rows", both the book and the movie, a highly articulate,
non-ideological
and modern work of art.
However, something in all of this is still very sad. People did die in
Bleiburg and in the Croatian Cavalry.
It does not matter how many of them were killed because they were
definitely
too many. Various people
suffered and it is not the most important whether they were civilians,
soldiers, innocent people or
criminals. The fact that behind they left relatives who for years could
not
find out the truth about their
fates and who hoped for years that they would eventually return. In some
parts of Croatia and especially
Bosnia-Hercegovina there are very few families which haven't lost
someone in
Bleiburg. In principle, they
do not care whether their loved ones were criminals or innocents,
murderers
or conscripted children.
Uncertainty and empty hope with which those people lived is the greatest
and
usually totally undeserved
punishment. Ivan Aralica and Jakov Sedlar arrogantly and mercilessly
played
with emotions of the
relatives of the victims of the Croatian Cavalry. Thus a huge and
horrible
topic, which deserves human
sympathy, and probably also books and films that it will never greet,
has
been wasted. Bleiburg, ignoring
history and focusing on people from our homelands, is a sad story about
those
who waited and do not
know when exactly they stopped waiting.
[1] The Croatian Calvary (Croatian: KRIZNI PUT = the way of the cross),
an
episode in Croatian
history, when, in 1945, the Ustashe army surrendered, with a great
number of
civilians who were fleeing
communist Partisans, to the British at the town of Bleiburg in Austria.
The
British, in turn, surrendered
them to Tito's army. Most of them were soon executed without a trial,
some in
death marches led
throughout the country. The Croatian official history compares the
plight of
the "Croatian martyrs who
were executed only for being Croats" with that of Jesus Christ and his
carrying of the cross on the way to
crucifixion.
[2] The surname of director Sedlar is pronounced saddle-ar
[3] Mile Budak was an Ustashe official during WWII and a writer.
"Hearths" is
his best known novel. He
is infamous for his participation in the organization of the genocide of
Serbs, Jews and Gypsies in the
Independent State of Croatia. Since the independence he has been a sort
of a
poster boy for Croatian
nationalists and his name has been given to many streets throughout
Croatia.
Translated on March 24 2000
---
1997: I PADRI FONDATORI (FASCISTI) DELLA CROAZIA INDIPENDENTE
Fascists Reborn as Croatia's Founding Fathers
By CHRIS HEDGES
The old fascist marching songs were sung, a moment of silence was
observed
for all who died defending the fatherland, and the gathering was
reminded
that today was the 57th anniversary of the founding of Croatia's
Nazi-allied
wartime government. Then came the most chilling words of the afternoon.
"For Home!" shouted Anto Dapic, surrounded by bodyguards in black suits
and
crew cuts.
"Ready!" responded the crowd of 500 supporters, their arms rising in a
stiff
Nazi salute.
The call and response -- the Croatian equivalent of "Sieg!" "Heil!" --
was
the wartime greeting used by supporters of the fascist Independent State
of
Croatia, which governed the country for most the Second World War and
murdered hundreds of thousands of Jews, Serbs and Croatian resistance
fighters.
Today, in the final day of campaigning before local elections on Sunday,
supporters of Croatia's Party of Rights used the chant as a rallying
cry. But
the shouts of the black-shirted young men -- and the indifferent
reactions of
passersby -- illustrated a broader aspect of this country's self-image.
President Franjo Tudjman and his Croatian Democratic Union party rose to
popularity and power on the strength of its appeals to Croatians'
national
pride. Now, six years after the war that won Croatia its independence
from
Yugoslavia, Mr. Tudjman's party continues to cast the World War II
fascist
fighters as patriots and precursors of the modern Croatian state.
The Party of Rights took only 7 percent of the vote in the last
election, but
it is the closest ally of Mr. Tudjman, who is reported to be suffering
from
cancer but who has still campaigned actively.
Perhaps no other country has failed as openly as Croatia to come to
terms
with its fascist legacy. While the French celebrate a resistance
movement
that was often dwarfed by the widespread collaboration with the Vichy
regime,
and while the Austrians often act as if the war never happened, the
Croats
have rehabilitated the Croatian fascist collaborators, known as the
Ustashe.
The Ustashe was led by Ante Pavelic, the wartime dictator whose picture
was
plastered on walls in Split in preparation for the rally.
"A majority of the Croats oppose this rehabilitation," said Viktor
Ivancic,
editor in chief of the opposition weekly, The Feral Tribune. "But they
are
afraid. These neo-fascist groups, protected by the state, are ready to
employ
violence against their critics."
Ustashe veterans receive larger pensions than old Partisan fighters, who
waged a savage fight against the German and Croatian fascist armies.
Former
Ustashe soldiers are invited to state celebrations, like the annual army
day,
while Partisan fighters are ignored. And state authorities have stood by
as
pro-Ustashe groups have dismantled or destroyed 2,964 of 4,073 monuments
to
those who died in the resistance struggle, according to veteran Partisan
groups.
The identification with the quisling regime does not stop there. The
Croatian
currency is the kuna, the same instituted by the fascists. And the red
and
white checkerboard on the flag, taken from medieval Croatian emblems,
previously adorned the Ustashe uniform. The President recently proposed
bringing Mr. Pavelic's remains from Spain, where he died in exile in
1959,
for burial in Croatia, a move rejected by Mr. Pavelic's family. And
Vinko
Nikolic, an 85-year-old former high-ranking Ustashe official who fled
into
exile after the war, was appointed by the President to the Croatian
Parliament.
The transformation is all the more noticeable because of widespread
participation by many Croats in the Partisan guerrilla movement led by
Josip
Broz Tito, himself a Croat.
"A huge number of Croats fought the Nazis and the Ustashe," said
77-year-Partisan veteran Milivoj Borosa, who defected in his bomber in
1942
from the Ustashe air force and dropped his payload on a German unit
during
his escape to the Soviet Union. "But today, those who should hold their
heads
in shame, are national heroes."
The Partisans, who included among their ranks the young Franjo Tudjman,
committed what today is viewed as an unforgivable sin. They built a
united,
Communist Yugoslavia. And while the Ustashe state may have been a Nazi
puppet, it had as its stated aim the establishment of an independent
Croatia,
although it was forced by the Axis to turn over large parts of Croatia,
including much of the Dalmatian coast, to the Italians.
In the current campaign, President Tudjman sought to reconcile the
country's
wartime divisions by arguing that the fascist and anti-fascist Croatians
performed equally valuable service for their country. A general who
became a
historian after leaving the Yugoslav Army, Mr. Tudjman is among the
leaders
of a revisionist school of history that has sought to counterbalance the
Communists' relentlessly dark view of the fascist years.
But many Croats, especially those who had relatives killed by the
fascists,
smolder with indignation over the glorification of a regime that
massacred
opponents with a ferocity that often shocked its Italian and German
allies.
"You cannot reconcile victims and butchers," said Ognjen Kraus, the head
of
Zagreb's small Jewish community. "No one has the right to carry out a
reconciliation in the name of those who vanished."
The climate has become so charged that those who oppose the
rehabilitation of
the Ustashe do not dare raise their voices. And there have been several
attacks carried out against members of the Social Democratic Party, the
old
Communist party, currently fielding candidates for the municipal
elections.
Many of the black-uniformed bodyguards at the rally here fought against
the
Serbs as members of The Croatian Liberation Forces, a brutal right-wing
paramilitary unit formed by the party.
The Ustashe supporters also have a powerful ally in the Catholic Church
in
Croatia. The church, led during the war by Archbishop Alojzije Stepinac,
was
a prominent backer of the Ustashe regime. It forcibly converted tens of
thousands of Orthodox Serbs and did not denounce the government's
roundup and
massacre of Jews and Serbs.
During the war, Jews and Orthodox Serbs were subject to racial laws. The
Serbs had to wear blue arm bands with the letter "P" for "Pravoslav" --
Orthodox -- before being deported to death camps like Jasenovac.
After the war, many priests, rather than condemn the brutality of the
fascist
regime, went on to set up an underground network know as "the rat line"
to
smuggle former Ustashe leaders, including Mr. Pavelic, to countries like
Argentina.
The church, persecuted by the Communists, has now re-emerged as one of
the
most powerful institutions in the country, in large part because
religion is
the only tangible difference separating Serbs, Muslims and Croats.
Several
priests have enthusiastically joined the rehabilitation campaign,
portraying
Mr. Pavelic as a pious leader who championed Christian values.
"Ante Pavelic was a good Catholic," said Father Luka Prcela, who has
held a
memorial Mass for the former dictator in Split for the last four years.
"He
went to mass daily in his own chapel. Many of the crimes alleged to have
been
committed by his Government never happened. These stories were lies
spread by
the communists. He fought for a free, Catholic Croatia. We have this
state
today because of him."
(c) The New York Times, April 12, 1997
---
1995: PERPLESSITA' EBRAICHE SUI RAPPORTI TRA USA E CROAZIA...
Open Letter to Branko Lustig, Producer of a Misunderstanding in
Washington
by Mirko Mirkovic
Feral Tribune, Split, Croatia, 2/20/95
I would like to review your speech presented to the Press Club in
Washington,
D.C. on 11/21/94, which
made a great impact recently in Croatia. It was published in its
entirety by
Vjesnik and then by Vecernji
List [state-owned daily newspapers]. Obviously, it deserved such
publicity,
since it is full of praise for
President Tudjman. You had an honor of sitting next to him at the
premier of
the film ``Schindler's List"
in cinema ``Europe" [in Zagreb]. You were, in your words,``excited
because
all of the important officials
in the Croatian government were present." I can sympathize that it
really
must have been exciting. You
noticed that the president was personally moved by the film:``after the
film
finished, he got up, gave me a
hug and I could swear that his eyes were full of tears."
If only he could have seen ``Schindler's List" before he published his
book
``Wastelands of Historical
Reality" [``Bespuca Historijske Zbiljnosti"]. Maybe he would not have
quoted
a disgusting story about the
Jews in Jasenovac [largest concentration camp in Croatia during the
WWII],
contributed by two
antisemites who had been released from the camp. In any case, why is it
that,
as a historian, he did not
find it necessary to quote testimonies of Jewish inmates who survived
the
Ustashe [Croatian fascists]
Auschwitz by pure luck? Their testimonies about that inferno were
collected
in a book published in 1972.
It is true that, later, as a president of the republic, he ``expressed
sorrow
for the suffering of the Croatian
Jews in the holocaust." Commendable. However, the president of Germany,
Roman
Hertzog went a step
further than expressing ``sorrow" when last summer he said in Warsaw:``I
beg
for forgiveness for what
the Germans did to you."
The day after the premiere of ``Schindler's List", you said:``I received
a
high Croatian decoration, Order
of Prince Trpimir... During the ceremony the president apologized to me
and
all members of the Jewish
community for those who during the Second World War took part in
Enforcement
of Hitler's racist laws."
In 1941 you were still a child and maybe did not know that in Croatia
racist
laws were not enacted by
Hitler, but by Independent State of Croatia (ISC) [Nezavisna Drzave
Hrvatska
or NDH was a Nazi
puppet state from 1941 to 1945; it was run by Croatian fascist movement
-
Ustashe in Croatian] and
enforced by Ustashe government. You might not be aware that Vinko
Nikolic was
an important
functionary in that government, a member of the Ustashe High Command. He
was
enraptured by the
Poglavnik [term corresponding to Fuhrer in Ustashe terminology] Ante
Pavelic.
``Our new intelligentsia,"
wrote Vinko Nikolic in the Novi List on 7/2/41,``must raise new
generations
under ustashe [ie. fascist]
values and above all, must engender in Croatian youth, from the earliest
age,
unlimited and devoted
loyalty towards the Poglavnik." He was not only enraptured with the
Poglavnik, but also interested in
literature, which, according to him would help the Ustashe movement ``to
mold
a new man," whose main
characteristics must be:``nationalistic soul, Ustashe heart, Poglavnik's
teaching and Ustashe creed" (Vinko
Nikolic, National Goals of Literature, Zagreb, 1944). He showed his
``loyalty
to the Poglavnik" in the
emigration to Madrid in 1949, when the Ustashe crimes were already known
around the world, by
composing an ode to Poglavnik's ISC.
Why am I mentioning this to you? Because that gentlemen recently
returned to
Zagreb, to the
government's warm welcome. President Tudjman, fighter against fascism in
the
WWII, did not know
better then to make this gentlemen (who with his ``Ustashe heart" took
part
in the machinery of the
holocaust) a member of the upper house of the Croatian parliament! No,
that
``educator according to the
fascist values" never killed anyone himself. He sat at his desk and
supported
criminals with his pen. Do
you know that, mister Lustig ?
Men for all Times
Do you think that a man who in the third Reich demanded from the youth
``limitless devotion to the
Fuhrer," could today, in democratic Germany become a member of Bundestag
-
German Federal
Parliament? Do you think that the units of the German Army could be
named
after Nazi war criminals, as
some units of the Croatian Army bear names of Ustashe butchers? Do you
think
that some
SS-Sturmbandfuhrer, who during the third Reich signed a racist order,
could
get today a high decoration
from the president of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG)? Still, all
of
this is possible. But not in
todays Germany. Signatory of the racist Ustashe order in 1941, Ustashe
stozernik [military rank] Ivo
Rojnica, was decorated by the Poglavnik with the order of merit `` for
the
zealous service in Ustashe
movement." The very same zealot of Ustashe movement - who declared in
``Slobodna
Dalmacija":``everything I did in 1941 I would do again" - has recently
received a decoration of the high
Order of Prince Trpimir from the hands of president Tudjman personally!
Of
course this case is not
unique. Accomplice in the German genocide on the Balkan, Kurt Waldheim
also
received a high
decoration from Pavelic and then, after the war, as a secretary of the
UN,
another one from Tito! Some
people are truly for all times. Franjo Tudjman, Tito's general, knows
that
much.
The grotesque part is that you, Mr. Lustig, an Auschwitz survivor, wear
the
same decoration as a Ustashe
officer who ``zealously worked" to implement the holocaust on the
territory
of the ISC. And with great
success. Of approximately 40,000 Jews on the territory of ISC, three
quarters
were killed. Survivors were
only those who managed to escape to the Italian occupation zone or
joined the
Partisans [indigenous
communist guerilla army under Tito's leadership]. Many were helped by
the
Croatians. But while the
Croatian citizens, in personal danger, were helping persecuted Jews as
much
as they could, the
government of ISC was killing them whenever possible.
You quoted president Tudjman's message to Melvin Salzberger and Abraham
Foxman, in which he
distances himself and the Croatian government from the quisling Croatian
state [ISC] and the Ustashe
regime. Very good and commendable. But if you lived here, I believe that
as a
Jew, you would be worried
by the rehabilitation of the Ustashe ISC, which encompasses
historiography,
newspaper articles, TV talk
shows, naming of military units after infamous Ustashe ``knights", all
the
way to restaurants with names
like ``Poglavnik", ``Coffee Bar Ustasha" and similar reminders of the
genocide of the Jews in ISC. Not
far from the house in which I live, one can find Poglavnik's picture and
a
bust in a bar, so that the patrons
can get the idea about the owner's political leanings. I am convinced
that
you will agree with me that it is
unimaginable that in todays Germany restaurants and hotels would be
named
after the Fuhrer or the SS
officers, or that a Fuhrer's picture could be displayed in them. In
Germany,
such things are regulated by
the law. We in Croatia apparently have more democracy than Germans. If
it is
true, as you said, that it is
``improbable that in Croatia we see the strengthening of fascism," one
faces
a question: why does not the
president and the government protest against the rehabilitation of the
criminal ISC? It is true, as you said,
that in Croatia ``there is no antisemitism but there are a few
antisemites."
After Auschwitz, antisemitism
can hardly be en vogue. The Croatian president and the government on
several
occasions, have expressed
their favorable inclination towards the Jewish community. Was that
because of
some special love towards
the Jews? Or in order to score a few good PR points in the USA? - I
leave the
answer to you.
It is unthinkable that in democratic Germany an ex-Nazi propaganda boss
could
appear on TV and discuss
the benefits of the third Reich. On the other hand, one of the Zagreb TV
channels showed in 1992 a
program with the boss of Ustashe propaganda, Daniel Crljen. The same one
who
during the ISC
declared:``Croatia has radically solved its Jewish problem."
Points scored away from the Home field
You said that ``the tendencies described in the press (I suppose foreign
!)
are marginal and have no
support from the president or the government." Very good. However, a
striking
question is why that same
president and the government do not publicly and decisively condemn
numerous
cases of rehabilitation of
Ustashe ISC. Nothing would be easier, since they have a total control
over
the daily press and the
electronic media.
For the Jewish community, the instances of Ustashe rehabilitation can
hardly
be ``marginal." Especially
not for those Jews who survived the holocaust and who after returning to
their homeland found out that
they were left alone in this world, without a mother and a father,
without
brothers and sisters, without
their children. All of them have disappeared without a trace in Ustashe
branch offices of ``the final
solution", in Jasenovac, Stara Gradiska, Jadovna, on Pag. By the way,
the
last several hundred Jews in
Croatia, mostly elderly, were turned turned over to Eichmann, ie. sent
straight to the Nazi gas chambers.
Cardinal Stepinac tried to save Zagreb Chef Rabbi, Miroslav Freiberger
and
his family. He did not
succeed. Eichmann's word had more importance for the Poglavnik than that
of
Cardinal Stepinac.
Would it therefore be marginal for you, Mr. Lustig, if you were facing
today
the rehabilitation of racist
butchers from Auschwitz? You also said:``claims that the present
government
encourages fascism are
absolutely false." If that is true, I would be grateful if you could
explain
how that squares with the fact
that the approximately 2000 monuments to the fighters against and
victims of
fascism have been
destroyed in Croatia [since 1991] ( by ``unknown" perpetrators);
memorials
for the people who were
cruelly killed simply because they had been born Jews, or Serbs or
Gypsies or
were Croatian antifascists!
Also, do not you find it perplexing, as an Auschwitz survivor, that
president
Tudjman was so keen to
erase the Victims of Fascism Square name? I believe that you will agree
with
me, when I say that those
fighters against fascism in Croatia sacrificed their lives in the common
struggle of the humanity against the
deadly darkness which threatened to turn all of Europe in a continental
Auschwitz. Why have not the
Croatian authorities condemned or why have not they decisively
confronted
that barbarian destruction of
the memorials for the victims of fascism? Or maybe someone thinks that
the
historical facts can be
thrown into a black hole of oblivion, as did the Big Brother's
``Ministry of
Truth" in Orwell's 1984?
Black Hole of Oblivion
In your Washington speech you said:``the number of Jews in Partisans was
small." With that claim you
unfortunately misinformed your American audience. Yugoslavia had about
70,000
Jews before the
WWII. About 4,500 of those, or more than 6 percent of the total Jewish
population, took part in the
national liberation war. That means that the participation of Jews in
the
antifascist struggle was
proportionally larger than that of any other nation on the territory of
ex-Yugoslavia.
You tried to convince your American audience that Kuna is an appropriate
choice for the name of the
Croatian currency. You said:`` I personally do not see that as a
connection
with the fascist period.".
Ustashe ISC was just the first state to name the Croatian currency Kuna.
But
what sort of connection
could that have with our ``most democratic country in Europe" [a common
phrase in the Croatian press,
referring to Croatia].
Commemoration of the 50 years since the liberation of Auschwitz has
recently
taken place in Poland. Eli
Wiesel, Nobel Prize winner, and ,as you said, your friend from the death
march in January of 1943 took
part in the commemoration. you quoted his words:`` To forget is to kill
the
victims for the second time.
We could not stop their death the first time round. We must not allow
them to
be killed again." Don't you
also find intolerable the rehabilitation of Ustashe ISC, which was until
the
last moment of the third Reich
its ally in the most horrendous genocide in history?
The author is a writer and translator, ex-secretary of Croatian PEN and
a
longtime member of the
Jewish Community Council in Zagreb
Translated in May 1995
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
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---
1999: UN CULT-MOVIE PER NEONAZISTI PRODOTTO DALLO STATO CROATO?
used without permission, for 'fair use" only
Film "In Four Rows" by Jakov Sedlar and Ivan Aralica Missed Chance to
Become Cult Film of European Neo-Nazism
Naked in Saddlear
If he managed to do what he had tried to do, Jakov Sedlar would have
entered
the history of
European culture as the director of the first openly revisionist,
neo-Nazi
movie, which in a radical
manner questions and distorts the results of WWII, and accuses war
victors of
crimes which have
been assigned to the losers for the last fifty years. God himself, if
that
was him indeed, saved us
from ignominy which we would not have been able to wash off for a long
time,
by denying Sedlar
all that is needed by a human or a creature to be an artist. Budak's
"Hearths" [Ognjista] are for
"In Four Rows" [Cetvorored], both the book and the movie, a highly
articulate, non-ideological
and modern work of art.
by Miljenko Jergovic
Feral Tribune, Split, Croatia, December 27 1999
If he managed to do what he had tried to do, Jakov Sedlar would have
entered
the history of European
culture as the director of the first openly revisionist, neo-Nazi movie,
which in a radical manner questions
and distorts the results of WWII, and accuses war victors of crimes
which
have been assigned to the
losers for the last fifty years.
Here is how, according to Sedlar's concept, "In Four Rows" was supposed
to
come out: two peaceful and
highly civilized inhabitants of Zagreb, a young actor and a make up
artist,
decided in May 1945 to leave
the city in front of an unstoppable antifascist beast. They join columns
of
Domobrans [conscript army of
the Independent State of Croatia, WWII Nazi puppet state in present
Croatia
and Bosnia-Hercegovina],
the peaceful Croatian Army, city gents and youth, among whom are four or
five
Ustashe [Croatian
pro-Nazi movement during and before WWII; the relationship between
Ustashe
and Domobrans is similar
to that of SS and German Army in the Nazi Germany] of whom one is a
criminal
(probably because he
lost an arm in the war). The column is bombarded by British airplanes
and on
the Bleiburg field they are
captured by cynical British officers, who turn all of these highly
cultured
and civilized people over to the
Partisans. After that, the Partisans slaughter them, execute by a firing
squad, rape, rob, and to make the
whole thing even clearer, at one point Soviet Red army soldiers show up
to
take away whatever the
Partisans hadn't already snatched away, and in the process cut off a
finger
of a high school graduate from
Zagreb in order to take his ring.
According to Sedlar's idea, the film ends after the surviving young
actor,
saved by the goodness of a
Jewish Partisan, vows not to say a word about these events as long as he
lives. The film refers to his act
as the Croatian silence, in order to make it crystal clear on behalf of
what
and against what it was
necessary to keep quiet.
Croatian Ed Wood
However, Jakov Sedlar did not know how to turn all of that into a movie,
nor
could Ivan Aralica offer a
story which would provide a framework for this construction, so that
instead
of a cult work of European
neo-Nazism that would find its underground audience from the Pyrenees to
the
Urals and Hamburg to
Piraeus, we got only another trivial product of Croatian Ed Wood,
something
that can even be amusing in
its inadequate execution.
For example, how does Jakov Sedlar imagine Partisan butchers? All of
them are
Serbs, men and women,
from different parts of the former Yugoslavia. Their origin is suggested
by
their accents. However, then
Sedlar decided that that was not enough, so that he made sure that every
Partisan butcher nicely
introduces himself or herself to their victims. Thus fat and mustachioed
Danko Ljustina plays a murderer
from Bosanska Krajina, Bozidar Alic portrays a slaughterer from Serbia,
and
Nives Ivankovic is supposed
to be a typical Jane Partisan, a Croat Serb woman who is jealous because
Partisans are mass raping
refined Zagreb women, so that she kills them all with a machine gun.
Sedlar's
Partisans usually confine
their acting to making facial expressions usually seen only on seriously
constipated persons. It is surprising
that Bozidar Alic did not end up with a hernia from all that hard work.
Of course, Sedlar had to explain why Partisans were so bloodthirsty.
With
that in mind a character, which
is not really a character but is there just for the hell of it, reads
Djilas'
[Yugoslav Communist official]
article from Borba [official publication of the Yugoslav Communist
party]
which clearly states what the
attitude of Partisans towards Ustashe should be; from a public
announcement
system at a train station we
can hear Tito's speech on the same topic, and it is indicated that one
of the
Partisans had been until
recently a Chetnik [Serb nationalist and monarchist guerrillas during
WWII],
although it is not entirely
clear whether Chetniks are worse or better than Partisans or whether
that
statement was simply supposed
to indicate the origin of all partisans.
Scandalous Idea
The victims are as a rule civilians with a Domobran thrown in here and
there.
A Domobran victim is, of
course, a Jehovah's Witness in a uniform of the Croatian Army. Domobrans
usually die because they
refuse to put on Ustashe insignia, nor admit in front of Partisan
butchers
that they are Ustashe. And all of
them are sooo good, peaceful and silky, and only Partisan crimes can
force
them to an occasional
self-sacrifice and a heroic deed.
But, how come that in all of that, there is a good Partisan? Very
simply:
Sedlar's and Aralica's revisionist
vision needed a place for a Jew. And since the authors drew their lesson
from
Tudman's "Wastelands of
Historical Reality", they decided to replace unnecessary and senseless
anti-Semitism by very deliberate
filo-Semitism. It seemed smart to them to, in the film with which they
intended to spread national hatred
and destroy the last traces of Croatian antifascism, use a Jew as the
most
positive character. Hey, there
are not any Jews in Croatia anyway and only fools would cause trouble
about
them. On the other hand,
believe Sedlar and Aralica, if you are nice to Jews, you can do with
Partisans and Serbs, as well as with
the results of the war, whatever you like. A smart Croatian revisionist
would
always praise Jews.
The very idea to shoot "In Four Rows" was scandalous since Aralica's
novel,
on which the movie is
based, was also scandalous. But the film was produced by four Croatian
Ministries, the Croatian
Privatization Fund, Croatian Tourist Association, Croatian
Telecommunications, the City of Zagreb,
Croatian Lottery, Croatian Oil Industry INA and many smaller and less
impressive sounding producers, so
that Sedlar's film is actually the result of a widely based social
action and
thereby similar to the Partisan
films from the former Yugoslavia, such as "Sutjeska" and "Neretva".
In practice, thousands of Croatian citizens have ended up in the role of
passive co-producers of "In Four
Rows". Perhaps, all of those who have paid a single Kuna of taxes to the
Croatian state budget deserve
such a credit. That does not mean that all of us share guilt for "In
Four
Rows", but it is the fact that all of
us have been involved in "In Four Rows" and that only unprecedented
Sedlar's
lack of talent saved us
from worse consequences. God himself, if that was him indeed, saved us
from
ignominy which we would
not have been able to wash off for a long time, by denying Sedlar all
that is
needed by a human or a
creature to be an artist.
Greatest Trickery
Actually, no matter now much we curse fate for sending us all those
Vukojevics, Krpinas, and midget
Rottweilers of Croatian judiciary, we should be at least grateful that
it
also included people like Sedlar and
Aralica. It has been proven, namely, that bastards can be extremely
talented,
that creeps can be terrific
writers and that very well articulated works of art can be motivated by
hatred and evil. What would have
happened if, for example, Sedlar were Kusturica [famous Serbian
film-maker]
and Aralica, for example,
Peter Handke [pro-Serb world-famous Austrian writer], and that the two
of
them took upon themselves
to re-tailor history and turn antifascists into fascists, and fascists
into
civilians and brothers of good soldier
Svejk? We would have had problems that we cannot even dream of today, we
would feel miserable and
empty, ungifted and lost with respect to our own enemies and enemies of
our
lives.
It is wonderful to have Sedlar and Aralica whose greatest trickery is to
include a Partisan-Jew. There is
nothing more harmless than filo-Semitic anti-Semitism, although it is
sickening and disgusting, but at least
it is so obvious and clear as every act rooted in unclear conscience. It
is
wonderful to have Sedlar because
of his fascination with male haircuts. Namely, as in "Mother of God"
[Gospa]
the hairdo on the head of
Martin Sheen, even after hours and days of torture looked as if it had
just
been sealed under a hairdryer
of a provincial hair salon, thus in "In Four Rows" the hairdo of Ivan
Marevic
is tussled in the same
seductive manner both at the start and the end of the Croatian Cavalry.
Unfortunate Jakov Sedlar does
not see such things and exactly that saves us from his idea. It is also
wonderful to have Sedlar because of
the fact that his main character can hardly speak the Croat language.
Actually, he speaks it as every
Australian, Canadian, or American of Croatian origin, and he is supposed
to
be a young actor from Zagreb
in the movie. What wonderful cynicism: In the most Croatian of all
Croatian
movies, the most valiant
Croat cannot speak Croatian. Something so mean would not have occurred
even
to the most evil of the
Partisan butchers from "In Four Rows".
Sanity Check
It is rumored among Zagreb actors that actor's wages for work in "In
Four
Rows" were enormous, the
highest in the more recent history of domestic film making, and that
that is
the reason that a team of our
best actors appears in the movie, as well as almost all young Croatian
actors. Their excuse is that Sedlar
was making offers that could not be refused, so that very few did
indeed, but
that is not a story about
historical revisionism, nor about lack of talent, but about misery and
poverty of the public scene on which
jobs are accepted and refused based on offered remuneration, so that
actors
play without any faith in their
characters.
After watching "In Four Rows", it is hard to understand why the Croatian
TV
decided to show that movie
two days after Christmas and on a day of electoral silence. Sedlar's and
Aralica's work is hardly good
propaganda; it cannot change anyone's opinion, apart from being a sanity
check for those who will watch
TV that night and nevertheless vote for HDZ. Essentially, for the
democratization of this country and
even for the opposition, it is useful to show "In Four Rows", and then
repeat
it as often as possible until
the last one among us realizes what has remained of the Independent
State of
Croatia fifty five years after
the war, and to what the old Ustashe have been transformed. Budak's
"Hearths"
[Ognjista] are for "In
Four Rows", both the book and the movie, a highly articulate,
non-ideological
and modern work of art.
However, something in all of this is still very sad. People did die in
Bleiburg and in the Croatian Cavalry.
It does not matter how many of them were killed because they were
definitely
too many. Various people
suffered and it is not the most important whether they were civilians,
soldiers, innocent people or
criminals. The fact that behind they left relatives who for years could
not
find out the truth about their
fates and who hoped for years that they would eventually return. In some
parts of Croatia and especially
Bosnia-Hercegovina there are very few families which haven't lost
someone in
Bleiburg. In principle, they
do not care whether their loved ones were criminals or innocents,
murderers
or conscripted children.
Uncertainty and empty hope with which those people lived is the greatest
and
usually totally undeserved
punishment. Ivan Aralica and Jakov Sedlar arrogantly and mercilessly
played
with emotions of the
relatives of the victims of the Croatian Cavalry. Thus a huge and
horrible
topic, which deserves human
sympathy, and probably also books and films that it will never greet,
has
been wasted. Bleiburg, ignoring
history and focusing on people from our homelands, is a sad story about
those
who waited and do not
know when exactly they stopped waiting.
[1] The Croatian Calvary (Croatian: KRIZNI PUT = the way of the cross),
an
episode in Croatian
history, when, in 1945, the Ustashe army surrendered, with a great
number of
civilians who were fleeing
communist Partisans, to the British at the town of Bleiburg in Austria.
The
British, in turn, surrendered
them to Tito's army. Most of them were soon executed without a trial,
some in
death marches led
throughout the country. The Croatian official history compares the
plight of
the "Croatian martyrs who
were executed only for being Croats" with that of Jesus Christ and his
carrying of the cross on the way to
crucifixion.
[2] The surname of director Sedlar is pronounced saddle-ar
[3] Mile Budak was an Ustashe official during WWII and a writer.
"Hearths" is
his best known novel. He
is infamous for his participation in the organization of the genocide of
Serbs, Jews and Gypsies in the
Independent State of Croatia. Since the independence he has been a sort
of a
poster boy for Croatian
nationalists and his name has been given to many streets throughout
Croatia.
Translated on March 24 2000
---
1997: I PADRI FONDATORI (FASCISTI) DELLA CROAZIA INDIPENDENTE
Fascists Reborn as Croatia's Founding Fathers
By CHRIS HEDGES
The old fascist marching songs were sung, a moment of silence was
observed
for all who died defending the fatherland, and the gathering was
reminded
that today was the 57th anniversary of the founding of Croatia's
Nazi-allied
wartime government. Then came the most chilling words of the afternoon.
"For Home!" shouted Anto Dapic, surrounded by bodyguards in black suits
and
crew cuts.
"Ready!" responded the crowd of 500 supporters, their arms rising in a
stiff
Nazi salute.
The call and response -- the Croatian equivalent of "Sieg!" "Heil!" --
was
the wartime greeting used by supporters of the fascist Independent State
of
Croatia, which governed the country for most the Second World War and
murdered hundreds of thousands of Jews, Serbs and Croatian resistance
fighters.
Today, in the final day of campaigning before local elections on Sunday,
supporters of Croatia's Party of Rights used the chant as a rallying
cry. But
the shouts of the black-shirted young men -- and the indifferent
reactions of
passersby -- illustrated a broader aspect of this country's self-image.
President Franjo Tudjman and his Croatian Democratic Union party rose to
popularity and power on the strength of its appeals to Croatians'
national
pride. Now, six years after the war that won Croatia its independence
from
Yugoslavia, Mr. Tudjman's party continues to cast the World War II
fascist
fighters as patriots and precursors of the modern Croatian state.
The Party of Rights took only 7 percent of the vote in the last
election, but
it is the closest ally of Mr. Tudjman, who is reported to be suffering
from
cancer but who has still campaigned actively.
Perhaps no other country has failed as openly as Croatia to come to
terms
with its fascist legacy. While the French celebrate a resistance
movement
that was often dwarfed by the widespread collaboration with the Vichy
regime,
and while the Austrians often act as if the war never happened, the
Croats
have rehabilitated the Croatian fascist collaborators, known as the
Ustashe.
The Ustashe was led by Ante Pavelic, the wartime dictator whose picture
was
plastered on walls in Split in preparation for the rally.
"A majority of the Croats oppose this rehabilitation," said Viktor
Ivancic,
editor in chief of the opposition weekly, The Feral Tribune. "But they
are
afraid. These neo-fascist groups, protected by the state, are ready to
employ
violence against their critics."
Ustashe veterans receive larger pensions than old Partisan fighters, who
waged a savage fight against the German and Croatian fascist armies.
Former
Ustashe soldiers are invited to state celebrations, like the annual army
day,
while Partisan fighters are ignored. And state authorities have stood by
as
pro-Ustashe groups have dismantled or destroyed 2,964 of 4,073 monuments
to
those who died in the resistance struggle, according to veteran Partisan
groups.
The identification with the quisling regime does not stop there. The
Croatian
currency is the kuna, the same instituted by the fascists. And the red
and
white checkerboard on the flag, taken from medieval Croatian emblems,
previously adorned the Ustashe uniform. The President recently proposed
bringing Mr. Pavelic's remains from Spain, where he died in exile in
1959,
for burial in Croatia, a move rejected by Mr. Pavelic's family. And
Vinko
Nikolic, an 85-year-old former high-ranking Ustashe official who fled
into
exile after the war, was appointed by the President to the Croatian
Parliament.
The transformation is all the more noticeable because of widespread
participation by many Croats in the Partisan guerrilla movement led by
Josip
Broz Tito, himself a Croat.
"A huge number of Croats fought the Nazis and the Ustashe," said
77-year-Partisan veteran Milivoj Borosa, who defected in his bomber in
1942
from the Ustashe air force and dropped his payload on a German unit
during
his escape to the Soviet Union. "But today, those who should hold their
heads
in shame, are national heroes."
The Partisans, who included among their ranks the young Franjo Tudjman,
committed what today is viewed as an unforgivable sin. They built a
united,
Communist Yugoslavia. And while the Ustashe state may have been a Nazi
puppet, it had as its stated aim the establishment of an independent
Croatia,
although it was forced by the Axis to turn over large parts of Croatia,
including much of the Dalmatian coast, to the Italians.
In the current campaign, President Tudjman sought to reconcile the
country's
wartime divisions by arguing that the fascist and anti-fascist Croatians
performed equally valuable service for their country. A general who
became a
historian after leaving the Yugoslav Army, Mr. Tudjman is among the
leaders
of a revisionist school of history that has sought to counterbalance the
Communists' relentlessly dark view of the fascist years.
But many Croats, especially those who had relatives killed by the
fascists,
smolder with indignation over the glorification of a regime that
massacred
opponents with a ferocity that often shocked its Italian and German
allies.
"You cannot reconcile victims and butchers," said Ognjen Kraus, the head
of
Zagreb's small Jewish community. "No one has the right to carry out a
reconciliation in the name of those who vanished."
The climate has become so charged that those who oppose the
rehabilitation of
the Ustashe do not dare raise their voices. And there have been several
attacks carried out against members of the Social Democratic Party, the
old
Communist party, currently fielding candidates for the municipal
elections.
Many of the black-uniformed bodyguards at the rally here fought against
the
Serbs as members of The Croatian Liberation Forces, a brutal right-wing
paramilitary unit formed by the party.
The Ustashe supporters also have a powerful ally in the Catholic Church
in
Croatia. The church, led during the war by Archbishop Alojzije Stepinac,
was
a prominent backer of the Ustashe regime. It forcibly converted tens of
thousands of Orthodox Serbs and did not denounce the government's
roundup and
massacre of Jews and Serbs.
During the war, Jews and Orthodox Serbs were subject to racial laws. The
Serbs had to wear blue arm bands with the letter "P" for "Pravoslav" --
Orthodox -- before being deported to death camps like Jasenovac.
After the war, many priests, rather than condemn the brutality of the
fascist
regime, went on to set up an underground network know as "the rat line"
to
smuggle former Ustashe leaders, including Mr. Pavelic, to countries like
Argentina.
The church, persecuted by the Communists, has now re-emerged as one of
the
most powerful institutions in the country, in large part because
religion is
the only tangible difference separating Serbs, Muslims and Croats.
Several
priests have enthusiastically joined the rehabilitation campaign,
portraying
Mr. Pavelic as a pious leader who championed Christian values.
"Ante Pavelic was a good Catholic," said Father Luka Prcela, who has
held a
memorial Mass for the former dictator in Split for the last four years.
"He
went to mass daily in his own chapel. Many of the crimes alleged to have
been
committed by his Government never happened. These stories were lies
spread by
the communists. He fought for a free, Catholic Croatia. We have this
state
today because of him."
(c) The New York Times, April 12, 1997
---
1995: PERPLESSITA' EBRAICHE SUI RAPPORTI TRA USA E CROAZIA...
Open Letter to Branko Lustig, Producer of a Misunderstanding in
Washington
by Mirko Mirkovic
Feral Tribune, Split, Croatia, 2/20/95
I would like to review your speech presented to the Press Club in
Washington,
D.C. on 11/21/94, which
made a great impact recently in Croatia. It was published in its
entirety by
Vjesnik and then by Vecernji
List [state-owned daily newspapers]. Obviously, it deserved such
publicity,
since it is full of praise for
President Tudjman. You had an honor of sitting next to him at the
premier of
the film ``Schindler's List"
in cinema ``Europe" [in Zagreb]. You were, in your words,``excited
because
all of the important officials
in the Croatian government were present." I can sympathize that it
really
must have been exciting. You
noticed that the president was personally moved by the film:``after the
film
finished, he got up, gave me a
hug and I could swear that his eyes were full of tears."
If only he could have seen ``Schindler's List" before he published his
book
``Wastelands of Historical
Reality" [``Bespuca Historijske Zbiljnosti"]. Maybe he would not have
quoted
a disgusting story about the
Jews in Jasenovac [largest concentration camp in Croatia during the
WWII],
contributed by two
antisemites who had been released from the camp. In any case, why is it
that,
as a historian, he did not
find it necessary to quote testimonies of Jewish inmates who survived
the
Ustashe [Croatian fascists]
Auschwitz by pure luck? Their testimonies about that inferno were
collected
in a book published in 1972.
It is true that, later, as a president of the republic, he ``expressed
sorrow
for the suffering of the Croatian
Jews in the holocaust." Commendable. However, the president of Germany,
Roman
Hertzog went a step
further than expressing ``sorrow" when last summer he said in Warsaw:``I
beg
for forgiveness for what
the Germans did to you."
The day after the premiere of ``Schindler's List", you said:``I received
a
high Croatian decoration, Order
of Prince Trpimir... During the ceremony the president apologized to me
and
all members of the Jewish
community for those who during the Second World War took part in
Enforcement
of Hitler's racist laws."
In 1941 you were still a child and maybe did not know that in Croatia
racist
laws were not enacted by
Hitler, but by Independent State of Croatia (ISC) [Nezavisna Drzave
Hrvatska
or NDH was a Nazi
puppet state from 1941 to 1945; it was run by Croatian fascist movement
-
Ustashe in Croatian] and
enforced by Ustashe government. You might not be aware that Vinko
Nikolic was
an important
functionary in that government, a member of the Ustashe High Command. He
was
enraptured by the
Poglavnik [term corresponding to Fuhrer in Ustashe terminology] Ante
Pavelic.
``Our new intelligentsia,"
wrote Vinko Nikolic in the Novi List on 7/2/41,``must raise new
generations
under ustashe [ie. fascist]
values and above all, must engender in Croatian youth, from the earliest
age,
unlimited and devoted
loyalty towards the Poglavnik." He was not only enraptured with the
Poglavnik, but also interested in
literature, which, according to him would help the Ustashe movement ``to
mold
a new man," whose main
characteristics must be:``nationalistic soul, Ustashe heart, Poglavnik's
teaching and Ustashe creed" (Vinko
Nikolic, National Goals of Literature, Zagreb, 1944). He showed his
``loyalty
to the Poglavnik" in the
emigration to Madrid in 1949, when the Ustashe crimes were already known
around the world, by
composing an ode to Poglavnik's ISC.
Why am I mentioning this to you? Because that gentlemen recently
returned to
Zagreb, to the
government's warm welcome. President Tudjman, fighter against fascism in
the
WWII, did not know
better then to make this gentlemen (who with his ``Ustashe heart" took
part
in the machinery of the
holocaust) a member of the upper house of the Croatian parliament! No,
that
``educator according to the
fascist values" never killed anyone himself. He sat at his desk and
supported
criminals with his pen. Do
you know that, mister Lustig ?
Men for all Times
Do you think that a man who in the third Reich demanded from the youth
``limitless devotion to the
Fuhrer," could today, in democratic Germany become a member of Bundestag
-
German Federal
Parliament? Do you think that the units of the German Army could be
named
after Nazi war criminals, as
some units of the Croatian Army bear names of Ustashe butchers? Do you
think
that some
SS-Sturmbandfuhrer, who during the third Reich signed a racist order,
could
get today a high decoration
from the president of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG)? Still, all
of
this is possible. But not in
todays Germany. Signatory of the racist Ustashe order in 1941, Ustashe
stozernik [military rank] Ivo
Rojnica, was decorated by the Poglavnik with the order of merit `` for
the
zealous service in Ustashe
movement." The very same zealot of Ustashe movement - who declared in
``Slobodna
Dalmacija":``everything I did in 1941 I would do again" - has recently
received a decoration of the high
Order of Prince Trpimir from the hands of president Tudjman personally!
Of
course this case is not
unique. Accomplice in the German genocide on the Balkan, Kurt Waldheim
also
received a high
decoration from Pavelic and then, after the war, as a secretary of the
UN,
another one from Tito! Some
people are truly for all times. Franjo Tudjman, Tito's general, knows
that
much.
The grotesque part is that you, Mr. Lustig, an Auschwitz survivor, wear
the
same decoration as a Ustashe
officer who ``zealously worked" to implement the holocaust on the
territory
of the ISC. And with great
success. Of approximately 40,000 Jews on the territory of ISC, three
quarters
were killed. Survivors were
only those who managed to escape to the Italian occupation zone or
joined the
Partisans [indigenous
communist guerilla army under Tito's leadership]. Many were helped by
the
Croatians. But while the
Croatian citizens, in personal danger, were helping persecuted Jews as
much
as they could, the
government of ISC was killing them whenever possible.
You quoted president Tudjman's message to Melvin Salzberger and Abraham
Foxman, in which he
distances himself and the Croatian government from the quisling Croatian
state [ISC] and the Ustashe
regime. Very good and commendable. But if you lived here, I believe that
as a
Jew, you would be worried
by the rehabilitation of the Ustashe ISC, which encompasses
historiography,
newspaper articles, TV talk
shows, naming of military units after infamous Ustashe ``knights", all
the
way to restaurants with names
like ``Poglavnik", ``Coffee Bar Ustasha" and similar reminders of the
genocide of the Jews in ISC. Not
far from the house in which I live, one can find Poglavnik's picture and
a
bust in a bar, so that the patrons
can get the idea about the owner's political leanings. I am convinced
that
you will agree with me that it is
unimaginable that in todays Germany restaurants and hotels would be
named
after the Fuhrer or the SS
officers, or that a Fuhrer's picture could be displayed in them. In
Germany,
such things are regulated by
the law. We in Croatia apparently have more democracy than Germans. If
it is
true, as you said, that it is
``improbable that in Croatia we see the strengthening of fascism," one
faces
a question: why does not the
president and the government protest against the rehabilitation of the
criminal ISC? It is true, as you said,
that in Croatia ``there is no antisemitism but there are a few
antisemites."
After Auschwitz, antisemitism
can hardly be en vogue. The Croatian president and the government on
several
occasions, have expressed
their favorable inclination towards the Jewish community. Was that
because of
some special love towards
the Jews? Or in order to score a few good PR points in the USA? - I
leave the
answer to you.
It is unthinkable that in democratic Germany an ex-Nazi propaganda boss
could
appear on TV and discuss
the benefits of the third Reich. On the other hand, one of the Zagreb TV
channels showed in 1992 a
program with the boss of Ustashe propaganda, Daniel Crljen. The same one
who
during the ISC
declared:``Croatia has radically solved its Jewish problem."
Points scored away from the Home field
You said that ``the tendencies described in the press (I suppose foreign
!)
are marginal and have no
support from the president or the government." Very good. However, a
striking
question is why that same
president and the government do not publicly and decisively condemn
numerous
cases of rehabilitation of
Ustashe ISC. Nothing would be easier, since they have a total control
over
the daily press and the
electronic media.
For the Jewish community, the instances of Ustashe rehabilitation can
hardly
be ``marginal." Especially
not for those Jews who survived the holocaust and who after returning to
their homeland found out that
they were left alone in this world, without a mother and a father,
without
brothers and sisters, without
their children. All of them have disappeared without a trace in Ustashe
branch offices of ``the final
solution", in Jasenovac, Stara Gradiska, Jadovna, on Pag. By the way,
the
last several hundred Jews in
Croatia, mostly elderly, were turned turned over to Eichmann, ie. sent
straight to the Nazi gas chambers.
Cardinal Stepinac tried to save Zagreb Chef Rabbi, Miroslav Freiberger
and
his family. He did not
succeed. Eichmann's word had more importance for the Poglavnik than that
of
Cardinal Stepinac.
Would it therefore be marginal for you, Mr. Lustig, if you were facing
today
the rehabilitation of racist
butchers from Auschwitz? You also said:``claims that the present
government
encourages fascism are
absolutely false." If that is true, I would be grateful if you could
explain
how that squares with the fact
that the approximately 2000 monuments to the fighters against and
victims of
fascism have been
destroyed in Croatia [since 1991] ( by ``unknown" perpetrators);
memorials
for the people who were
cruelly killed simply because they had been born Jews, or Serbs or
Gypsies or
were Croatian antifascists!
Also, do not you find it perplexing, as an Auschwitz survivor, that
president
Tudjman was so keen to
erase the Victims of Fascism Square name? I believe that you will agree
with
me, when I say that those
fighters against fascism in Croatia sacrificed their lives in the common
struggle of the humanity against the
deadly darkness which threatened to turn all of Europe in a continental
Auschwitz. Why have not the
Croatian authorities condemned or why have not they decisively
confronted
that barbarian destruction of
the memorials for the victims of fascism? Or maybe someone thinks that
the
historical facts can be
thrown into a black hole of oblivion, as did the Big Brother's
``Ministry of
Truth" in Orwell's 1984?
Black Hole of Oblivion
In your Washington speech you said:``the number of Jews in Partisans was
small." With that claim you
unfortunately misinformed your American audience. Yugoslavia had about
70,000
Jews before the
WWII. About 4,500 of those, or more than 6 percent of the total Jewish
population, took part in the
national liberation war. That means that the participation of Jews in
the
antifascist struggle was
proportionally larger than that of any other nation on the territory of
ex-Yugoslavia.
You tried to convince your American audience that Kuna is an appropriate
choice for the name of the
Croatian currency. You said:`` I personally do not see that as a
connection
with the fascist period.".
Ustashe ISC was just the first state to name the Croatian currency Kuna.
But
what sort of connection
could that have with our ``most democratic country in Europe" [a common
phrase in the Croatian press,
referring to Croatia].
Commemoration of the 50 years since the liberation of Auschwitz has
recently
taken place in Poland. Eli
Wiesel, Nobel Prize winner, and ,as you said, your friend from the death
march in January of 1943 took
part in the commemoration. you quoted his words:`` To forget is to kill
the
victims for the second time.
We could not stop their death the first time round. We must not allow
them to
be killed again." Don't you
also find intolerable the rehabilitation of Ustashe ISC, which was until
the
last moment of the third Reich
its ally in the most horrendous genocide in history?
The author is a writer and translator, ex-secretary of Croatian PEN and
a
longtime member of the
Jewish Community Council in Zagreb
Translated in May 1995
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
* Nazismo croato: non solo ultras
* L'Italia alla conquista dell'economia croata
* Gli USA promettono altri aiuti militari alla Croazia; dispute legali
per i crimini croati in Bosnia; e' la BADURINA & ASSOCIATES che cura le
operazioni di "lobbying" della Croazia negli ambienti statunitensi che
contano
* Flashback: Haider in Croazia...
---
NAZISMO CROATO: NON SOLO ULTRAS
Gli incidenti che hanno avuto luogo tra ultras del Milan e teppisti
della Dinamo Zagabria, molti dei quali reduci dalla guerra di
"indipendenza" della Croazia, lo scorso 9 agosto a Milano hanno portato
alla ribalta delle cronache l'esistenza dei neonazisti ustascia croati.
Apriti cielo! Come se nessuno sapesse che il nazismo ustascia e' vivo e
vegeto, essendo stato in questi anni uno dei principali strumenti usati
dalla NATO per distruggere la RFSJ ed edificare il nuovo stato
"indipendente" croato filo-atlantico.
*** Tre siti per farsi un'idea di cosa e' il nazismo croato oggi:
USTASA NET - http://www.ustasa.net/
NEZAVISNA DRZAVA HRVATSKA - http://www.hop.hr/
CROAT NETLINK - http://ns.cronet.com/
*** Una "guida" della mafia erzegovese e delle principali formazioni
dello squadrismo ustascia in Bosnia-Erzegovina e' leggibile su:
http://www.egroups.com/message/crj-mailinglist/39
http://www.egroups.com/message/crj-mailinglist/40
*** LA NOSTRA PAGINA SULLA CROAZIA "INDIPENDENTE":
http://www.marx2001.org/crj/hr.html
*** ALCUNI VECCHI ARTICOLI IN INGLESE SUL NEONAZISMO CROATO:
1999: UN CULT-MOVIE PER NEONAZISTI PRODOTTO DALLO STATO CROATO?
Film "In Four Rows" by Jakov Sedlar and Ivan Aralica Missed Chance to
Become Cult Film of European Neo-Nazism
1997: I PADRI FONDATORI (FASCISTI) DELLA CROAZIA INDIPENDENTE
Fascists Reborn as Croatia's Founding Fathers
1995: PERPLESSITA' EBRAICHE SUI RAPPORTI TRA USA E CROAZIA...
Open Letter to Branko Lustig, Producer of a Misunderstanding in
Washington
Li trovate su: http://www.egroups.com/message/crj-mailinglist/421
---
> http://www.ecn.org/est/balcani/italia/italia11.htm
>
> Home L'Italia e i Balcani
>
> L'Italia...
> NOTIZIE EST #332 - ITALIA/BALCANI
> est@... 13 giugno 2000
>
> LE BANCHE ITALIANE FANNO ACQUISTI NEI BALCANI
>
> [Seguono due pezzi, uno dal settimanale di
> Zagabria "Nacional" sulla svendita delle banche
> croate, che ha visto in prima fila come
> controparti acquirenti due delle maggiori banche
> italiane, la Comit e la UniCredito, e uno
> sull'importante operazione di acquisto che
> quest'ultima, secondo il settimanale di Sofia
> "Kapital", si appresta a concludere in Bulgaria,
> nonché sui problemi che sta avendo in questo
> paese un'altra azienda italiana, la Marconi. Ai
> due pezzi fa seguito un commento sulla strana
> tempistica delle maggiori operazioni del grande
> capitale italiano nei Balcani - a.f.]
>
> LA SVENDITA DELLE BANCHE CROATE
> di Zeljko Rogosic - ("Nacional", 6 aprile 2000)
>
> [Il settimanale "Nacional" ha pubblicato, oltre
> a quello che segue qui sotto, altri due lunghi
> articoli sulla vendita della Splitska Banka e
> sul suo passato ruolo di finanziatrice, "a fondo
> perso", della cerchia di Pasalic e Kutle,
> rispettivamente uno esponente dell'ala destra
> della HDZ e l'altro miliardario legato a doppio
> filo con il regime di Tudjman, articoli
> pubblicati nel n. 222 del 17 febbraio 2000 e n.
> 224 del 2 marzo 2000 e archiviati nel sito web
> del giornale: http://www.nacional.hr Quando è
> stato pubblicato l'articolo che segue qui sotto,
> l'acquisto della Splitska Banka da parte della
> UniCredito non era ancora stato portato a
> termine - l'affare è stato comunque finalizzato
> poco dopo, il 19 aprile scorso. Data la
> lunghezza dell'articolo, abbiamo tradotto solo
> le parti riguardanti più direttamente le
> operazioni delle banche italiane. Sull'acquisto
> della Privredna Banka da parte della Comit
> segnaliamo il testo del Centro di Iniziativa
> Politica sui Balcani (http://www.ecn.org/cipb)]
>
> [...] Il governo di Ivica Racan non intende
> interrompere la privatizzazione delle banche del
> paese, illegale e altamente dannosa per i conti
> dello stato croato, avviata già dal governo di
> Matesa. Dopo la privatizzazione e la vendita
> delle quote di controllo della Slavonska Banka e
> della Privredna Banka Zagreb, e la recente
> vendita della Rijecka Banka alla tedesca
> Bayerische Landesbank, nonché l'annuncio
> dell'avvio di trattative per la scandalosa
> vendita della Splitska Banka alla banca italiana
> UniCredito di Milano - di cui "Nacional" ha già
> informato in maniera dettagliata l'opinione
> pubblica croata, senza che nessuno smentisse con
> una parola le nostre affermazioni - il danno
> arrecato ai conti dello stato croato ammonta
> ormai oggi a 14 miliardi di kune e continua a
> seguire una tendenza alla crescita. Nessuno si
> inquieta per il fatto che la piccola banca
> triestina Cassa di Risparmio di Trieste abbia
> deciso di acquistare la Splitska Banka
> presentandosi come parte del gruppo bancario
> UniCredito, che non ha mai manifestato nemmeno
> un lontano interesse d'affari riguardo a tale
> acquisto. I sospetti riguardo alla vendita e
> alla strana presa di controllo della Privredna
> Banka sotto il governo della HDZ verrà ora
> completato dalla coalizione di governo con
> un'altra vendita sospetta! Il governo di Racan
> punta unicamente a una soluzione a breve termine
> degli interessi croati, visto che con la somma
> limitata di 200 milioni di marchi che andranno a
> finire nelle casse di stato con la vendita della
> Rijecka Banka e della Splitska Banka, intende
> almeno per un breve periodo di tempo dare
> ossigeno a un bilancio statale eccessivamente
> carico di oneri. Questo desiderio degli
> strateghi del SDP, Slavko Linic e Mate Crkvenac,
> sarebbe del tutto comprensibile se in origine la
> politica della HDZ e la strategia di svendita
> delle proprietà croate avviata dal governo
> Matesa non avessero dato luogo al saccheggio più
> grande mai visto fino a oggi in Croazia. Secondo
> i dati della Banca Nazionale Croata, per il
> risanamento e le operazioni di salvataggio della
> banche croate in stato di fallimento o portate
> sull'orlo della bancarotta, sono stati spesi 48
> miliardi di kune, che hanno pagato di loro tasca
> i contribuenti croati. Per il risanamento della
> banche in bancarotta, il cui capitale è
> chiaramente diventato di proprietà dei magnati
> croati, sono stati prelevati dal bilancio
> statale, quindi, sei miliardi di dollari [...]
> [pari a] un terzo del prodotto interno lordo. Ma
> con la vendita della Privredna Banka alla
> italiana Comit, della Slavonska Banka
> all'austriaca Hypo Banka, della Rijecka e della
> Istarska alla tedesca Bayerische Landesbank e
> della Splitska Banka all'italiana UniCredito, il
> bilancio statale croato incasserà solamente 3,6
> miliardi di kune. La sproporzione tra i soldi
> stanziati per il risanamento e ciò che secondo
> le promesse dei politici dovrebbe tornare sotto
> forma di entrate dalle privatizzazioni delle
> banche è grande. Con il modello dominante della
> privatizzazione delle banche a ogni costo, la
> Croazia perderà milioni di marchi e sarà l'unico
> stato del mondo il cui governo ha organizzato e
> messo in atto una svendita a prezzi minimi delle
> proprie banche. Grazie a una tale
> privatizzazione, nelle casse dei cosiddetti
> partner e investitori strategici esteri vengono
> riversate decine di miliardi di kune dal
> bilancio statale croato. Gli appelli, le
> informazioni e la documentazione fatti pervenire
> alle più alte cariche del Governo,
> l'avvertimento formulato pubblicamente che con
> la vendita della Rijecka, e in particolare con
> la vendita criminale della Splitska Banka si
> arreca, e prosegue, un vero e proprio colpo
> contro il bilancio statale e la stabilità
> finanziaria dello stato, non hanno dato alcun
> risultato. Il governo ha deciso di chiudere gli
> occhi di fronte ai fatti. Esso non ha nemmeno
> sottoposto a riesame l'offerta della UniCredito
> per l'acquisto della Splitska Banka, anche se è
> evidente che nei preparativi per la sua
> privatizzazione sono stati compiuti anche gravi
> atti penali. Nel governo croato si è creata
> l'immagine fantastica che la vendita
> "salvatrice" della Splitska Banka agli italiani
> sia l'unica soluzione.
>
> IL MODELLO DELLA HDZ
> Il modello della HDZ per la vendita delle banche
> statali è stato illustrato alla fine del 1998
> dall'allora premier Zlatko Matesa. Egli ha
> annunciato che nella prima fase di
> privatizzazione sarebbe stato venduto solo il 25
> per cento della Rijecka Banka e il 36 per cento
> della Privredna Banka e della Splitska Banka, e
> che lo stato avrebbe continuato a esserne
> l'azionista di maggioranza. Chissà per decisione
> di chi, e comunque senza copertura e motivi
> finanziari effettivi, gli investitori esteri
> oggi controllano praticamente quote di
> maggioranza in tutte le banche croate
> privatizzate. La Hypo Banka, che ha comprato il
> relativo pacchetto azionario dalla EBRD (la
> Banca Europea per il Rinnovo e lo Sviluppo),
> controlla il 75 per cento del capitale della
> Slavonska Banka, la Comit detiene il 66,3 per
> cento della Privredna Banka e la BLB e la
> UniCredito riceveranno in dono rispettivamente
> il 66 e il 65 per cento della Rijecka Banka e
> della Splitska Banka. Con la vendita della
> Privredna Banka alla Comit alla fine dell'anno
> scorso è stato direttamente inaugurato il
> modello di svendita delle banche croate. Tale
> modello è stato portato alla perfezione con la
> prevista vendita della Splistka Banka, a quanto
> si dice, alla milanese UniCredito per il tramite
> della piccola Cassa triestina, vendita della
> quale "Nacional" ha esaurientemente scritto
> alcune settimane fa. Per il pacchetto di
> maggioranza della Privredna Banka la Comit ha
> pagato 660 milioni di marchi, ovvero due
> miliardi e 440 milioni di kune, una cifra che
> [l'allora] ministro delle finanze Borislav
> Skegro aveva valutato di fronte all'opinione
> pubblica come un affare eccezionale. Ma la HDZ e
> Skegro hanno dimenticato di dire che con la
> vendita della Privredna Banka i danni per il
> bilancio statale sono stati di alcune volte
> maggiori. Anche la Privredna Banka [come la
> Rijecka Banka] ha risanato il proprio bilancio,
> vale a dire che ha trasferito il proprio
> portafoglio di crediti inesigibili per un valore
> di non meno di 2,5 miliardi di kune, all'Agenzia
> statale per il risanamento delle banche (DAB). A
> nome dello stato, la DAB si è impegnata a pagare
> alla banca, cioè al suo nuovo proprietario, nel
> corso dei prossimi sette anni e con un interesse
> del 6,5 per cento, attingendo al bilancio
> statale, una somma di entità identica. Solo con
> questa operazione, il partner strategico
> italiano ha compensato le spese effettuate e
> inoltre, sulla base degli interessi, ha
> guadagnato come minimo mezzo milione di kune. Ma
> con l'acquisto della Privredna Banka da parte
> della Comit è stato acquisito anche il diritto a
> obbligazioni croate per 3,2 miliardi di kune
> emesse al fine del risanamento della banca, che
> recano un interesse del 7,5 per cento, nonché il
> diritto a un miliardo e 460 milioni di kune di
> obbligazioni statali emesse al fine della
> ricapitalizzazione della banca, che hanno una
> scadenza a 15 anni a cominciare dal 1 luglio
> 1997, con un interesse del 5 per cento, il tutto
> insieme a una clausola valutaria. Quindi, la
> Comit ha pagato per la Privredna Banka 2,4
> miliardi di kune e, solo a fronte delle
> obbligazioni basate sul bilancio statale croato,
> otterrà 4,6 miliardi di kune.
>
> LA PRIVATIZZAZIONE DANNOSA
> Ma non è tutto. Lo stato si è preso carico anche
> dei debiti della Privredna Banka conseguenti ai
> crediti contratti dalla banca all'estero e pari
> a 346 milioni di dollari, ovvero 2,7 miliardi di
> kune. Quindi alla Comit verranno pagati dal
> bilancio statale croato, e questo senza tenere
> conto del valore del portafoglio e dei crediti
> inesigibili trasferiti allo stato, ben 7,3
> miliardi di kune. La "vendita", o meglio il dono
> della Privredna Banka è stato un modello
> esemplare di come effettuare la privatizzazione
> di una banca con esiti dannosi per la Croazia.
> Il minimo che in questo saccheggio del bilancio
> statale e in questa svendita di banche statali
> poteva fare il governo di Racan sarebbe stato di
> mostrare una specifica delle quote e dei crediti
> inesigibili che la Privredna Banka ha trasferito
> allo stato, in modo tale da rendere pubblico
> quante obbligazioni nei confronti della Comit si
> è assunto lo stato croato. Per esempio, allo
> stato è stata trasferita la quota del 63 per
> cento che la Privredna Banka detiene nella
> Jadroplov di Split, per un valore di 400 milioni
> di kune - i debiti che si è così assunto lo
> stato sono pari a 80 milioni di dollari e sono
> identici ai valori delle proprietà. Si ritiene
> che oltre alla Jadroplov, tra i debiti assunti
> dallo stato ci siano anche la Ina, la Kutina e
> molte altre imprese e quindi per ora si può solo
> intuire quanti siano i crediti inesigibili e non
> pagati della Privredna Banka trasferiti a onere
> del bilancio statale. Se non vogliono mettere a
> tacere il più grande scandalo statale, il
> governo e la DAB devono rendere pubblico ai
> contribuenti l'accordo sul trasferimento allo
> stato delle quote e dei crediti inesigibili
> della Privredna Banka, della Rijecka Banka e
> della Splitska Banka, perché sono tenuti a
> farlo. Il governo dovrebbe rispondere alla
> domanda del perché la Privredna Banka è stata
> comprata attraverso la filiale lussemburghese
> della Comit e in quali rapporti è tale filiale
> con la sede centrale del nuovo proprietario di
> maggioranza della Privredna Banka, del quale si
> segnala che è un membro del "Gruppo Intesa", il
> maggiore gruppo finanziario italiano.
> Bisognerebbe rispondere chi è veramente il nuovo
> proprietario della Privredna Banka, se si tratta
> di cittadini italiani o croati, qual è il ruolo
> di alcuni ex ministri croati in tutto questo e
> perché la Comit ha acquistato la Privredna Banka
> con una linea di credito in features che,
> mediante un indebitamento sul mercato locale dei
> capitali, è stata procurata dalla filiale
> brasiliana della Comit. L'elenco delle quote e
> dei crediti inesigibili della Splitska Banka
> trasferiti allo stato, per un valore di 1,166
> milioni di kune, è noto a "Nacional", che lo
> possiede. Alla DAB sono state trasferite quote
> bancarie senza valore in residenze turistiche
> (629 milioni di kune), crediti inesigibili (345
> milioni di kune), imprese con enormi perdite
> (Plodina, Slobodna Dalmacija, Dalmacijavino),
> crediti nei confronti di imprese che sono in
> bancarotta (Tisak, Jadrantekstil, Mornar). In
> cambio di tutto ciò, lo stato è tenuto a pagare
> alla Splitska Banka 687 milioni di kune. Quello
> che non sapevamo ce lo ha raccontato Tomo
> Bolotin, in un'intervista su commissione alla
> rivista d'affari "Banka", con la quale ha
> cercato assolutamente senza successo di smentire
> il testo pubblicato da "Nacional". Bolotin
> ammette che il partner italiano ha ordinato il
> risanamento del bilancio della banca, che
> l'accordo con la DAB è effettivamente
> un'obbligazione contrattuale a sette anni con
> interessi del 6,5 per cento insieme alla
> clausola valutaria. Questo significa che
> l'obbligazione dello stato non è più la
> restituzione al proprietario della banca di 687
> milioni di kune, ma la stessa somma maggiorata
> di 150 milioni di kune per interessi. [...] Le
> residenze turistiche non sono più proprietà
> della Splitska Banka, bensì dello stato, ma nei
> libri della banca vengono ancora registrati
> stanziamenti approvati destinati a tali imprese
> per un valore di 140 milioni di marchi, ovvero
> 570 milioni di kune. Si tratta di crediti
> "vivi", che la banca ha assicurato mediante
> ipoteca sugli immobili, ma, ammette lo stesso
> Bolotin, anche con garanzie che devono essere
> pagate dallo stato alla prima richiesta.
>
> Quindi con l'operazione di risanamento del
> bilancio grazie all'"eccellente" vendita alla
> UniCredito lo stato non ha la possibilità di
> vendere gli alberghi, perché il nuovo
> proprietario ha registrato un'ipoteca su di essi
> e garanzie da pagarsi alla prima richiesta.
> Dunque, oltre ai 687 milioni di kune
> contrattuali, oltre ai 150 milioni di kune di
> interessi, oltre ai 1,193 miliardi di
> obbligazioni della Croazia, oltre alle proprietà
> della Splitska Banka per il valore di 137
> milioni di kune, il nuovo proprietario della
> Splitska Banka otterrà anche 570 milioni di kune
> di crediti approvati per il turismo con garanzie
> del governo croato, cosa che finora ancora non
> sapevamo. I nuovi dati dicono che con la
> svendita delle proprietà croate e l'acquisto
> della Splitska Banka, UniCredito guadagnerà due
> miliardi e 588 milioni di kune. [...]
>
> Rimane l'amaro sapore del dovere prendere atto
> che, per mettere delle pezze temporanee al
> bilancio, il governo di Racan ha amnistiato la
> politica della HDZ e copre tutte le mancanze, le
> illegalità e gli affari dubbi nella politica
> creditizia delle banche. In tal modo vengono
> amnistiati dalle loro responsabilità tutti i
> consigli di amministrazione e i collegi di
> controllo che sono sempre stati al servizio dei
> più grandi magnati. Se si apre il caso della
> Splitska Banka, bisognerà farlo anche con la
> Privredna Banka e questo per il governo,
> evidentemente, sarebbe un peso troppo grosso
> [...].
>
> LA UNICREDITO E LA BULGARIA
> La banca milanese UniCredito non limita i suoi
> interessi di acquisto alla Croazia. Nelle scorse
> settimane è stato annunciato dal viceministro
> bulgaro Zotev che la UniCredito è stata
> selezionata dal governo per l'acquisto della
> Bulbank, la maggiore banca bulgara. La
> UniCredito ha presentato un'offerta in consorzio
> con la tedesca Allianz AG, che tuttavia
> partecipa in misura minima (5%) all'operazione
> di acquisto. Il contratto dovrà essere
> finalizzato entro la fine di giugno e finora
> sono ignoti i dettagli dell'operazione, anche se
> secondo dati non ufficiali citati dal
> settimanale economico "Kapital" (n. 19, maggio
> 2000) la cifra offerta da UniCredito/Allianz
> sarebbe di 350 milioni di euro che, sempre
> secondo il settimanale, rappresenterebbero una
> cifra maggiore rispetto a quanto prevedeva di
> incassare il governo bulgaro, che l'anno scorso,
> per bocca del ministro delle finanze Radev,
> aveva detto di attendersi di incassare 300
> milioni di dollari. La quota acquistata dal
> consorzio guidato dalla UniCredito sarà comunque
> di controllo, ma non ne è ancora nota l'esatta
> percentuale - l'ente venditore, la Società di
> consolidazione bancaria bulgara, detiene il 98%
> delle azioni, ma è possibile che una quota di
> circa il 9-10% venga riservata ai dirigenti e ai
> dipendenti della banca. Secondo altre
> informazioni non ufficiali citate da "Kapital"
> la UniCredito sarebbe stata disposta a pagare
> una somma ancora maggiore per la Bulbank se
> fosse stata prescelta anche per l'acquisto della
> OBB, la terza banca bulgara in ordine di
> grandezza. Per quest'ultima, tuttavia, sembra
> che il governo bulgaro sia orientato a dare la
> preferenza alla Banca Nazionale Greca, secondo
> indiscrezioni dell'agenzia Reuters riportate da
> "Kapital" (n. 21, maggio 2000). La banca greca
> sarebbe disposta a pagare 240 milioni di euro,
> un cifra decisamente maggiore rispetto alle
> offerte degli altri contendenti, la Piraeus Bank
> SA e la UniCredito. Nel caso della Bulbank, la
> cui privatizzazione, a differenza di quella
> della OBB, è stata oggetto di una procedura il
> cui esito è stato ufficializzato, la UniCredito
> aveva battuto la Canovas Consortium SA, formata
> da capitali della famiglia greca Vardinojanis e
> della banca francese Credit Agricole Indosuez.
> Il prezzo che pagherà la UniCredito potrebbe
> comunque variare di molto in funzione della
> decisione della banca di avvalersi dello schema
> "debito contro proprietà" concordato l'anno
> scorso tra il governo italiano e quello bulgaro,
> con il quale i debiti (124 milioni di marchi) di
> due banche bulgare nei confronti della
> assicuratrice italiana SACE sono stati
> trasformati in debito statale, che la Bulgaria
> può rimborsare con quote di aziende da
> privatizzare. Da parte sua, la Canovas SA si è
> immediatamente lamentata di irregolarità nella
> gara e ha rilasciato una serie di dichiarazioni
> dalle quali risulta chiaro che effettuerà lavoro
> di lobby in parlamento per ottenere una
> revisione delle varie offerte. Se andrà in
> porto, questo sarà solo l'ultimo della serie di
> acquisti effettuati dalla UniCredito nell'Europa
> Orientale: oltre alla Splitska Banka (si veda
> sopra), la banca milanese ha di recente
> acquistato una quota di controllo della Pekao
> Bank SA, la seconda banca polacca, per più di un
> miliardo di dollari.
>
> Meno fortunata è stata la genovese Marconi
> Communications, affiliata italiana della General
> Electrics, che si era aggiudicata in Bulgaria
> alla fine del 1998 un importante contratto da 58
> milioni di dollari per la costruzione di un
> sistema di comunicazioni militari conforme agli
> standard NATO, dopo un'opera di lobby degli
> allora primo ministro Prodi e ministro della
> difesa Andreatta (si veda "La Marconi e i
> miliardi bulgari per la NATO" di Momcil Milev,
> in "Notizie Est" #96 del 22 ottobre 1998). Il
> ministero della difesa bulgaro (dopo il recente
> cambio ai vertici di quest'ultimo in seguito al
> rimpasto di governo del dicembre scorso) ha
> rescisso il contratto con l'azienda italiana,
> asserendo il mancato rispetto da parte di
> quest'ultima di alcune clausole contrattuali. La
> Marconi, da parte sua, ha affermato che la
> decisione è dovuta a "motivi interni" della
> Bulgaria. La rottura di questo contratto pone
> problemi non indifferenti al governo bulgaro: da
> una parte, metà del prezzo era già stato pagato
> a fronte della consegna di strumentazioni e pare
> che ora la parte bulgara intenda chiedere un
> difficilmente ottenibile rimborso, dall'altra la
> Bulgaria rischia ora di non essere pronta per
> una serie di appuntamenti del suo processo per
> l'adesione alla NATO. Nel 1998 la Marconi aveva
> vinto il concorso battendo la svedese Ericsson e
> la tedesca Daimler-Benz. La procedura era stata
> seguita da alcune dimissioni all'interno del
> ministero della difesa bulgaro, che alcuni
> organi di stampa di Sofia avevano messo in
> collegamento con l'assegnazione del contratto
> alla Marconi (da "Pari", 4 maggio 2000)
>
> COMMENTO: LA STRANA TEMPISTICA DEGLI
> INVESTIMENTI ITALIANI NEI BALCANI
> di Andrea Ferrario
>
> Sarà un caso, ma la scelta dei tempi di
> intervento da parte del grande capitale italiano
> nei Balcani sembra ricalcare un modello ben
> preciso che si ripete a più riprese: laddove c'è
> un regime autoritario o un'oligarchia in crisi,
> il più delle volte si trova anche un'azienda
> italiana pronta a riversare centinaia di
> miliardi nelle loro casse (beninteso, facendo
> molta attenzione ai propri interessi). E'
> avvenuto così con la privatizzazione della
> Telekom serba nel 1997, che ha visto l'italiana
> STET "finanziarie" indirettamente il bilancio
> del regime di Belgrado con centinaia di miliardi
> nel momento in cui le casse dello stato serbo
> erano vuote e gli oligarchi di Milosevic si
> preparavano alla resa dei conti in Kosovo. E'
> avvenuto così ancora una volta nel dicembre
> scorso, quando la Comit ha trattato e concluso
> con il ministro Skegro, uomo di Tudjman e
> corresponsabile con quest'ultimo della
> catastrofe economica del paese, un affare da
> centinaia di miliardi che ha nei fatti aiutato,
> non i croati, ma l'oligarchia
> politico-finanziaria del regime, a rendere più
> "indolore" il passaggio dei poteri dopo la morte
> di Tudjman, a scapito dei lavoratori del paese
> (si vedano nell'articolo di "Nacional" i costi
> del risanamento delle banche di svariate volte
> superiori agli introiti generati dalla loro
> successiva vendita) e questo al di fuori di ogni
> controllo democratico (l'affare è stato concluso
> quando il parlamento era sciolto, in attesa
> delle elezioni). Il modello si replica poi in
> buona parte, anche se in un contesto politico
> diverso, con il recente acquisto, sempre in
> Croazia, della Splitska Banka da parte della
> UniCredito. Anche la "variante bulgara", pur
> nella sua diversità contestuale, rimane analoga
> nella sostanza: l'offerta e il probabile accordo
> finale della UniCredito per l'acquisto della
> Bulbank arrivano nel momento in cui il regime di
> Sofia è in piena crisi, travagliato da violente
> lotte intestine e in preda a paranoici timori
> "golpisti", in un'atmosfera che ricorda quella
> che regnava nel regime di Tudjman mentre andava
> verso la disfatta (e anche qui, come scrive il
> settimanale "Kapital" [n. 22, giugno 2000] in
> edicola la settimana scorsa, si apre la
> possibilità che, grazie a una recente operazione
> della Bulbank ancora statale, la Bulbank
> "italianizzata" riesca in futuro a mettere le
> mani sugli attivi della Parva Castna Banka, la
> ex maggiore banca bulgara, fallita anni fa per
> malversazioni con esiti disastrosi per
> l'economia del paese). Anche gli affari che non
> sono andati bene, come il contratto della
> Marconi con il governo bulgaro, sono indicativi
> del contesto in cui si svolgono gli affari:
> l'accordo, siglato nell'inverno '98, è stato
> disdetto nei mesi scorsi, poco dopo un
> avvicendamento ai vertici del ministero della
> difesa bulgaro in seguito alla "purga" messa in
> atto dal premier Kostov e con la quale sono
> state emarginate importanti lobby
> politico-finanziarie (a vantaggio di altre).
> Quello che rimane più esemplare, tuttavia, di
> questo affare è il fatto che il governo bulgaro
> si sia impegnato a stanziare cento miliardi per
> la costruzione di un sistema di
> telecomunicazioni militari il cui unico scopo è
> quello di facilitare le operazioni NATO
> nell'area, mentre nel paese la disoccupazione
> continua a fare balzi in avanti e sono decine di
> migliaia i lavoratori che non ricevono lo
> stipendio da mesi e, in alcuni casi, anche da
> anni. Anche in questo caso, il capitale italiano
> è stato subito presente all'appello.
---
GLI USA PROMETTONO ALTRI AIUTI MILITARI ALLA CROAZIA
U.S. Promises To Increase Military Aid To Croatia
WASHINGTON, Aug 9, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) The United States on
Tuesday signaled its readiness to increase military aid to Croatia and
help the country's new reformist government strengthen its ties with
NATO.
"It's on the way up, and it's up from basically zero the year before,"
said Defense Department spokesman Kenneth Bacon.
The current amount of US military aid to Croatia is less than one
million dollars, according to the Pentagon.
The comment came after US Secretary of Defense William Cohen hosted at
the Pentagon a full honors arrival ceremony for Croatian President Stipe
Mesic and Prime Minister Ivica Racan.
During their visit to Washington, the two leaders were expected to
discuss a broad array of cooperation projects designed to bolster
Croatia's economy and its standing in the international community.
"We see this visit as an important step in strengthening the growing
cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Croatia in the
wake of that country's democratic transition," State Department
spokesman Richard Boucher said.
Topics during a lunchtime discussion at the Pentagon included Croatia's
role in the Partnership for Peace program, created in 1994 to establish
cooperation and security partnerships between NATO and former Eastern
Bloc countries.
This is Mesic's first visit to the Pentagon as president, said Bacon.
Mesic and Cohen discussed an assessment by US officials on how best to
reform the Croatian military, according to the spokesman.
"They also talked about Croatia's steps toward civilian control of the
military," he added.
Croatia "has taken a big step forward to democracy which we're
encouraging," Bacon said. ((c) 2000 Agence France Presse)
-
PROBLEMINI LEGALI PER LA CROAZIA
A CAUSA DEI CRIMINI COMMESSI IN BOSNIA...
http://washingtonpost.com/cgi-bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+FTContentServer?pagename=wpni/print&articleid=A27787-2000Jun30
D.C. Lawyer in Dispute With Croatia
By R. Jeffrey Smith
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday , July 1, 2000 ; A18
ZAGREB, Croatia –– Top Croatian ministers looked to a Washington
attorney for advice in recent
years as they weighed demands from the international war crimes tribunal
for information about
alleged atrocities committed by Croatian troops in the 1991-95 Bosnian
war...
-
BADURINA & ASSOCIATES: PUBLIC RELATIONS PER SFASCIARE UN PAESE
Below you will find a page from the Badurina and Associtates site. This
PR
firm partly is responsible for the creation and speard of anti-Serb
hatred
and racism among US Congressmen.
The link goes to a page which list those Congressmen backing anti-Serb,
racist actions through NATO.
If you are a Serb, consider these people your enemy!
Hummm. . .
http://www.dalmatia.net/croatia/badurina/us_backs_croatia.htm
---
"Il Manifesto" del 24 Maggio 2000
Haider al palio dell'anello
CROAZIA
L'invito al leader razzista corona l'offensiva di destra
GIACOMO SCOTTI
Continua in Croazia l'offensiva dell'estrema destra che ha
lo scopo dichiarato di seminare il caos nel paese governato
dalla coalizione di centrosinistra. Tutte le occasioni sono
buone. Ieri è stato annunciato che il leader degli
xenofobi-liberali austriaci e governatore della Carinzia
Jorg Haider sarà "ospite d'onore" al 285esimo Palio
dell'Anello: il più celebre torneo cavalleresco della zona
che si corre ogni anno ad agosto dal 1715 nella cittadina
croata di Sinj (retroterra della Dalmazia). La competizione
dei cavalieri in uniformi settecentesche che galoppano
lancia in resta per centrare un anello di ferro ebbe dal
1990 al 1999 per supremo "carambascià" il defunto Franjo
Tudjman. Gli organizzatori, come dimostra l'invito,
accettato, a Haider e da questi accettato sono ancor sempre
estremisti di destra che vorrebbero trasformare l'edizione
2000 in raduno di filonazisti decisi a sferrare un ennesimo
colpo al governo post-tudjmaniano. Il pretesto per invitare
Haider a Sinj è stato trovato nella tradizione popolare
secondo la quale nel villaggio di Pribude, sulle pendici
del monte Svilaja, a una trentina di chilometri da Sinj,
vivono gli Haider croati. Un Haider austriaco, ufficiale
dell'esercito asburgico, dopo la prima guerra mondiale
decise di ritirarsi sul monte dove mise famiglia; i suoi
discendenti stanno ancora lassù.
L'annunciata presenza di Jorge Haider in Croazia è
un'ennesima provocazione, naturalmente, ma preoccupa il
fatto che il governo di Zagabria - condizionato dalla
presenza dei social-liberali di Budisa che non nascondono
la loro parentela con l'Hdz, il loro orientamento
nazionalistico e l'avversione agli antifascisti - lascia
ampi spazio alle sfide dei movimenti estremisti capeggiati
da Anto Djapic, Ivan Gabelica, Mladen Schwartz, Lioyic ed
altri caporioni neonazisti che sono riusciti, anche col
sostegno della destra accadizeta, a mobilitare in più
occasioni parte dei reduci della "guerra patriottica".
Negli ultimi 100 giorni, quasi ogni giorno, i neoustascia
croati, legati alla criminalità organizzata ed a schegge
deviate dei servizi segreti, hanno organizzato provocazioni
fino al tentativo di golpe. Ricordiamone alcune.
A Veljun, nella seconda guerra mondiale gli ustascia
massacrarono 520 civili di etnia serba: lì i neoustascia
hanno impedito agli ex partigiani di deporre corone sul
monumento che ricorda quelle vittime, hanno devastato il
monumento e una donna - fra gli applausi delle camicie nere
- si è calata le mutandine urinando sull'ossario; al
danneggiamento hanno preso parte cinque ufficiali
dell'esercito, ma la polizia ha lasciato fare.
In più comizi, il capo delle camicie nere Djapic ha
minacciato di far scorrere il sangue se i profughi serbi
dovessero tornare alle loro case e pretendessero di
prenderne possesso; il governo non ha reagito. Nella Piazza
dei martiri antifascisti a Zagabria, ribattezzata da
Tudjman "Piazza dei Grandi croati", gli ustascia hanno
aggredito e bastonato gli ex partigiani venuti per
celebrare la Giornata della vittoria sul fascismo; la
polizia ha lasciato fare.
A Bleiburg, in Austria, diverse migliaia di nostalgici
ustascia croati hanno celebrato la "giornata delle vittime"
commemorando con discorsi filonazisti i camerati caduti il
15 maggio '45. A quella manifestazione hanno portato il
saluto e l'adesione del Governo croato, ben tre ministri e
il vicepresidente del Parlamento, tutti social-liberali.
Uno di essi ha detto che "l'esercito partigiano non fu il
nostro esercito", aggiungendo che l'odierna Croazia
indipendente "è nata sulle ossa di questi caduti".
E non si contano le manifestazioni di protesta, organizzate
dai neoustascia, che si susseguono a Gospic, a Spalato, a
Zagabria, a Vukivar a difesa dei criminali di guerra,
contro le "interferenze" del Tribunale internazionale
dell'Aja. Ecco: impedire le indagini sulle stragi in
Croazia, impedire la consegna al tribunale dell'Aja degli
autori di quei crimini; impedire il rientro dei profughi
serbi cacciati dalla Croazia con la pulizia etnica dal 1991
al 1995; impedire la costruzione della democrazia e la
liquidazione delle strutture dell'ex regime; destabilizzare
il paese: questi sono gli obiettivi dei neoustascia e dei
loro alleati in questa sfrenata catena di provocazioni.
Un'esigua minoranza, infiltrata nei più delicati tessuti
dello stato, cerca di gettare la Croazia nel disordine, di
provocare una nuova guerra civile; una minaccia anche per i
paesi vicini dell'aera balcanico-adriatica. L'Europa, e
l'Italia in primo luogo, non può chiudere gli occhi.
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
* L'Italia alla conquista dell'economia croata
* Gli USA promettono altri aiuti militari alla Croazia; dispute legali
per i crimini croati in Bosnia; e' la BADURINA & ASSOCIATES che cura le
operazioni di "lobbying" della Croazia negli ambienti statunitensi che
contano
* Flashback: Haider in Croazia...
---
NAZISMO CROATO: NON SOLO ULTRAS
Gli incidenti che hanno avuto luogo tra ultras del Milan e teppisti
della Dinamo Zagabria, molti dei quali reduci dalla guerra di
"indipendenza" della Croazia, lo scorso 9 agosto a Milano hanno portato
alla ribalta delle cronache l'esistenza dei neonazisti ustascia croati.
Apriti cielo! Come se nessuno sapesse che il nazismo ustascia e' vivo e
vegeto, essendo stato in questi anni uno dei principali strumenti usati
dalla NATO per distruggere la RFSJ ed edificare il nuovo stato
"indipendente" croato filo-atlantico.
*** Tre siti per farsi un'idea di cosa e' il nazismo croato oggi:
USTASA NET - http://www.ustasa.net/
NEZAVISNA DRZAVA HRVATSKA - http://www.hop.hr/
CROAT NETLINK - http://ns.cronet.com/
*** Una "guida" della mafia erzegovese e delle principali formazioni
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*** LA NOSTRA PAGINA SULLA CROAZIA "INDIPENDENTE":
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*** ALCUNI VECCHI ARTICOLI IN INGLESE SUL NEONAZISMO CROATO:
1999: UN CULT-MOVIE PER NEONAZISTI PRODOTTO DALLO STATO CROATO?
Film "In Four Rows" by Jakov Sedlar and Ivan Aralica Missed Chance to
Become Cult Film of European Neo-Nazism
1997: I PADRI FONDATORI (FASCISTI) DELLA CROAZIA INDIPENDENTE
Fascists Reborn as Croatia's Founding Fathers
1995: PERPLESSITA' EBRAICHE SUI RAPPORTI TRA USA E CROAZIA...
Open Letter to Branko Lustig, Producer of a Misunderstanding in
Washington
Li trovate su: http://www.egroups.com/message/crj-mailinglist/421
---
> http://www.ecn.org/est/balcani/italia/italia11.htm
>
> Home L'Italia e i Balcani
>
> L'Italia...
> NOTIZIE EST #332 - ITALIA/BALCANI
> est@... 13 giugno 2000
>
> LE BANCHE ITALIANE FANNO ACQUISTI NEI BALCANI
>
> [Seguono due pezzi, uno dal settimanale di
> Zagabria "Nacional" sulla svendita delle banche
> croate, che ha visto in prima fila come
> controparti acquirenti due delle maggiori banche
> italiane, la Comit e la UniCredito, e uno
> sull'importante operazione di acquisto che
> quest'ultima, secondo il settimanale di Sofia
> "Kapital", si appresta a concludere in Bulgaria,
> nonché sui problemi che sta avendo in questo
> paese un'altra azienda italiana, la Marconi. Ai
> due pezzi fa seguito un commento sulla strana
> tempistica delle maggiori operazioni del grande
> capitale italiano nei Balcani - a.f.]
>
> LA SVENDITA DELLE BANCHE CROATE
> di Zeljko Rogosic - ("Nacional", 6 aprile 2000)
>
> [Il settimanale "Nacional" ha pubblicato, oltre
> a quello che segue qui sotto, altri due lunghi
> articoli sulla vendita della Splitska Banka e
> sul suo passato ruolo di finanziatrice, "a fondo
> perso", della cerchia di Pasalic e Kutle,
> rispettivamente uno esponente dell'ala destra
> della HDZ e l'altro miliardario legato a doppio
> filo con il regime di Tudjman, articoli
> pubblicati nel n. 222 del 17 febbraio 2000 e n.
> 224 del 2 marzo 2000 e archiviati nel sito web
> del giornale: http://www.nacional.hr Quando è
> stato pubblicato l'articolo che segue qui sotto,
> l'acquisto della Splitska Banka da parte della
> UniCredito non era ancora stato portato a
> termine - l'affare è stato comunque finalizzato
> poco dopo, il 19 aprile scorso. Data la
> lunghezza dell'articolo, abbiamo tradotto solo
> le parti riguardanti più direttamente le
> operazioni delle banche italiane. Sull'acquisto
> della Privredna Banka da parte della Comit
> segnaliamo il testo del Centro di Iniziativa
> Politica sui Balcani (http://www.ecn.org/cipb)]
>
> [...] Il governo di Ivica Racan non intende
> interrompere la privatizzazione delle banche del
> paese, illegale e altamente dannosa per i conti
> dello stato croato, avviata già dal governo di
> Matesa. Dopo la privatizzazione e la vendita
> delle quote di controllo della Slavonska Banka e
> della Privredna Banka Zagreb, e la recente
> vendita della Rijecka Banka alla tedesca
> Bayerische Landesbank, nonché l'annuncio
> dell'avvio di trattative per la scandalosa
> vendita della Splitska Banka alla banca italiana
> UniCredito di Milano - di cui "Nacional" ha già
> informato in maniera dettagliata l'opinione
> pubblica croata, senza che nessuno smentisse con
> una parola le nostre affermazioni - il danno
> arrecato ai conti dello stato croato ammonta
> ormai oggi a 14 miliardi di kune e continua a
> seguire una tendenza alla crescita. Nessuno si
> inquieta per il fatto che la piccola banca
> triestina Cassa di Risparmio di Trieste abbia
> deciso di acquistare la Splitska Banka
> presentandosi come parte del gruppo bancario
> UniCredito, che non ha mai manifestato nemmeno
> un lontano interesse d'affari riguardo a tale
> acquisto. I sospetti riguardo alla vendita e
> alla strana presa di controllo della Privredna
> Banka sotto il governo della HDZ verrà ora
> completato dalla coalizione di governo con
> un'altra vendita sospetta! Il governo di Racan
> punta unicamente a una soluzione a breve termine
> degli interessi croati, visto che con la somma
> limitata di 200 milioni di marchi che andranno a
> finire nelle casse di stato con la vendita della
> Rijecka Banka e della Splitska Banka, intende
> almeno per un breve periodo di tempo dare
> ossigeno a un bilancio statale eccessivamente
> carico di oneri. Questo desiderio degli
> strateghi del SDP, Slavko Linic e Mate Crkvenac,
> sarebbe del tutto comprensibile se in origine la
> politica della HDZ e la strategia di svendita
> delle proprietà croate avviata dal governo
> Matesa non avessero dato luogo al saccheggio più
> grande mai visto fino a oggi in Croazia. Secondo
> i dati della Banca Nazionale Croata, per il
> risanamento e le operazioni di salvataggio della
> banche croate in stato di fallimento o portate
> sull'orlo della bancarotta, sono stati spesi 48
> miliardi di kune, che hanno pagato di loro tasca
> i contribuenti croati. Per il risanamento della
> banche in bancarotta, il cui capitale è
> chiaramente diventato di proprietà dei magnati
> croati, sono stati prelevati dal bilancio
> statale, quindi, sei miliardi di dollari [...]
> [pari a] un terzo del prodotto interno lordo. Ma
> con la vendita della Privredna Banka alla
> italiana Comit, della Slavonska Banka
> all'austriaca Hypo Banka, della Rijecka e della
> Istarska alla tedesca Bayerische Landesbank e
> della Splitska Banka all'italiana UniCredito, il
> bilancio statale croato incasserà solamente 3,6
> miliardi di kune. La sproporzione tra i soldi
> stanziati per il risanamento e ciò che secondo
> le promesse dei politici dovrebbe tornare sotto
> forma di entrate dalle privatizzazioni delle
> banche è grande. Con il modello dominante della
> privatizzazione delle banche a ogni costo, la
> Croazia perderà milioni di marchi e sarà l'unico
> stato del mondo il cui governo ha organizzato e
> messo in atto una svendita a prezzi minimi delle
> proprie banche. Grazie a una tale
> privatizzazione, nelle casse dei cosiddetti
> partner e investitori strategici esteri vengono
> riversate decine di miliardi di kune dal
> bilancio statale croato. Gli appelli, le
> informazioni e la documentazione fatti pervenire
> alle più alte cariche del Governo,
> l'avvertimento formulato pubblicamente che con
> la vendita della Rijecka, e in particolare con
> la vendita criminale della Splitska Banka si
> arreca, e prosegue, un vero e proprio colpo
> contro il bilancio statale e la stabilità
> finanziaria dello stato, non hanno dato alcun
> risultato. Il governo ha deciso di chiudere gli
> occhi di fronte ai fatti. Esso non ha nemmeno
> sottoposto a riesame l'offerta della UniCredito
> per l'acquisto della Splitska Banka, anche se è
> evidente che nei preparativi per la sua
> privatizzazione sono stati compiuti anche gravi
> atti penali. Nel governo croato si è creata
> l'immagine fantastica che la vendita
> "salvatrice" della Splitska Banka agli italiani
> sia l'unica soluzione.
>
> IL MODELLO DELLA HDZ
> Il modello della HDZ per la vendita delle banche
> statali è stato illustrato alla fine del 1998
> dall'allora premier Zlatko Matesa. Egli ha
> annunciato che nella prima fase di
> privatizzazione sarebbe stato venduto solo il 25
> per cento della Rijecka Banka e il 36 per cento
> della Privredna Banka e della Splitska Banka, e
> che lo stato avrebbe continuato a esserne
> l'azionista di maggioranza. Chissà per decisione
> di chi, e comunque senza copertura e motivi
> finanziari effettivi, gli investitori esteri
> oggi controllano praticamente quote di
> maggioranza in tutte le banche croate
> privatizzate. La Hypo Banka, che ha comprato il
> relativo pacchetto azionario dalla EBRD (la
> Banca Europea per il Rinnovo e lo Sviluppo),
> controlla il 75 per cento del capitale della
> Slavonska Banka, la Comit detiene il 66,3 per
> cento della Privredna Banka e la BLB e la
> UniCredito riceveranno in dono rispettivamente
> il 66 e il 65 per cento della Rijecka Banka e
> della Splitska Banka. Con la vendita della
> Privredna Banka alla Comit alla fine dell'anno
> scorso è stato direttamente inaugurato il
> modello di svendita delle banche croate. Tale
> modello è stato portato alla perfezione con la
> prevista vendita della Splistka Banka, a quanto
> si dice, alla milanese UniCredito per il tramite
> della piccola Cassa triestina, vendita della
> quale "Nacional" ha esaurientemente scritto
> alcune settimane fa. Per il pacchetto di
> maggioranza della Privredna Banka la Comit ha
> pagato 660 milioni di marchi, ovvero due
> miliardi e 440 milioni di kune, una cifra che
> [l'allora] ministro delle finanze Borislav
> Skegro aveva valutato di fronte all'opinione
> pubblica come un affare eccezionale. Ma la HDZ e
> Skegro hanno dimenticato di dire che con la
> vendita della Privredna Banka i danni per il
> bilancio statale sono stati di alcune volte
> maggiori. Anche la Privredna Banka [come la
> Rijecka Banka] ha risanato il proprio bilancio,
> vale a dire che ha trasferito il proprio
> portafoglio di crediti inesigibili per un valore
> di non meno di 2,5 miliardi di kune, all'Agenzia
> statale per il risanamento delle banche (DAB). A
> nome dello stato, la DAB si è impegnata a pagare
> alla banca, cioè al suo nuovo proprietario, nel
> corso dei prossimi sette anni e con un interesse
> del 6,5 per cento, attingendo al bilancio
> statale, una somma di entità identica. Solo con
> questa operazione, il partner strategico
> italiano ha compensato le spese effettuate e
> inoltre, sulla base degli interessi, ha
> guadagnato come minimo mezzo milione di kune. Ma
> con l'acquisto della Privredna Banka da parte
> della Comit è stato acquisito anche il diritto a
> obbligazioni croate per 3,2 miliardi di kune
> emesse al fine del risanamento della banca, che
> recano un interesse del 7,5 per cento, nonché il
> diritto a un miliardo e 460 milioni di kune di
> obbligazioni statali emesse al fine della
> ricapitalizzazione della banca, che hanno una
> scadenza a 15 anni a cominciare dal 1 luglio
> 1997, con un interesse del 5 per cento, il tutto
> insieme a una clausola valutaria. Quindi, la
> Comit ha pagato per la Privredna Banka 2,4
> miliardi di kune e, solo a fronte delle
> obbligazioni basate sul bilancio statale croato,
> otterrà 4,6 miliardi di kune.
>
> LA PRIVATIZZAZIONE DANNOSA
> Ma non è tutto. Lo stato si è preso carico anche
> dei debiti della Privredna Banka conseguenti ai
> crediti contratti dalla banca all'estero e pari
> a 346 milioni di dollari, ovvero 2,7 miliardi di
> kune. Quindi alla Comit verranno pagati dal
> bilancio statale croato, e questo senza tenere
> conto del valore del portafoglio e dei crediti
> inesigibili trasferiti allo stato, ben 7,3
> miliardi di kune. La "vendita", o meglio il dono
> della Privredna Banka è stato un modello
> esemplare di come effettuare la privatizzazione
> di una banca con esiti dannosi per la Croazia.
> Il minimo che in questo saccheggio del bilancio
> statale e in questa svendita di banche statali
> poteva fare il governo di Racan sarebbe stato di
> mostrare una specifica delle quote e dei crediti
> inesigibili che la Privredna Banka ha trasferito
> allo stato, in modo tale da rendere pubblico
> quante obbligazioni nei confronti della Comit si
> è assunto lo stato croato. Per esempio, allo
> stato è stata trasferita la quota del 63 per
> cento che la Privredna Banka detiene nella
> Jadroplov di Split, per un valore di 400 milioni
> di kune - i debiti che si è così assunto lo
> stato sono pari a 80 milioni di dollari e sono
> identici ai valori delle proprietà. Si ritiene
> che oltre alla Jadroplov, tra i debiti assunti
> dallo stato ci siano anche la Ina, la Kutina e
> molte altre imprese e quindi per ora si può solo
> intuire quanti siano i crediti inesigibili e non
> pagati della Privredna Banka trasferiti a onere
> del bilancio statale. Se non vogliono mettere a
> tacere il più grande scandalo statale, il
> governo e la DAB devono rendere pubblico ai
> contribuenti l'accordo sul trasferimento allo
> stato delle quote e dei crediti inesigibili
> della Privredna Banka, della Rijecka Banka e
> della Splitska Banka, perché sono tenuti a
> farlo. Il governo dovrebbe rispondere alla
> domanda del perché la Privredna Banka è stata
> comprata attraverso la filiale lussemburghese
> della Comit e in quali rapporti è tale filiale
> con la sede centrale del nuovo proprietario di
> maggioranza della Privredna Banka, del quale si
> segnala che è un membro del "Gruppo Intesa", il
> maggiore gruppo finanziario italiano.
> Bisognerebbe rispondere chi è veramente il nuovo
> proprietario della Privredna Banka, se si tratta
> di cittadini italiani o croati, qual è il ruolo
> di alcuni ex ministri croati in tutto questo e
> perché la Comit ha acquistato la Privredna Banka
> con una linea di credito in features che,
> mediante un indebitamento sul mercato locale dei
> capitali, è stata procurata dalla filiale
> brasiliana della Comit. L'elenco delle quote e
> dei crediti inesigibili della Splitska Banka
> trasferiti allo stato, per un valore di 1,166
> milioni di kune, è noto a "Nacional", che lo
> possiede. Alla DAB sono state trasferite quote
> bancarie senza valore in residenze turistiche
> (629 milioni di kune), crediti inesigibili (345
> milioni di kune), imprese con enormi perdite
> (Plodina, Slobodna Dalmacija, Dalmacijavino),
> crediti nei confronti di imprese che sono in
> bancarotta (Tisak, Jadrantekstil, Mornar). In
> cambio di tutto ciò, lo stato è tenuto a pagare
> alla Splitska Banka 687 milioni di kune. Quello
> che non sapevamo ce lo ha raccontato Tomo
> Bolotin, in un'intervista su commissione alla
> rivista d'affari "Banka", con la quale ha
> cercato assolutamente senza successo di smentire
> il testo pubblicato da "Nacional". Bolotin
> ammette che il partner italiano ha ordinato il
> risanamento del bilancio della banca, che
> l'accordo con la DAB è effettivamente
> un'obbligazione contrattuale a sette anni con
> interessi del 6,5 per cento insieme alla
> clausola valutaria. Questo significa che
> l'obbligazione dello stato non è più la
> restituzione al proprietario della banca di 687
> milioni di kune, ma la stessa somma maggiorata
> di 150 milioni di kune per interessi. [...] Le
> residenze turistiche non sono più proprietà
> della Splitska Banka, bensì dello stato, ma nei
> libri della banca vengono ancora registrati
> stanziamenti approvati destinati a tali imprese
> per un valore di 140 milioni di marchi, ovvero
> 570 milioni di kune. Si tratta di crediti
> "vivi", che la banca ha assicurato mediante
> ipoteca sugli immobili, ma, ammette lo stesso
> Bolotin, anche con garanzie che devono essere
> pagate dallo stato alla prima richiesta.
>
> Quindi con l'operazione di risanamento del
> bilancio grazie all'"eccellente" vendita alla
> UniCredito lo stato non ha la possibilità di
> vendere gli alberghi, perché il nuovo
> proprietario ha registrato un'ipoteca su di essi
> e garanzie da pagarsi alla prima richiesta.
> Dunque, oltre ai 687 milioni di kune
> contrattuali, oltre ai 150 milioni di kune di
> interessi, oltre ai 1,193 miliardi di
> obbligazioni della Croazia, oltre alle proprietà
> della Splitska Banka per il valore di 137
> milioni di kune, il nuovo proprietario della
> Splitska Banka otterrà anche 570 milioni di kune
> di crediti approvati per il turismo con garanzie
> del governo croato, cosa che finora ancora non
> sapevamo. I nuovi dati dicono che con la
> svendita delle proprietà croate e l'acquisto
> della Splitska Banka, UniCredito guadagnerà due
> miliardi e 588 milioni di kune. [...]
>
> Rimane l'amaro sapore del dovere prendere atto
> che, per mettere delle pezze temporanee al
> bilancio, il governo di Racan ha amnistiato la
> politica della HDZ e copre tutte le mancanze, le
> illegalità e gli affari dubbi nella politica
> creditizia delle banche. In tal modo vengono
> amnistiati dalle loro responsabilità tutti i
> consigli di amministrazione e i collegi di
> controllo che sono sempre stati al servizio dei
> più grandi magnati. Se si apre il caso della
> Splitska Banka, bisognerà farlo anche con la
> Privredna Banka e questo per il governo,
> evidentemente, sarebbe un peso troppo grosso
> [...].
>
> LA UNICREDITO E LA BULGARIA
> La banca milanese UniCredito non limita i suoi
> interessi di acquisto alla Croazia. Nelle scorse
> settimane è stato annunciato dal viceministro
> bulgaro Zotev che la UniCredito è stata
> selezionata dal governo per l'acquisto della
> Bulbank, la maggiore banca bulgara. La
> UniCredito ha presentato un'offerta in consorzio
> con la tedesca Allianz AG, che tuttavia
> partecipa in misura minima (5%) all'operazione
> di acquisto. Il contratto dovrà essere
> finalizzato entro la fine di giugno e finora
> sono ignoti i dettagli dell'operazione, anche se
> secondo dati non ufficiali citati dal
> settimanale economico "Kapital" (n. 19, maggio
> 2000) la cifra offerta da UniCredito/Allianz
> sarebbe di 350 milioni di euro che, sempre
> secondo il settimanale, rappresenterebbero una
> cifra maggiore rispetto a quanto prevedeva di
> incassare il governo bulgaro, che l'anno scorso,
> per bocca del ministro delle finanze Radev,
> aveva detto di attendersi di incassare 300
> milioni di dollari. La quota acquistata dal
> consorzio guidato dalla UniCredito sarà comunque
> di controllo, ma non ne è ancora nota l'esatta
> percentuale - l'ente venditore, la Società di
> consolidazione bancaria bulgara, detiene il 98%
> delle azioni, ma è possibile che una quota di
> circa il 9-10% venga riservata ai dirigenti e ai
> dipendenti della banca. Secondo altre
> informazioni non ufficiali citate da "Kapital"
> la UniCredito sarebbe stata disposta a pagare
> una somma ancora maggiore per la Bulbank se
> fosse stata prescelta anche per l'acquisto della
> OBB, la terza banca bulgara in ordine di
> grandezza. Per quest'ultima, tuttavia, sembra
> che il governo bulgaro sia orientato a dare la
> preferenza alla Banca Nazionale Greca, secondo
> indiscrezioni dell'agenzia Reuters riportate da
> "Kapital" (n. 21, maggio 2000). La banca greca
> sarebbe disposta a pagare 240 milioni di euro,
> un cifra decisamente maggiore rispetto alle
> offerte degli altri contendenti, la Piraeus Bank
> SA e la UniCredito. Nel caso della Bulbank, la
> cui privatizzazione, a differenza di quella
> della OBB, è stata oggetto di una procedura il
> cui esito è stato ufficializzato, la UniCredito
> aveva battuto la Canovas Consortium SA, formata
> da capitali della famiglia greca Vardinojanis e
> della banca francese Credit Agricole Indosuez.
> Il prezzo che pagherà la UniCredito potrebbe
> comunque variare di molto in funzione della
> decisione della banca di avvalersi dello schema
> "debito contro proprietà" concordato l'anno
> scorso tra il governo italiano e quello bulgaro,
> con il quale i debiti (124 milioni di marchi) di
> due banche bulgare nei confronti della
> assicuratrice italiana SACE sono stati
> trasformati in debito statale, che la Bulgaria
> può rimborsare con quote di aziende da
> privatizzare. Da parte sua, la Canovas SA si è
> immediatamente lamentata di irregolarità nella
> gara e ha rilasciato una serie di dichiarazioni
> dalle quali risulta chiaro che effettuerà lavoro
> di lobby in parlamento per ottenere una
> revisione delle varie offerte. Se andrà in
> porto, questo sarà solo l'ultimo della serie di
> acquisti effettuati dalla UniCredito nell'Europa
> Orientale: oltre alla Splitska Banka (si veda
> sopra), la banca milanese ha di recente
> acquistato una quota di controllo della Pekao
> Bank SA, la seconda banca polacca, per più di un
> miliardo di dollari.
>
> Meno fortunata è stata la genovese Marconi
> Communications, affiliata italiana della General
> Electrics, che si era aggiudicata in Bulgaria
> alla fine del 1998 un importante contratto da 58
> milioni di dollari per la costruzione di un
> sistema di comunicazioni militari conforme agli
> standard NATO, dopo un'opera di lobby degli
> allora primo ministro Prodi e ministro della
> difesa Andreatta (si veda "La Marconi e i
> miliardi bulgari per la NATO" di Momcil Milev,
> in "Notizie Est" #96 del 22 ottobre 1998). Il
> ministero della difesa bulgaro (dopo il recente
> cambio ai vertici di quest'ultimo in seguito al
> rimpasto di governo del dicembre scorso) ha
> rescisso il contratto con l'azienda italiana,
> asserendo il mancato rispetto da parte di
> quest'ultima di alcune clausole contrattuali. La
> Marconi, da parte sua, ha affermato che la
> decisione è dovuta a "motivi interni" della
> Bulgaria. La rottura di questo contratto pone
> problemi non indifferenti al governo bulgaro: da
> una parte, metà del prezzo era già stato pagato
> a fronte della consegna di strumentazioni e pare
> che ora la parte bulgara intenda chiedere un
> difficilmente ottenibile rimborso, dall'altra la
> Bulgaria rischia ora di non essere pronta per
> una serie di appuntamenti del suo processo per
> l'adesione alla NATO. Nel 1998 la Marconi aveva
> vinto il concorso battendo la svedese Ericsson e
> la tedesca Daimler-Benz. La procedura era stata
> seguita da alcune dimissioni all'interno del
> ministero della difesa bulgaro, che alcuni
> organi di stampa di Sofia avevano messo in
> collegamento con l'assegnazione del contratto
> alla Marconi (da "Pari", 4 maggio 2000)
>
> COMMENTO: LA STRANA TEMPISTICA DEGLI
> INVESTIMENTI ITALIANI NEI BALCANI
> di Andrea Ferrario
>
> Sarà un caso, ma la scelta dei tempi di
> intervento da parte del grande capitale italiano
> nei Balcani sembra ricalcare un modello ben
> preciso che si ripete a più riprese: laddove c'è
> un regime autoritario o un'oligarchia in crisi,
> il più delle volte si trova anche un'azienda
> italiana pronta a riversare centinaia di
> miliardi nelle loro casse (beninteso, facendo
> molta attenzione ai propri interessi). E'
> avvenuto così con la privatizzazione della
> Telekom serba nel 1997, che ha visto l'italiana
> STET "finanziarie" indirettamente il bilancio
> del regime di Belgrado con centinaia di miliardi
> nel momento in cui le casse dello stato serbo
> erano vuote e gli oligarchi di Milosevic si
> preparavano alla resa dei conti in Kosovo. E'
> avvenuto così ancora una volta nel dicembre
> scorso, quando la Comit ha trattato e concluso
> con il ministro Skegro, uomo di Tudjman e
> corresponsabile con quest'ultimo della
> catastrofe economica del paese, un affare da
> centinaia di miliardi che ha nei fatti aiutato,
> non i croati, ma l'oligarchia
> politico-finanziaria del regime, a rendere più
> "indolore" il passaggio dei poteri dopo la morte
> di Tudjman, a scapito dei lavoratori del paese
> (si vedano nell'articolo di "Nacional" i costi
> del risanamento delle banche di svariate volte
> superiori agli introiti generati dalla loro
> successiva vendita) e questo al di fuori di ogni
> controllo democratico (l'affare è stato concluso
> quando il parlamento era sciolto, in attesa
> delle elezioni). Il modello si replica poi in
> buona parte, anche se in un contesto politico
> diverso, con il recente acquisto, sempre in
> Croazia, della Splitska Banka da parte della
> UniCredito. Anche la "variante bulgara", pur
> nella sua diversità contestuale, rimane analoga
> nella sostanza: l'offerta e il probabile accordo
> finale della UniCredito per l'acquisto della
> Bulbank arrivano nel momento in cui il regime di
> Sofia è in piena crisi, travagliato da violente
> lotte intestine e in preda a paranoici timori
> "golpisti", in un'atmosfera che ricorda quella
> che regnava nel regime di Tudjman mentre andava
> verso la disfatta (e anche qui, come scrive il
> settimanale "Kapital" [n. 22, giugno 2000] in
> edicola la settimana scorsa, si apre la
> possibilità che, grazie a una recente operazione
> della Bulbank ancora statale, la Bulbank
> "italianizzata" riesca in futuro a mettere le
> mani sugli attivi della Parva Castna Banka, la
> ex maggiore banca bulgara, fallita anni fa per
> malversazioni con esiti disastrosi per
> l'economia del paese). Anche gli affari che non
> sono andati bene, come il contratto della
> Marconi con il governo bulgaro, sono indicativi
> del contesto in cui si svolgono gli affari:
> l'accordo, siglato nell'inverno '98, è stato
> disdetto nei mesi scorsi, poco dopo un
> avvicendamento ai vertici del ministero della
> difesa bulgaro in seguito alla "purga" messa in
> atto dal premier Kostov e con la quale sono
> state emarginate importanti lobby
> politico-finanziarie (a vantaggio di altre).
> Quello che rimane più esemplare, tuttavia, di
> questo affare è il fatto che il governo bulgaro
> si sia impegnato a stanziare cento miliardi per
> la costruzione di un sistema di
> telecomunicazioni militari il cui unico scopo è
> quello di facilitare le operazioni NATO
> nell'area, mentre nel paese la disoccupazione
> continua a fare balzi in avanti e sono decine di
> migliaia i lavoratori che non ricevono lo
> stipendio da mesi e, in alcuni casi, anche da
> anni. Anche in questo caso, il capitale italiano
> è stato subito presente all'appello.
---
GLI USA PROMETTONO ALTRI AIUTI MILITARI ALLA CROAZIA
U.S. Promises To Increase Military Aid To Croatia
WASHINGTON, Aug 9, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) The United States on
Tuesday signaled its readiness to increase military aid to Croatia and
help the country's new reformist government strengthen its ties with
NATO.
"It's on the way up, and it's up from basically zero the year before,"
said Defense Department spokesman Kenneth Bacon.
The current amount of US military aid to Croatia is less than one
million dollars, according to the Pentagon.
The comment came after US Secretary of Defense William Cohen hosted at
the Pentagon a full honors arrival ceremony for Croatian President Stipe
Mesic and Prime Minister Ivica Racan.
During their visit to Washington, the two leaders were expected to
discuss a broad array of cooperation projects designed to bolster
Croatia's economy and its standing in the international community.
"We see this visit as an important step in strengthening the growing
cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Croatia in the
wake of that country's democratic transition," State Department
spokesman Richard Boucher said.
Topics during a lunchtime discussion at the Pentagon included Croatia's
role in the Partnership for Peace program, created in 1994 to establish
cooperation and security partnerships between NATO and former Eastern
Bloc countries.
This is Mesic's first visit to the Pentagon as president, said Bacon.
Mesic and Cohen discussed an assessment by US officials on how best to
reform the Croatian military, according to the spokesman.
"They also talked about Croatia's steps toward civilian control of the
military," he added.
Croatia "has taken a big step forward to democracy which we're
encouraging," Bacon said. ((c) 2000 Agence France Presse)
-
PROBLEMINI LEGALI PER LA CROAZIA
A CAUSA DEI CRIMINI COMMESSI IN BOSNIA...
http://washingtonpost.com/cgi-bin/gx.cgi/AppLogic+FTContentServer?pagename=wpni/print&articleid=A27787-2000Jun30
D.C. Lawyer in Dispute With Croatia
By R. Jeffrey Smith
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday , July 1, 2000 ; A18
ZAGREB, Croatia –– Top Croatian ministers looked to a Washington
attorney for advice in recent
years as they weighed demands from the international war crimes tribunal
for information about
alleged atrocities committed by Croatian troops in the 1991-95 Bosnian
war...
-
BADURINA & ASSOCIATES: PUBLIC RELATIONS PER SFASCIARE UN PAESE
Below you will find a page from the Badurina and Associtates site. This
PR
firm partly is responsible for the creation and speard of anti-Serb
hatred
and racism among US Congressmen.
The link goes to a page which list those Congressmen backing anti-Serb,
racist actions through NATO.
If you are a Serb, consider these people your enemy!
Hummm. . .
http://www.dalmatia.net/croatia/badurina/us_backs_croatia.htm
---
"Il Manifesto" del 24 Maggio 2000
Haider al palio dell'anello
CROAZIA
L'invito al leader razzista corona l'offensiva di destra
GIACOMO SCOTTI
Continua in Croazia l'offensiva dell'estrema destra che ha
lo scopo dichiarato di seminare il caos nel paese governato
dalla coalizione di centrosinistra. Tutte le occasioni sono
buone. Ieri è stato annunciato che il leader degli
xenofobi-liberali austriaci e governatore della Carinzia
Jorg Haider sarà "ospite d'onore" al 285esimo Palio
dell'Anello: il più celebre torneo cavalleresco della zona
che si corre ogni anno ad agosto dal 1715 nella cittadina
croata di Sinj (retroterra della Dalmazia). La competizione
dei cavalieri in uniformi settecentesche che galoppano
lancia in resta per centrare un anello di ferro ebbe dal
1990 al 1999 per supremo "carambascià" il defunto Franjo
Tudjman. Gli organizzatori, come dimostra l'invito,
accettato, a Haider e da questi accettato sono ancor sempre
estremisti di destra che vorrebbero trasformare l'edizione
2000 in raduno di filonazisti decisi a sferrare un ennesimo
colpo al governo post-tudjmaniano. Il pretesto per invitare
Haider a Sinj è stato trovato nella tradizione popolare
secondo la quale nel villaggio di Pribude, sulle pendici
del monte Svilaja, a una trentina di chilometri da Sinj,
vivono gli Haider croati. Un Haider austriaco, ufficiale
dell'esercito asburgico, dopo la prima guerra mondiale
decise di ritirarsi sul monte dove mise famiglia; i suoi
discendenti stanno ancora lassù.
L'annunciata presenza di Jorge Haider in Croazia è
un'ennesima provocazione, naturalmente, ma preoccupa il
fatto che il governo di Zagabria - condizionato dalla
presenza dei social-liberali di Budisa che non nascondono
la loro parentela con l'Hdz, il loro orientamento
nazionalistico e l'avversione agli antifascisti - lascia
ampi spazio alle sfide dei movimenti estremisti capeggiati
da Anto Djapic, Ivan Gabelica, Mladen Schwartz, Lioyic ed
altri caporioni neonazisti che sono riusciti, anche col
sostegno della destra accadizeta, a mobilitare in più
occasioni parte dei reduci della "guerra patriottica".
Negli ultimi 100 giorni, quasi ogni giorno, i neoustascia
croati, legati alla criminalità organizzata ed a schegge
deviate dei servizi segreti, hanno organizzato provocazioni
fino al tentativo di golpe. Ricordiamone alcune.
A Veljun, nella seconda guerra mondiale gli ustascia
massacrarono 520 civili di etnia serba: lì i neoustascia
hanno impedito agli ex partigiani di deporre corone sul
monumento che ricorda quelle vittime, hanno devastato il
monumento e una donna - fra gli applausi delle camicie nere
- si è calata le mutandine urinando sull'ossario; al
danneggiamento hanno preso parte cinque ufficiali
dell'esercito, ma la polizia ha lasciato fare.
In più comizi, il capo delle camicie nere Djapic ha
minacciato di far scorrere il sangue se i profughi serbi
dovessero tornare alle loro case e pretendessero di
prenderne possesso; il governo non ha reagito. Nella Piazza
dei martiri antifascisti a Zagabria, ribattezzata da
Tudjman "Piazza dei Grandi croati", gli ustascia hanno
aggredito e bastonato gli ex partigiani venuti per
celebrare la Giornata della vittoria sul fascismo; la
polizia ha lasciato fare.
A Bleiburg, in Austria, diverse migliaia di nostalgici
ustascia croati hanno celebrato la "giornata delle vittime"
commemorando con discorsi filonazisti i camerati caduti il
15 maggio '45. A quella manifestazione hanno portato il
saluto e l'adesione del Governo croato, ben tre ministri e
il vicepresidente del Parlamento, tutti social-liberali.
Uno di essi ha detto che "l'esercito partigiano non fu il
nostro esercito", aggiungendo che l'odierna Croazia
indipendente "è nata sulle ossa di questi caduti".
E non si contano le manifestazioni di protesta, organizzate
dai neoustascia, che si susseguono a Gospic, a Spalato, a
Zagabria, a Vukivar a difesa dei criminali di guerra,
contro le "interferenze" del Tribunale internazionale
dell'Aja. Ecco: impedire le indagini sulle stragi in
Croazia, impedire la consegna al tribunale dell'Aja degli
autori di quei crimini; impedire il rientro dei profughi
serbi cacciati dalla Croazia con la pulizia etnica dal 1991
al 1995; impedire la costruzione della democrazia e la
liquidazione delle strutture dell'ex regime; destabilizzare
il paese: questi sono gli obiettivi dei neoustascia e dei
loro alleati in questa sfrenata catena di provocazioni.
Un'esigua minoranza, infiltrata nei più delicati tessuti
dello stato, cerca di gettare la Croazia nel disordine, di
provocare una nuova guerra civile; una minaccia anche per i
paesi vicini dell'aera balcanico-adriatica. L'Europa, e
l'Italia in primo luogo, non può chiudere gli occhi.
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
> Dal sito del Convoglio di solidarieta' internazionalista
> "Giorgiana Masi"
> http://digilander.iol.it/convogliogiorgiana/jugo9800.html
Dal 15 al 31 luglio 2000 si è tenuto nel museo all'aria aperta di
Sirogojno (Jugoslavia)
un Campus di solidarietà con il popolo jugoslavo. Un nostro
compagno, ALBERTO,
ha partecipato all'iniziativa, riportandone una positiva valutazione
nonché una serie di
preziosi materiali di documentazione. Divulgheremo le sue
impressioni e le notizie più
significative nei prossimi giorni, se possibile anche via radio
(Radio città aperta o
Radio onda rossa). La dichiarazione finale del Campus ed un
documento di
solidarietà studentesca sono riportati nell'allegato 2 e
nell'allegato 3. Al campus
jugoslavo ha partecipato, tra gli altri, M. Collon che ha diffuso
una serie di materiali,
scritti ed audiovisivi, sull'aggressione USA-NATO e sugli eventi
successivi nel
Kosmet (si veda il suo recente libro sull'aggressione Nato nei
Balcani). In particolare
segnaliamo un dossier di solidarietà internazionale relativo
all'aggressione NATO nei
Balcani e su un progetto di aggressione USA contro la Corea del
Nord.
ALLEGATO 2
Dichiarazione finale del Campus internazionale di Sirogojno
(Jugoslavia)
Assumendo come punto di partenza i seguenti fatti emersi da numerosi
dibattiti, visite
e ricerche condotte nel corso del nostro soggiorno nella Repubblica
Federale di
Jugoslavia (RFJ):
la RFJ è stata vittima di un'aggressione militare da parte
degli USA e dei suoi
satelliti NATO
l'aggressione Nato contro la Jugoslavia viola in modo
flagrante le norme del
diritto internazionale, in particolare la Carta dell'ONU e
numerose convenzioni
sulla protezione dei civili ed il divieto di usare certi tipi
di proiettili e munizioni
la Nato ha condotto la sua aggressione contro la Jugoslavia
senza
l'autorizzazione del Consiglio di sicurezza dell'ONU
l'aggressione Nato è stata preceduta da una fase in cui la
Jugoslavia è stata
sottoposta ad una forte pressione di Washington e dei governi
occidentali
mediante interferenza nei suoi affari interni e con il
sostegno a movimenti
separatisti e terroristici in Kosovo-Metohija
la RFJ è ancora soggetta a sanzioni illegali imposte
arbitrariamente dagli USA
e dall'Unione Europea bypassando l'ONU
la RFJ è stata vittima di una campagna di propaganda condotta
da reti TV
globali e centri mediatici nelle capitali occidentali con lo
scopo di calunniare la
nazione serba e il governo Jugoslavo
in data 30 luglio 2000, i partecipanti al Campus internazionale di
amicizia hanno
definito la seguente
D I C H I A R A Z I O N E
Chiamiamo i cittadini di tutto il mondo, l'ONU, i governi, i
parlamenti e tutti i
movimenti anti-imperialisti, pacifisti e progressisti, i partiti
politici e le organizzazioni
non governative a dare il loro contributo per una giusta soluzione
della crisi in Kosovo
che onori la sovranità e l'integrità territoriale della RF di
Jugoslavia nonché il carattere
multietnico e multiconfessionale di questa provincia Jugoslava.
Chiamiamo il Consiglio di sicurezza dell'ONU ad assumere le
necessarie misure di
emergenza, in armonia con la applicazione della risoluzione 1244, ed
assicurare il
ritorno e la sicurezza di più di mezzo milione di serbi e di non
albanesi cacciati dal
Kosovo.
Le azioni dell'UNMIK e KFOR, lungi da un tale risultato, hanno
invece prodotto una
rapida caduta degli impegni ONU per la fine dell'aggressione Nato
contro la RF di
Jugoslavia. Il loro dispiegamento e le loro decisioni hanno solo
esacerbato separatismo
e terrorismo in Kosovo, dove, in un anno di amministrazione UNMIK e
KFOR, sono
stati uccisi più di 1100 serbi, Rom e non albanesi. 960 persone sono
state deportate e
qualcosa come un centinaio di chiese ortodosse e monasteri sono
stati danneggiati o
distrutti. Le vittime del terrorismo albanese includono anche 290
Albanesi.
Segnaliamo ai cittadini del mondo che la RF di Jugoslavia è uno
Stato multietnico in cui
vivono 29 nazionalità diverse, cioè un paese unico in un contesto
sempre più
monoetnico.
Inoltre la RF di Jugoslavia è il paese con il più alto numero di
rifugiati in Europa, un
totale di 1,5 ml dalla regione della ex SFRF e del Kosovo, che ha
sostenuto facendo
affidamento principalmente sulle proprie forze e su magre risorse,
anche per il fatto
che la sua economia è stata collassata dalle sanzioni di lungo
periodo introdotte
dall'Occidente.
Rivendichiamo la soppressione di sanzioni ingiuste, imposte
illegalmente dagli USA e
dalla UE, che colpiscono la maggioranza della popolazione civile,
particolarmente
quella più vulnerabile, come bambini, vecchi e rifugiati.
Le sanzioni hanno praticamente impedito la cooperazione con la RF di
Jugoslavia in
altre sfere come la scienza, la cultura, l'educazione ed il piacere.
Gli sforzi condotti
per isolare sul piano internazionale la RF di Jugoslavia sono in
contrasto con gli
obiettivi ed i progetti tesi ad incoraggiare la cooperazione e la
sicurezza nei Balcani, in
virtù del fatto che tale paese è elemento chiave ed inevitabile
nella regione.
L'aggressione Nato contro la RF di Jugoslavia ha distrutto molte
vite ed ha prodotto
danni stimati in 100 ML di dollari. Gli USA e gli altri paesi che
hanno preso parte
all'aggressione debbono risarcire la RF di Jugoslavia senza
condizioni. I loro leaders
debbono essere portati davanti al tribunale internazionale dell'Aja
per crimini contro
l'umanità e violazione della Convenzione di Ginevra ed altre
convenzioni
internazionali.
I partecipanti al campus internazionale di amicizia provenienti
dall'Europa e da altri
continenti hanno esaminato attentamente i rapporti e le analisi
sulla manipolazione
politica e mediatica intessuta allo scopo di giustificare un
predeterminato pretesto alla
aggressione Nato.
Anche se la verità sta ormai emergendo più che chiaramente in tutto
il mondo, si è
concluso all'unanimità che, sia a livello nazionale che globale,
occorre prendere una
serie di iniziative per contrastare i pregiudizi antiserbi e la
propaganda diffusa per
anni.
Sirogojno (Repubblica Federale di Jugoslavia), 30 luglio 2000
ALLEGATO 3
Documento per la solidarietà studentesca
La guerra di aggressione, condotta dalla Nato contro la Jugoslavia,
ha avuto serie
conseguenze per il popolo jugoslavo e, tra gli altri, per la
gioventù e gli studenti, cioè,
per le nuove generazioni.
Tutti i 19 Paesi, appartenenti al patto di aggressione, non si sono
accontentati di
distruggere questo Paese sotto una pioggia di bombe, ma sono ora
impegnati ad
applicare sanzioni economiche che tremendamente colpiscono gli
studenti. Dopo due
settimane passate in Jugoslavia, siamo coscienti dell'urgenza e
dell'importanza che
può avere il nostro aiuto alle Università. Questo documento vuole
presentare alcuni
suggerimenti, in modo che ciascuna delegazione possa parlarne con i
giovani studenti
jugoslavi.
Ecco i suggerimenti :
La conferenza europea dei rettori ha escluso la Jugoslavia da
questa
istituzione. In ciascun Paese europeo noi dobbiamo fare
pressione affinché
questa istituzione decida di reintegrare le Università
jugoslave. Per ottenere
ciò possiamo, ad es., organizzare una giornata internazionale
di azione per
aiutare la Jugoslavia !
Potremmo organizzare in alcune Università europee una
Conferenza per
illustrare il nostro viaggio e tutto ciò che abbiamo appreso
durante il nostro
soggiorno in Jugoslavia, nonché le nostre attività nel campo
internazionale di
amicizia. Potremmo anche presentare concreti materiali in modo
da essere più
convincenti: un video con le visite del nostro viaggio, un
quiz con le
informazioni sulla Jugoslavia, una mostra fotografica ma,
soprattutto, noi
siamo tutti testimoni di ciò che abbiamo visto e sperimentato.
Dovremmo
parlarne nelle Università dei nostri Paesi !
Con gli studenti che presentano maggiore interesse per la
questione, noi
potremmo formare una lista di alleanza con tutti i maggiori
eventi occorsi
durante i bombardamenti della Jugoslavia.Sarebbe anche utile
per noi
conoscere ciò che è accaduto da allora, per mobilitarci se
necessario. In pari
tempo potremmo organizzare un Forum per una seria discussione
sull'argomento. Gli studenti jugoslavi potrebbero offrirci il
massimo di
informazione sulla situazione, sulle condizioni di vita della
popolazione, da
diffondere poi nei nostri Paesi.
Potremmo organizzare alcuni scambi tra docenti e studenti
provenienti dalla
Jugoslavia e dei loro amici di altre nazionalità. Sarebbe
interessante
scambiarci conoscenze reciproche ed essere ben informati sulla
situazione in
Jugoslavia. Di conseguenza, dovremmo saper formare, durante
l'anno,
delegazioni jugoslave ma anche delegazioni di altri Paesi.
L'embargo non consente agli scienziati di lavorare, ed
impedisce agli studenti
di avere i libri per i loro studi. Gli studenti di tutta
Europa potrebbero
intervenire e contribuire all'invio di tutti i libri
importanti e necessari in
Jugoslavia.
Tutti gli studenti dovrebbero contribuire a questa azione
umanitaria (e non
solo) rincontrandosi a Sirogojno l'anno venturo, allo scopo di
continuare il
lavoro del movimento internazionale per la Pace.
I giovani, gli studenti, in Jugoslavia come in altri Paesi, sono il
futuro delle società.
Dopo aver distrutto il presente di questo Paese con le bombe, i
Paesi aggressori
vogliono distruggere anche il futuro stesso. Ciò è inaccettabile !
Questo è il motivo per
il quale ci mobilitiamo, allo scopo di evitare, per quanto possibile
, le conseguenze di
queste azioni illegali, in attesa di annichilirle.
Lunga vita agli studenti ed al popolo della Jugoslavia !
Tutti insieme contro l'imperialismo !
Sirogojno 30 luglio 2000
-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Aug. 17, 2000
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------
YUGOSLAVIA:
YOUTHS SEE WAR'S DEVASTATION AND
PEOPLE'S RESISTANCE
By Josina Dunkel
Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Youth delegations from over 20 countries around the world
came together from July 15 to Aug. 1 for the first annual
International Campus of Friendship in Yugoslavia. The
gathering was sponsored by the Patriotic Union of
Yugoslavia.
During those weeks the delegates not only learned about
Yugoslavia's complex history and society, but also
strengthened international contacts to further the struggle
against imperialism.
The youth camp was located in the mountains in Sirogojna,
the only "living museum" in Yugoslavia. From this center
the delegates visited museums, monuments and other sites of
political and cultural interest. Camp meetings heard and
discussed the economic impact of sanctions on Yugoslavia,
the real reasons behind the U.S. and NATO's 78-day bombing
assault last year and other topics.
In Belgrade and Novi Sad the delegates saw what U.S. bombs
destroyed in the northern Serbia.
They saw that many of NATO's targets were not military at
all but hospitals, schools and electricity-generation
plants. The U.S. generals running the bombing tried to
destroy Yugoslavia's civilian infrastructure.
As political graffiti in Belgrade pointed out, last year's
NATO bombs were not the first attempt by imperialists to
destroy the spirit of the socialist revolution. Nazi
Germany tried 60 years ago. But Yugoslavia didn't surrender
to the fascists or to NATO.
The young delegates visited Kragujevac, where Nazis
executed 7,000 men in one afternoon during World War II.
The town had only 30,000 people at the time. The Nazis
chose this town because it was the heart of the partisan
liberation movement.
Last year a bomb that fell nearby damaged the museum
dedicated to preserving this part of Yugoslav history. The
youth delegation placed a wreath at the town's monument, a
stylized bird with a broken wing. The monument was
dedicated to the hundreds of students the Nazis marched
from their classrooms to murder.
IN KOSOVO MITROVICA
Today an occupation force patrols and divides the city of
Kosovo Mitrovica. A barbaric tangle of barbed wire and a
resident force of KFOR soldiers from the United States,
Germany, England, France and other countries maintains the
separation of Albanians from the rest of this multiethnic
city.
Last year NATO propagandists falsely accused the Serbs of
genocide. Today right-wing Albanians have expelled other
ethnic groups from Kosovo. The Albanian section of Kosovo
Mitrovica has ejected the ethnically and physically
distinct Roma people.
The so-called Kosovo Liberation Army burned out a Roma
camp on the southern side of the city and forced its
inhabitants into tents. The attacks have not ended. During
the first week of August a twelve-year old Roma boy was
struck by a grenade when the encampment was attacked.
In Kosovo Mitrovica only one hospital admits Serbs. While
the medical staff tries to perform regular operations,
including complex procedures, their efforts are made very
difficult by the lack of water, medicine and equipment.
The water plant is located in the southern part of the
city. The KLA-controlled government allows only a very
limited amount to flow for a few hours a day. The same goes
for electricity.
In this hospital all signs are still in Albanian and
Serbian, in that order. Where separatism exists now, there
had been integration. Albanian doctors worked with Serbian
patients, and vice versa. Now the KLA encourages Albanian
patients to use only Albanian hospitals with Albanian
doctors.
While the bombs have stopped falling, the war is not over.
Kosovo, considered by Serbs to be the cradle of their
society, is being occupied by foreign troops who drive
around in tanks and military vehicles carrying automatic
weapons slung across their backs.
On this visit to Kosovo, Belgrade law student Ivana Antic
told how the local Serb residents sought more aid from the
Belgrade government. "There are police and KFOR troops but
no security. Albanians can make wild claims and Serbs will
be imprisoned," she said.
Last year U.S., German and other NATO officials justified
the destructive bombardments of Kosovo by claming that
Serbs were committing genocide against Muslim Albanians.
To clarify the situation during a visit to the Zabucje
Refugee Camp, Buba Morina, the Yugoslav minister for
refugees, displaced persons and humanitarian relief, said,
"NATO bombs fell mostly on Kosovo. That was a display of
how much NATO loves the Albanian population."
SANCTIONS ATTACK DAILY LIFE
Yugoslavia has been under attack for over 10 years. This
Balkan country has a multitude of ethnically, religiously,
and historically diverse peoples. The partisan movement and
the revolution of 1945 welded these diverse groups into an
independent country. But foreign multinationals and the
Western regimes have exploited ethnic differences to gain a
stronger position in the region.
The Romans had a strategy of "divide and rule." U.S.
imperialist strategists use this same policy. They
encouraged and cheered the dissolving of the former Soviet
Union. They also support separatist movements in China.
When they funneled money to the KLA, neither the United
States nor Germany was interested in defending minorities.
They were interested in dividing up a country that resisted
total foreign domination.
Sanctions have been in place for a decade. Bosnia and
Kosovo have been separated from Yugoslavia. Across the
country there are shortages of food and gas. People can't
get sugar or cooking oil, even on the underground market.
Elementary schools and high schools have not recovered
from the bombing. Most were disbanded during the bombing.
With the sanctions keeping teachers' salaries fixed at 67
German Marks a month (about $30 U.S.), strikes have closed
the schools regularly.
Rents vary from 20 to 30 German Marks a month. While
salaries in general are very low, there is also a lack of
work for those who are employed. Sanctions have eliminated
most exports and imports. There are no markets for
Yugoslavian goods so production is very low.
The Yugoslav government has received no compensation for
the destruction of buildings, bridges, and the lives of the
thousands killed by U.S./NATO bombs. Belgrade can't get
loans and must pay for reconstruction on its own.
As one economist pointed out, every year there is a
greater loss, which cannot be made up despite an expanding
economy. Things are not stagnant in Yugoslavia, just
disadvantaged.
YOUTHS PLAN SOLIDARITY
The delegates visited Yugoslavia to witness for themselves
the situation a year after bombs were dropped. They were
all moved by witnessing the Yugoslav people's spirit of
resistance and the determination to survive the daily
hardships.
Delegates have already begun to plan solidarity
demonstrations in many countries Oct. 20-22, a medical aid
project, and student solidarity projects including a drive
for scientific journals and law books restricted by
sanctions.
For updates, visit the International Action Center's Web
site at www.iacenter.org.
[Dunkel represented the IAC at the International Campus of
Friendship in Yugoslavia.]
- END -
(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to
copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but
changing it is not allowed. For more information contact
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail:
ww@.... For subscription info send message
to: info@.... Web: http://www.workers.org)
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
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------------------------------------------------------------
> "Giorgiana Masi"
> http://digilander.iol.it/convogliogiorgiana/jugo9800.html
Dal 15 al 31 luglio 2000 si è tenuto nel museo all'aria aperta di
Sirogojno (Jugoslavia)
un Campus di solidarietà con il popolo jugoslavo. Un nostro
compagno, ALBERTO,
ha partecipato all'iniziativa, riportandone una positiva valutazione
nonché una serie di
preziosi materiali di documentazione. Divulgheremo le sue
impressioni e le notizie più
significative nei prossimi giorni, se possibile anche via radio
(Radio città aperta o
Radio onda rossa). La dichiarazione finale del Campus ed un
documento di
solidarietà studentesca sono riportati nell'allegato 2 e
nell'allegato 3. Al campus
jugoslavo ha partecipato, tra gli altri, M. Collon che ha diffuso
una serie di materiali,
scritti ed audiovisivi, sull'aggressione USA-NATO e sugli eventi
successivi nel
Kosmet (si veda il suo recente libro sull'aggressione Nato nei
Balcani). In particolare
segnaliamo un dossier di solidarietà internazionale relativo
all'aggressione NATO nei
Balcani e su un progetto di aggressione USA contro la Corea del
Nord.
ALLEGATO 2
Dichiarazione finale del Campus internazionale di Sirogojno
(Jugoslavia)
Assumendo come punto di partenza i seguenti fatti emersi da numerosi
dibattiti, visite
e ricerche condotte nel corso del nostro soggiorno nella Repubblica
Federale di
Jugoslavia (RFJ):
la RFJ è stata vittima di un'aggressione militare da parte
degli USA e dei suoi
satelliti NATO
l'aggressione Nato contro la Jugoslavia viola in modo
flagrante le norme del
diritto internazionale, in particolare la Carta dell'ONU e
numerose convenzioni
sulla protezione dei civili ed il divieto di usare certi tipi
di proiettili e munizioni
la Nato ha condotto la sua aggressione contro la Jugoslavia
senza
l'autorizzazione del Consiglio di sicurezza dell'ONU
l'aggressione Nato è stata preceduta da una fase in cui la
Jugoslavia è stata
sottoposta ad una forte pressione di Washington e dei governi
occidentali
mediante interferenza nei suoi affari interni e con il
sostegno a movimenti
separatisti e terroristici in Kosovo-Metohija
la RFJ è ancora soggetta a sanzioni illegali imposte
arbitrariamente dagli USA
e dall'Unione Europea bypassando l'ONU
la RFJ è stata vittima di una campagna di propaganda condotta
da reti TV
globali e centri mediatici nelle capitali occidentali con lo
scopo di calunniare la
nazione serba e il governo Jugoslavo
in data 30 luglio 2000, i partecipanti al Campus internazionale di
amicizia hanno
definito la seguente
D I C H I A R A Z I O N E
Chiamiamo i cittadini di tutto il mondo, l'ONU, i governi, i
parlamenti e tutti i
movimenti anti-imperialisti, pacifisti e progressisti, i partiti
politici e le organizzazioni
non governative a dare il loro contributo per una giusta soluzione
della crisi in Kosovo
che onori la sovranità e l'integrità territoriale della RF di
Jugoslavia nonché il carattere
multietnico e multiconfessionale di questa provincia Jugoslava.
Chiamiamo il Consiglio di sicurezza dell'ONU ad assumere le
necessarie misure di
emergenza, in armonia con la applicazione della risoluzione 1244, ed
assicurare il
ritorno e la sicurezza di più di mezzo milione di serbi e di non
albanesi cacciati dal
Kosovo.
Le azioni dell'UNMIK e KFOR, lungi da un tale risultato, hanno
invece prodotto una
rapida caduta degli impegni ONU per la fine dell'aggressione Nato
contro la RF di
Jugoslavia. Il loro dispiegamento e le loro decisioni hanno solo
esacerbato separatismo
e terrorismo in Kosovo, dove, in un anno di amministrazione UNMIK e
KFOR, sono
stati uccisi più di 1100 serbi, Rom e non albanesi. 960 persone sono
state deportate e
qualcosa come un centinaio di chiese ortodosse e monasteri sono
stati danneggiati o
distrutti. Le vittime del terrorismo albanese includono anche 290
Albanesi.
Segnaliamo ai cittadini del mondo che la RF di Jugoslavia è uno
Stato multietnico in cui
vivono 29 nazionalità diverse, cioè un paese unico in un contesto
sempre più
monoetnico.
Inoltre la RF di Jugoslavia è il paese con il più alto numero di
rifugiati in Europa, un
totale di 1,5 ml dalla regione della ex SFRF e del Kosovo, che ha
sostenuto facendo
affidamento principalmente sulle proprie forze e su magre risorse,
anche per il fatto
che la sua economia è stata collassata dalle sanzioni di lungo
periodo introdotte
dall'Occidente.
Rivendichiamo la soppressione di sanzioni ingiuste, imposte
illegalmente dagli USA e
dalla UE, che colpiscono la maggioranza della popolazione civile,
particolarmente
quella più vulnerabile, come bambini, vecchi e rifugiati.
Le sanzioni hanno praticamente impedito la cooperazione con la RF di
Jugoslavia in
altre sfere come la scienza, la cultura, l'educazione ed il piacere.
Gli sforzi condotti
per isolare sul piano internazionale la RF di Jugoslavia sono in
contrasto con gli
obiettivi ed i progetti tesi ad incoraggiare la cooperazione e la
sicurezza nei Balcani, in
virtù del fatto che tale paese è elemento chiave ed inevitabile
nella regione.
L'aggressione Nato contro la RF di Jugoslavia ha distrutto molte
vite ed ha prodotto
danni stimati in 100 ML di dollari. Gli USA e gli altri paesi che
hanno preso parte
all'aggressione debbono risarcire la RF di Jugoslavia senza
condizioni. I loro leaders
debbono essere portati davanti al tribunale internazionale dell'Aja
per crimini contro
l'umanità e violazione della Convenzione di Ginevra ed altre
convenzioni
internazionali.
I partecipanti al campus internazionale di amicizia provenienti
dall'Europa e da altri
continenti hanno esaminato attentamente i rapporti e le analisi
sulla manipolazione
politica e mediatica intessuta allo scopo di giustificare un
predeterminato pretesto alla
aggressione Nato.
Anche se la verità sta ormai emergendo più che chiaramente in tutto
il mondo, si è
concluso all'unanimità che, sia a livello nazionale che globale,
occorre prendere una
serie di iniziative per contrastare i pregiudizi antiserbi e la
propaganda diffusa per
anni.
Sirogojno (Repubblica Federale di Jugoslavia), 30 luglio 2000
ALLEGATO 3
Documento per la solidarietà studentesca
La guerra di aggressione, condotta dalla Nato contro la Jugoslavia,
ha avuto serie
conseguenze per il popolo jugoslavo e, tra gli altri, per la
gioventù e gli studenti, cioè,
per le nuove generazioni.
Tutti i 19 Paesi, appartenenti al patto di aggressione, non si sono
accontentati di
distruggere questo Paese sotto una pioggia di bombe, ma sono ora
impegnati ad
applicare sanzioni economiche che tremendamente colpiscono gli
studenti. Dopo due
settimane passate in Jugoslavia, siamo coscienti dell'urgenza e
dell'importanza che
può avere il nostro aiuto alle Università. Questo documento vuole
presentare alcuni
suggerimenti, in modo che ciascuna delegazione possa parlarne con i
giovani studenti
jugoslavi.
Ecco i suggerimenti :
La conferenza europea dei rettori ha escluso la Jugoslavia da
questa
istituzione. In ciascun Paese europeo noi dobbiamo fare
pressione affinché
questa istituzione decida di reintegrare le Università
jugoslave. Per ottenere
ciò possiamo, ad es., organizzare una giornata internazionale
di azione per
aiutare la Jugoslavia !
Potremmo organizzare in alcune Università europee una
Conferenza per
illustrare il nostro viaggio e tutto ciò che abbiamo appreso
durante il nostro
soggiorno in Jugoslavia, nonché le nostre attività nel campo
internazionale di
amicizia. Potremmo anche presentare concreti materiali in modo
da essere più
convincenti: un video con le visite del nostro viaggio, un
quiz con le
informazioni sulla Jugoslavia, una mostra fotografica ma,
soprattutto, noi
siamo tutti testimoni di ciò che abbiamo visto e sperimentato.
Dovremmo
parlarne nelle Università dei nostri Paesi !
Con gli studenti che presentano maggiore interesse per la
questione, noi
potremmo formare una lista di alleanza con tutti i maggiori
eventi occorsi
durante i bombardamenti della Jugoslavia.Sarebbe anche utile
per noi
conoscere ciò che è accaduto da allora, per mobilitarci se
necessario. In pari
tempo potremmo organizzare un Forum per una seria discussione
sull'argomento. Gli studenti jugoslavi potrebbero offrirci il
massimo di
informazione sulla situazione, sulle condizioni di vita della
popolazione, da
diffondere poi nei nostri Paesi.
Potremmo organizzare alcuni scambi tra docenti e studenti
provenienti dalla
Jugoslavia e dei loro amici di altre nazionalità. Sarebbe
interessante
scambiarci conoscenze reciproche ed essere ben informati sulla
situazione in
Jugoslavia. Di conseguenza, dovremmo saper formare, durante
l'anno,
delegazioni jugoslave ma anche delegazioni di altri Paesi.
L'embargo non consente agli scienziati di lavorare, ed
impedisce agli studenti
di avere i libri per i loro studi. Gli studenti di tutta
Europa potrebbero
intervenire e contribuire all'invio di tutti i libri
importanti e necessari in
Jugoslavia.
Tutti gli studenti dovrebbero contribuire a questa azione
umanitaria (e non
solo) rincontrandosi a Sirogojno l'anno venturo, allo scopo di
continuare il
lavoro del movimento internazionale per la Pace.
I giovani, gli studenti, in Jugoslavia come in altri Paesi, sono il
futuro delle società.
Dopo aver distrutto il presente di questo Paese con le bombe, i
Paesi aggressori
vogliono distruggere anche il futuro stesso. Ciò è inaccettabile !
Questo è il motivo per
il quale ci mobilitiamo, allo scopo di evitare, per quanto possibile
, le conseguenze di
queste azioni illegali, in attesa di annichilirle.
Lunga vita agli studenti ed al popolo della Jugoslavia !
Tutti insieme contro l'imperialismo !
Sirogojno 30 luglio 2000
-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Aug. 17, 2000
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------
YUGOSLAVIA:
YOUTHS SEE WAR'S DEVASTATION AND
PEOPLE'S RESISTANCE
By Josina Dunkel
Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Youth delegations from over 20 countries around the world
came together from July 15 to Aug. 1 for the first annual
International Campus of Friendship in Yugoslavia. The
gathering was sponsored by the Patriotic Union of
Yugoslavia.
During those weeks the delegates not only learned about
Yugoslavia's complex history and society, but also
strengthened international contacts to further the struggle
against imperialism.
The youth camp was located in the mountains in Sirogojna,
the only "living museum" in Yugoslavia. From this center
the delegates visited museums, monuments and other sites of
political and cultural interest. Camp meetings heard and
discussed the economic impact of sanctions on Yugoslavia,
the real reasons behind the U.S. and NATO's 78-day bombing
assault last year and other topics.
In Belgrade and Novi Sad the delegates saw what U.S. bombs
destroyed in the northern Serbia.
They saw that many of NATO's targets were not military at
all but hospitals, schools and electricity-generation
plants. The U.S. generals running the bombing tried to
destroy Yugoslavia's civilian infrastructure.
As political graffiti in Belgrade pointed out, last year's
NATO bombs were not the first attempt by imperialists to
destroy the spirit of the socialist revolution. Nazi
Germany tried 60 years ago. But Yugoslavia didn't surrender
to the fascists or to NATO.
The young delegates visited Kragujevac, where Nazis
executed 7,000 men in one afternoon during World War II.
The town had only 30,000 people at the time. The Nazis
chose this town because it was the heart of the partisan
liberation movement.
Last year a bomb that fell nearby damaged the museum
dedicated to preserving this part of Yugoslav history. The
youth delegation placed a wreath at the town's monument, a
stylized bird with a broken wing. The monument was
dedicated to the hundreds of students the Nazis marched
from their classrooms to murder.
IN KOSOVO MITROVICA
Today an occupation force patrols and divides the city of
Kosovo Mitrovica. A barbaric tangle of barbed wire and a
resident force of KFOR soldiers from the United States,
Germany, England, France and other countries maintains the
separation of Albanians from the rest of this multiethnic
city.
Last year NATO propagandists falsely accused the Serbs of
genocide. Today right-wing Albanians have expelled other
ethnic groups from Kosovo. The Albanian section of Kosovo
Mitrovica has ejected the ethnically and physically
distinct Roma people.
The so-called Kosovo Liberation Army burned out a Roma
camp on the southern side of the city and forced its
inhabitants into tents. The attacks have not ended. During
the first week of August a twelve-year old Roma boy was
struck by a grenade when the encampment was attacked.
In Kosovo Mitrovica only one hospital admits Serbs. While
the medical staff tries to perform regular operations,
including complex procedures, their efforts are made very
difficult by the lack of water, medicine and equipment.
The water plant is located in the southern part of the
city. The KLA-controlled government allows only a very
limited amount to flow for a few hours a day. The same goes
for electricity.
In this hospital all signs are still in Albanian and
Serbian, in that order. Where separatism exists now, there
had been integration. Albanian doctors worked with Serbian
patients, and vice versa. Now the KLA encourages Albanian
patients to use only Albanian hospitals with Albanian
doctors.
While the bombs have stopped falling, the war is not over.
Kosovo, considered by Serbs to be the cradle of their
society, is being occupied by foreign troops who drive
around in tanks and military vehicles carrying automatic
weapons slung across their backs.
On this visit to Kosovo, Belgrade law student Ivana Antic
told how the local Serb residents sought more aid from the
Belgrade government. "There are police and KFOR troops but
no security. Albanians can make wild claims and Serbs will
be imprisoned," she said.
Last year U.S., German and other NATO officials justified
the destructive bombardments of Kosovo by claming that
Serbs were committing genocide against Muslim Albanians.
To clarify the situation during a visit to the Zabucje
Refugee Camp, Buba Morina, the Yugoslav minister for
refugees, displaced persons and humanitarian relief, said,
"NATO bombs fell mostly on Kosovo. That was a display of
how much NATO loves the Albanian population."
SANCTIONS ATTACK DAILY LIFE
Yugoslavia has been under attack for over 10 years. This
Balkan country has a multitude of ethnically, religiously,
and historically diverse peoples. The partisan movement and
the revolution of 1945 welded these diverse groups into an
independent country. But foreign multinationals and the
Western regimes have exploited ethnic differences to gain a
stronger position in the region.
The Romans had a strategy of "divide and rule." U.S.
imperialist strategists use this same policy. They
encouraged and cheered the dissolving of the former Soviet
Union. They also support separatist movements in China.
When they funneled money to the KLA, neither the United
States nor Germany was interested in defending minorities.
They were interested in dividing up a country that resisted
total foreign domination.
Sanctions have been in place for a decade. Bosnia and
Kosovo have been separated from Yugoslavia. Across the
country there are shortages of food and gas. People can't
get sugar or cooking oil, even on the underground market.
Elementary schools and high schools have not recovered
from the bombing. Most were disbanded during the bombing.
With the sanctions keeping teachers' salaries fixed at 67
German Marks a month (about $30 U.S.), strikes have closed
the schools regularly.
Rents vary from 20 to 30 German Marks a month. While
salaries in general are very low, there is also a lack of
work for those who are employed. Sanctions have eliminated
most exports and imports. There are no markets for
Yugoslavian goods so production is very low.
The Yugoslav government has received no compensation for
the destruction of buildings, bridges, and the lives of the
thousands killed by U.S./NATO bombs. Belgrade can't get
loans and must pay for reconstruction on its own.
As one economist pointed out, every year there is a
greater loss, which cannot be made up despite an expanding
economy. Things are not stagnant in Yugoslavia, just
disadvantaged.
YOUTHS PLAN SOLIDARITY
The delegates visited Yugoslavia to witness for themselves
the situation a year after bombs were dropped. They were
all moved by witnessing the Yugoslav people's spirit of
resistance and the determination to survive the daily
hardships.
Delegates have already begun to plan solidarity
demonstrations in many countries Oct. 20-22, a medical aid
project, and student solidarity projects including a drive
for scientific journals and law books restricted by
sanctions.
For updates, visit the International Action Center's Web
site at www.iacenter.org.
[Dunkel represented the IAC at the International Campus of
Friendship in Yugoslavia.]
- END -
(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to
copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but
changing it is not allowed. For more information contact
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail:
ww@.... For subscription info send message
to: info@.... Web: http://www.workers.org)
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
RELAZIONI BILATERALI RFJ-SENEGAL
YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC SENDS MESSAGE TO SENEGALESE COUNTERPART
BELGRADE, Aug 24 (Tanjug). Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic
has addressed a message to his Senegalese counterpart Abdoulaye Wade.
The message was presented by Ambassador Danilo Milic of the
Yugoslav foreign ministry to Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane
Gadio in Dakar.
The message points to the need for expanding the traditionally
friendly relations between the two countries on the basis of equality
and
mutual respect, and for stepping up bilateral cooperation and joint
endeavors in international forums.
Gadio accepted the message on behalf of absent President Wade
and
underlined that Senegal wishes to enhance the friendly ties and allround
cooperation with Yugoslavia.
The talks also focused on the forthcoming Millennium Summit in
New
York and 55th UN General Assembly.
Senegal, one of the leading memberstates of the Organization of
the Islamic Conference, advocates Yugoslavia's full reintegration in the
UN
and the Nonaligned Movement.
---
RELAZIONI BILATERALI RFJ-IRAQ
YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES IRAQI HEALTH MINISTER
BELGRADE, Aug 23 (Tanjug) Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister
Nikola
Sainovic received on Wednesday Iraqi Health Minister Omar Madhat
Mubarak,
who is on a few days visit to Yugoslavia heading an Iraqi delegation of
leading medical and pharmacological experts.
The two governments give priority to bilateral cooperation in the
health
sector, as both countries have been victims of NATO aggressions and
international sanctions, it was said at the meeting.
During the Iraqi delegation's visit to Belgrade, programmes for
cooperation between the two countries concerning mother and child health
care, cancer treatment, production and supply of medicines and
professional
staff training must be defined, both sides noted.
Yugoslav Minister of Labour, Health and Social Policy, Miodrag Kovac
and
Iraqi Ambassador to Yugoslavia Sami Sadun were present at the meeting, a
Yugoslav information ministry statement said.
YUGOSLAVIA AND IRAQ CONDEMN SANCTIONS
BELGRADE, Aug 24 (Tanjug). Serbian parliament Speaker Dragan
Tomic
met Thursday the Iraqi Minister of Health Omar Madhat Mubarak.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the development of
overall
bilateral cooperation based on traditional friendship, understanding and
mutual trust, the parliamentary press service said in a statement.
Both countries abide by the principles of peaceful coexistence,
the UN Charter and international law, and both most strongly condemn the
practice of sanctions which are applied against countries such as
Yugoslavia and Iraq by states whose hegemonistic policies are aimed at
creating a unipolar world, it was noted during the meeting.
Yugoslavia and Iraq will continue stepping up their cooperation
in
the economic and other fields to mutual benefit, in line with the
stances
of Presidents Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia and Saddam Hussein of
Iraq,
the statement says.
---
L'AMBASCIATORE JUGOSLAVO ALL'ONU ACCUSA KFOR, UNMIK E KOUCHNER
YUGOSLAV UN AMBASSADOR CHARGES KFOR, UNMIK, KOUCHNER WITH COMPLICITY
GENEVA, Aug 24 (Tanjug). Head of Yugoslavia's permanent mission
at
the UN in Geneva Branko Brankovic addressed Thursday to various
international figures a letter strongly condemning the crimes
perpetrated
by ethnic Albanian terrorists in Serbia's KosovoMetohija province,
following the recent discovery of a mass grave containing bodies of Serb
victims in the provincial capital Pristina.
The letter was addressed to the DirectorGeneral of the UN
Office
in Geneva Vladimir Petrovsky, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Sadako
Ogata, head of the UN Human Rights Commission Mary Robinson. Special
Rapporteur on Human Rights for the former Yugoslavia Jiri Dienstbier,
Special Envoy of the UN SecretaryGeneral for the Balkans Carl Bildt and
others.
Recent press reports said that the international administration
in
KosovoMetohija had long been aware of the discovery of a mass grave
containing bodies of 160 Serbs and other nonAlbanians in a Pristina
cemetery. The victims were killed over the past 14 months, since the
arrival of international KFor troops and UN civilian administration
UNMIK
and the withdrawal of Yugoslav forces in June 1999.
The following is the official translation of the letter:
Excellency,
As is publicly well known, KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner
openly
assist terrorists of the socalled KLA to carry out ethnic cleansing of
Serbs and other nonAlbanian population in the Serbian province of Kosovo
and Metohija.
KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner go even further. Namely, they
are
doing their best to hide crimes committed by Albanian terrorists in
Kosovo
and Metohija. The latest example testifying to this is the discovery of
mass graves with Serbs. The largest one was discovered in the Dragodan
village. More than 160 brutally killed Serbs were buried in it. These
persons were buried under either false names, or names of living
persons,
or even with only a number on metal plaques. KFOR has found the graves
several months ago but it is only at the beginning of August that it
called
family members to help identify the bodies.
This massacre of Serbs by Albanian terrorists was committed
soon
after the arrival in Kosovo and Metohija of KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard
Kouchner. The way KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner, call, individually
and
in secrecy, family members to identify the bodies, indicates that KFOR,
UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner are doing everything to conceal the crime
committed by Albanian terrorists against innocent Serbian civilians.
Only
close relatives, who were long ago expelled from Kosovo and Metohija,
can
identify the killed Serbs.
KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner were dutybound to inform of
the
massacre and discovered graves the relevant authorities of the FR of
Yugoslavia, which they did not do. It means that identification of
bodies
is being continued without the assistance of pathologists from the FR of
Yugoslavia. KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner neglect on a daily basis
the
fact that Kosovo and Metohija is the integral part of the Republic of
Serbia and the FR of Yugoslavia.
Excellency,
The concealing by KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner of crimes
committed by Albanian terrorists against innocent Serbian civilians is,
de
facto, as if they themselves committed the said crimes. Consequently,
KFOR,
UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner are equally responsible for the massacre of
Serbs as the perpetrators of this crime.
The government of the FR of Yugoslavia expects that you will
most
energetically publicly condemn these crimes committed against innocent
Serb
civilians by Albanian terrorists. At the same time, it expects that you
will condemn the complicity of KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner in these
crimes and do your utmost that the UN Security Council Resolution 1244
(1999) be implemented without delay.
In expectation of your prompt reaction, please accept,
Excellency,
the assurances of my highest consideration. (end of translation)
---
LA JUGOSLAVIA FA APPELLO ALL'UNESCO PER LA SISTEMATICA DISTRUZIONE DEI
BENI ARTISTICI E DEL PATRIMONIO CULTURALE DEL KOSMET DA PARTE DEGLI
ALLEATI DELLA NATO
YUGOSLAVIA APPEALS TO UNESCO TO PROTECT CULTURAL
MONUMENTS
PARIS, Aug 23 (Tanjug). Head of Yugoslavia's permanent
delegation
to the UNESCO in Paris, Ambassador Nada Popovic Perisic, has appealed to
the organization to take measures against the continuing systematic
destruction of cultural heritage in Serbia's KosovoMetohija province and
violence against its population, particularly children.
Instead of securing the conditions for peace, safety of all
inhabitants of the province and interethnic coexistence and equality of
all
ethnic communities in line with the Security Council Resolution 1244,
the
UN civilian and military missions in KosovoMetohija (UNMIK and KFor)
have
allowed ethnic Albanian separatists and terrorists to systematically
endanger the safety and lives of Serbs and other nonAlbanians, to
perpetrate murders, abductions and arson and to destroy the rich
cultural
heritage in order to annihilate all traces of centuries of Serb presence
in
the area, PopovicPerisic said in a letter to the UNESCO executive
council.
Children in KosovoMetohija are the most endangered, she said.
Ethnic Albanian terrorists do not refrain even from violence
against children at play. In the past few days only, they threw a bomb
at a
playground and seriously injured nine Serb children in Crkvene Vodice
village near Obilic and opened fire on a group of children in Staro
Gracko
village, who were saved only by chance.
The rights of Serb inhabitants of KosovoMetohija to education
and
information in their own language are being violated by decisions of
UNMIK
chiefs, whose task is precisely to protect such rights, PopovicPerisic
said.
Following the closure of the Pristina paper Jedinstvo and
Pristina
TV, The Zvecan Radio S which used to broadcast in the Serb language was
also silenced a few days ago, she noted.
---
LA RUSSIA CONDANNA IL TERRORISMO IN KOSMET
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CONDEMNS TERRORISM IN KOSOVOMETOHIJA
MOSCOW, Aug 23 (Tanjug) Russian foreign ministry once again
condemned terrorist acts in KosovoMetohija on Wednesday, saying that the
leaders of the civilian mission UNMIK and the international force KFor
are
fully responsible for inadequate safety conditions in the province.
The statement, carried by Russian ItarTass news agency
Wednesday,
said that people were injured in the Aug 18 blast that targeted the
building in Pristina housing the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) mission and offices of the Yugoslav Committee for
Liaison
with the U.N. mission in KosovoMetohija and of several political
parties.
On Aug 17, another blast demolished the Orthodox church in
Velika
Reka village. The day before, eight Serb children from Crkvena Vodica
village, near Obilic, were seriously injured in an ethnic Albanian
extremists' bomb attack.
This evidently shows that the leaders of U.N. mission and KFor
are turning a blind eye to the violence against Serbs and ethnic
minorities
in KosovoMetohija, and are therefore fully responsible for inadequate
safety conditions in the province. Scheduled local elections cannot
therefore be fair, free or democratic, the statement said.
UNMIK chief Bernard Kouchner scheduled local elections for
Oct.
28 in KosovoMetohija, despite the strong opposition of the local Serbs
and
the Yugoslav government in Belgrade.
This is the second protest of the Russian Ministry to the same
effect in two days. In the first protest, made public on Tuesday, the
ministry described the August 17 UNMIK and KFor declaration on their own
status as a glaring violation of the Security Council resolution 1244
which
placed Serbia's southern province under UN administration last summer.
KFor and UNMIK proclaimed their own status unilaterally,
without
approval by legitimate Yugoslav authorities, the ministry said.
Claims by KFor and UNMIK that they are empowered to decide
their
own status are untrue. Moscow considers this document to be politically
harmful and dangerous, as it violates in form and content the basic
provisions of Resolution 1244 regarding Yugoslavia's sovereignty and
territorial integrity, the statement says.
---
FOSSA COMUNE CON I CORPI DI 160 SERBI RAPITI DAGLI ALLEATI DELLA NATO
MASS CRIMES BY ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS REVEALED
PRISTINA, Aug 23 (Tanjug). The two mass graves discovered in
Pristina, capital of Serbia's KosovoMetohija province, have once again
revealed the horrible truth about the atrocities committed by ethnic
Albanian terrorists last year, the Pristina Center for Peace and
Tolerance
said in a statement Wednesday.
Bodies of 160 victims were discovered Monday in a mass grave in
the Pristina district of Dragodan. They are believed to have been killed
by
ethnic Albanian terrorists over the past 14 months, since the arrival of
international KFor troops and UN civilian mission UNMIK following the
pullout of Yugoslav security forces from the province.
KFor's and UNMIK's silence so far about the discovery
constitutes
complicity with the crimes and an encouragement to the terrorists to
commit
more murders, abductions or bomb attacks on innocent children and state
institutions, the statement says.
The Center urges representatives of the international community
to
respond to the demands of relatives of about 1,000 abducted Serbs and
other
nonAlbanians and to appeals by humanitarian organization for information
regarding the whereabouts of the bodies of the victims and for autopsy
results, the statement says.
It is evident that the international mission in KosovoMetohija
is
unwilling to face reality, secure peace or provide safety to all in the
province, the Center said.
The UN Security Council must therefore reconsider its decisions
and withdraw the military and civilian missions from Serbia's province
in
order to entrust the resolving of the situation there to others who will
strive for peace and safety for all inhabitants, the statement says.
---
EVOLUZIONI NEL CONTENZIOSO SULLE MINIERE SEQUESTRATE DALLA NATO
TREPCA MANAGER MAKES OFFER TO UN KOSOVOMETOHIJA ADMINISTRATOR
NOVI PAZAR, Aug 23 (Tanjug). General Manager of the Trepca
mining
industry of Serbia's KosovoMetohija province Novak Bjelic addressed
Wednesday an open letter to the head of the UN civilian mission Bernard
Kouchner proposing conditions for resuming production in the Kosovska
Mitrovica and Zvecan plants.
KFor and UNMIK stormed Trepca plants in Mitrovica and Zvecan
and
its mines in Leposavic on August 14 at dawn, justifying their action by
environmental concerns.
Bjelic addressed his letter from the temporary Trepca
management
office in Novi Pazar, southern Serbia, as he is banned from entering
KosovoMetohija by Kouchner, who had said that his return would depend on
changing his stance regarding company activities.
The letter also points to the need for the immediate pullout of
KFor and UNMIK from Trepca plants and mines.
Bjelic requested tenders for revitalizing the industry and
acquiring modern equipment for production and environment protection,
and
proposed that Trepca itself finance environment cleanup activities in
Kosovska Mitrovica.
Trepca can overhaul its installations and ensure highest
environment protection standards within six months, Bjelic said.
The zinc processing installations could be made operational
within
18 months after revitalization works start, Bjelic said.
Work in Zvecan should be done exclusively by nonAlbanians and
in
the southern part of Kosovska Mitrovica exclusively by ethnic Albanians
in
a first stage, until full conditions for peace and tolerance are ensured
throughout the province, Bjelic said in his letter.
PROTESTING TREPCA WORKERS ENDORSE THEIR MANAGER'S OFFER TO
KOUCHNER
ZVECAN, Aug 24 (Tanjug). Workers of the Trepca mining industry
and
Kosovska Mitrovica residents continued their protest Thursday in Zvecan,
Serbia's KosovoMetohija province, over the storming of the Trepca lead
smelter by Kfor troops on August 14.
Management member Dragan Vasic read to the protesters a letter
addressed Wednesday by Trepca general manager Novak Bijelic to civilian
mission UNMIK chief Bernard Kouchner, proposing a resumption of work
provided some conditions are ensured.
The principal condition for resuming production is a pullout of
Kfor and UNMIK forces from the Zvecan plant and the Trepca mine in
Leposavic within three days, Bijelic said in his letter.
---
L'ALTO COMMISSARIO ONU IN BOSNIA-ERZEGOVINA
CENSURA LE TRASMISSIONI DI RADIO JUGOSLAVIA
REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS CONCERNED OVER CLOSURE OF RADIO YUGOSLAVIA
SARAJEVO, Aug 24 (Tanjug). International nongovernmental
organization Reporters Without Borders expressed concern Thursday over
the
recent closure of the Radio Yugoslavia broadcasting center in Bijeljina,
Republika Srpska.
The organization requested clarifications in a letter to the
High
Representative of the international community for BosniaHerzegovina
Wolfgang Petritsch.
Last weekend, Petritch ordered the personnel of Radio
Yugoslavia
in Bijeljina to cease broadcasting under threat of force.
---
SOLDATI DELLA KFOR PICCHIANO SUORA DEL CONVENTO DI SOKOLICA
E POI ADDUCONO SCUSE RAZZISTE: "SEMBRAVA EGIZIANA"
> > >Politika, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
> > >August 23, 2000
> > >
> > >BRUTISH BEHAVIOR OF KFOR MEMBERS IN NORTHERN KOSOVO
> > >
> > >Danish soldiers beat prioress of Sokolica Monastery
> > >
> > >KFOR's cynical explanation is that the soldiers thought she was an
> > Egyptian
> > woman
> > >because women in that country dress similarly to our nuns
> > >
> > >Kosovska Mitrovica, August 22
> > >
> > >The arrogant behavior of members of KFOR and the UNMIK police in the
> > northern
> > part
> > >of Kosovo during "routine" controls at permanent and temporary
> > check-points
> > has
> > >exceeded all measure in recent days. For three days now hardly anyone
> > can pass
> > along
> > >the main road from Kosovska Mitrovica - Leposavic by the newly formed
> > checkpoint at
> > >the spot called "Kod Simonide" ("At Simonida's"), held by Danish
> > soldiers,
> > without
> > >being subjected to mistreatment, a detailed search and beatings as
> > well.
> > Danish
> > >soldiers at this check-point are especially rough toward the clergy.
> > Recently
> > they
> > >stopped the prioress of Sokolica Monastery, Mother Dr. Makarija
> > (Obradovic),
> > who was
> > >returning from Kraljevo to the monastery, and forced her to get out of
> > the
> > >automobile by beating her.
> > >
> > >"They stopped me and since I could not understand what they were
> > saying, I
> > answered
> > >that I could communicate with them in either Serbian, or in the
> > English,
> > German,
> > >Greek or Slovenian languages and I simply did not understand what they
> > were
> > saying.
> > >At that moment, one of the soldiers swung his arm and struck me on the
> > neck.
> > >Humiliated, in pain which caused me to see stars in the middle of the
> > day, I
> > reacted
> > >humanly, as any elderly woman would. I cried while they searched my
> > automobile," the
> > >prioress of Sokolica Monastery, Dr. Makarija, told us.
> > >
> > >An artist herself and a former professer of Byzantine art at the
> > Swedish Royal
> > >Academy, Dr. Makarija was a professor of physical chemistry at the
> > University
> > of
> > >Belgrade prior to taking her vows; for the past ten years, she has been
> > the
> > head of
> > >the one of the most renowned schools of iconography, besides Krska,
> > which is
> > located
> > >inside Sokolica Monastery, seven kilometers from Kosovska Mitrovica.
> > >
> > >Even more ironically, she subsequently received a cynical explanation
> > from
> > KFOR that
> > >the Danish soldiers thought she was an Egyptian woman because women of
> > that
> > country
> > >wear black dresses similiar to the robes worn by Christian Orthodox
> > nuns.
> > >
> > >M. L.
> > >
> > >Translated by S. Lazovic (August 23, 2000)
---
"NUOVA DOTTRINA MILITARE" PER LA RF DI JUGOSLAVIA
YUGOSLAVIA'S CHIEF OF STAFF GIVES INTERVIEW ON MILITARY DOCTRINE
BELGRADE, Aug 21 (Tanjug). Yugoslavia's recently adopted
military
doctrine is a sciencebased and experiencetested system of organizing,
training, deployment and safety of the Yugoslav Army in war and peace
both
at present and in the future, Chief of General Staff General Nebojsa
Pavkovic said in an interview published Monday by the Belgrade daily
Politika.
Pavkovic underlined that the doctrine duly takes into account
Yugoslavia's general capabilities, is founded on international law and
humanitarian law, abides by all international charters, resolutions and
agreements, and reflects Yugoslavia's lasting and traditional adherence
to
peace and freedom.
The public has demonstrated a great interest in the document in
the present situation characterized by the use of military force in
international relations and the attempts of the single world
superpower the US to create a unipolar world, Pavkovic said.
The military doctrine is neither a policy, an economy, a
technology nor a science, it is a document comprising specific
instructions
to the military profession on its place, role, purpose and tasks in
confronting various forms and methods of military threats to national
security and takes into account the achievements of all the mentioned
fields of human endeavour, Pavkovic said.
Underlining that the fundamental message of Yugoslavia's
military
doctrine is peace as the basic precondition for general development of
all
world nations and states, Pavkovic noted that the military option
unfortunately increasingly prevails today in international relations.
Defensive strategies and doctrines are applied by countries
favouring peace and peaceful settlement of all issues, and by countries
which are unable to keep the pace of contemporary trends of development
of
the deadliest armament systems, Pavkovic said.
Contemporary strategies and doctrines are conditioned by the
aspirations of neighbouring states and by the present possibilities of
manufacturing or acquiring modern combat systems, Pavkovic said.
One article of the doctrine analyses all elements of world
military factors and sums up the experience of last year's NATO
aggression
on Yugoslavia. This was done in an objective manner, taking into account
both the positive and negative aspects, with a special emphasis on the
outstanding achievement of the unity of the people, the state
leadership,
the Yugoslav Army and the police, Pavkovic said.
As regards Yugoslavia's strategic position, it is based on an
allround analysis of all military and political factors which as a
changing category influence the training, the organization and the
deployment of the Yugoslav Army.
It is obvious that all attempts to threaten Yugoslavia's
security
at first focus on the socalled unarmed methods of destabilizing the
country
from the inside, which then escalate into armed rebellion as a specific
form of internal aggression an external blow dealt internally, Pavkovic
said.
That socalled indirect strategy consisting of threats to
national
security through finding hostile forces within the country which was the
victim of aggression, was realized most brutally in Yugoslavia, where
ethnic Albanian terrorism, powerfully backed by external factors, had
brought about the armed aggression by NATO, Pavkovic said.
The Yugoslav military doctrine points to the presence of latent
threats to national security by both internal and external factors in
both
unarmed and armed forms, Pavkovic said. An armed aggression such as the
one
launched against Yugoslavia is also possible in a local or world war, in
which military operations would depend on the relative power of parties
to
the conflict, the goals of the aggressor, the focus of military
operations,
the kind of combat means and other factors, Pavkovic explained.
Yugoslavia's military doctrine specifies that the defense
system
comprises the general organization, preparedness and functioning of all
defense forces and subjects with the aim of protecting national
sovereignty, territory, independence and constitutional order, Pavkovic
said.
The basic goals of Yugoslavia's defense system are: 1.
preventing
and eliminating internal crises, 2. dissuading a potential aggressor
from
undertaking aggression, 3. preventing a strategic surprise and 4.
successful warfare, Pavkovic said.
Referring to the doctrine section on war, Pavkovic said that
Yugoslavia has no territorial pretensions towards any country and never
designates an aggressor in advance. Any war that Yugoslavia may fight if
it
is imposed on this country will be defensive, conventional, contemporary
and offensive. Yugoslavia deems such a war as just and will fight it in
abidance with all provisions of international war and humanitarian laws
in
order to reduce to a minimum its own losses and devastation to the
country
and to achieve a maximum defense effect, Pavkovic said.
A special and central section of the doctrine is devoted to the
Yugoslav Army. As a defense army, its priority tasks are deterring a
potential aggressor, fighting against terrorist and rebel forces, and
armed
combat throughout the country in any conditions of aggression on
Yugoslavia, Pavkovic said.
The Yugoslav Army is organized in line with its purpose and its
tasks, international agreements, and demographic, economic, material and
territorial factors, keeping in mind all international norms and
experiences of other contemporary armies, Pavkovic said.
The size of the Yugoslav Army in war and peace has been
realistically assessed on the basis of an allround analysis of all
factors,
especially economic capabilities. It retains its three principal
armies the land army, the airforce and the antiaircraft defense, and
the
navy, and priorities have been set as regards equipment and
modernization
which will enable it to carry out its constitutional role and tasks in
contemporary combat conditions, Pavkovic said.
The doctrine precisely defines the command structure, ranging
from
the strategic commanding the army in war and peace to the tactical.
The
president of the republic commands the Yugoslav Army in war and peace as
supreme commander, Pavkovic said.
The doctrine defines the use of the army as regards function
and
tasks, he said, underlining that the Yugoslav Army is the fundamental
force
for deterring a potential aggressor and for armed combat, and that its
parts can be engaged in combatting terrorism or rebellion in cooperation
with the police, Pavkovic said.
Referring to the recent public reactions to the military
doctrine,
Pavkovic agreed that the military doctrine must be a part of the defense
doctrine, but underlined that the military doctrine is a professional
document which cannot be made dependent on the political will of any
political party, as it would then have to be changed after any
elections.
A serious military organization must be conceived in such a way
as
to ensure the carrying out of consititional tasks, regardless of the
political views of authorities in power or of the identity and power of
a
potential aggressor. The military doctrine was not adopted hastily or as
part of the preelection campaign, but through a normal procedure and as
part of the overall process of reorganizing the national defense force
in
line with internal and international conditions, Pavkovic said.
Yugoslavia's military doctrine was drawn up and adopted in line
with all legal regulations and procedures and constitutes one of the
regular and basic issues in the reorganization of the Yugoslav Army. It
was
drawn up on the basis of known military doctrines of various states and
takes into account the real national situation and capabilities,
Pavkovic
said.
Like all military doctrines in the world, Yugoslavia's military
doctrine is temporary in nature and can be changed according to changes
in
relevant factors, General Pavkovic concluded.
---
RAPPORTI BILATERALI RFJ-INDIA
YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER JOVANOVIC SENDS MESSAGE TO INDIAN COUNTERPART
BELGRADE, Aug 21 (Tanjug) Ambassador at the Yugoslav Foreign
Ministry Milena Vlahovic has delivered Foreign Minister Zivadin
Jovanovic's
personal message to his Indian counterpart Jashvanth Singh in New Delhi,
said a statement from the Ministry on Monday.
The topics of ensuing talks were the forthcoming Millennium
summit
in New York, the 55th session of the U.N. General Assembly, as well as
activities related to the NonAligned Movement.
Both sides stressed the importance of improving bilateral
relations, as well as political, economic, and other aspects of
cooperation.
International relations can be based exclusively on strict
adherence to sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as on
noninterference in internal affairs of other countries. Democratization
of
decisionmaking within the U.N., as well as the organization itself,
should
have a distinctive role to play in international relations, and the
NonAligned Movement can make a significant contribution in that respect.
The Indian officials reiterated their support for Yugoslav
standpoints on the situation in the Serbian KosovoMetohija province,
expressing great concern about the ongoing violation of the U.N.
Security
Council Resolution 1244. They also condemned all forms of separatism and
terrorism leading to destabilization of prodemocratic countries, as well
as
the policy of double standards.
---
UN NUOVO CENSIMENTO DEI PROFUGHI NELLA RFJ
UNHCR TO CARRY OUT A NEW REFUGEE CENSUS IN YUGOSLAVIA THIS YEAR
BELGRADE, Aug 22 (Tanjug) In the year 2000, the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will carry out a census of
refugees
in the territory of Yugoslavia, the UNHCR Belgrade office spokeswoman
Maki
Shinohara told media on Tuesday.
In cooperation with the Serbian Refugees Commissioner and the
Montenegro Commissioner for Displaced Persons, the UNHCR carried out the
first census in 1996. It showed that there were 600,000 refugees and
displaced persons from BosniaHerzegovina and Croatia.
Preparations are being made for a media campaign promoting the
return of refugees from Yugoslavia to BosniaHerzegovina. UNHCR Sarajevo
office Chief Werner Glother has recently met with Yugoslav Minister for
Refugees Bratislava Morina to discuss this issue.
The Serbian province of KosovoMetohija is not a safe
environment
for nonAlbanian communities, and their position is very grave, Shinohara
said. She went on to say that since the arrival of Eric Morris, the new
envoy for Yugoslavia whose office is in Pristina, the UNHCR is no longer
part of the U.N. mission in KosovoMetohija (UNMIK), and will operate
independently in future.
Conditions for the safe return of the KosovoMetohija refugees
have
not been ensured. Therefore, the UNHCR does not encourage the return to
the
province, not only for security reasons, but because of insufficient
accommodation as well, Shinohara explained.
She added that the UNHCR is focusing on help for nonAlbanian
communities that have remained in the province.
---
KOUCHNER SOTTO INDAGINE IN SERBIA PER GENOCIDIO
SERBIAN MINISTER: U.N. KOSOVOMETOHIJA ENVOY UNDER INVESTIGATION
BELGRADE, Aug 22 (Tanjug) The Pristina District Court in
Serbian
(Yugoslav) U.N.run KosovoMetohija is investigating U.N. mission (UNMIK)
chief Bernard Kouchner for crimes of genocide against Serbs, Serbia's
justice minister said on Tuesday.
"Since he came to our southern province, Bernard Kouchner has,
by
commission or omission and together with UNMIK and the international
force
KFor, been the perpetrator of or an accessory to numerous crimes
punishable
under the laws of Yugoslavia and its republic of Serbia", Dragoljub
Jankovic told TANJUG.
The court has started proceedings on the orders of the district
prosecutor in Pristina, Jankovic explained. "To the wide pallette of his
crimes Kouchner has recently added further crimes of inciting or failing
to
prevent the storming of the Trepca lead smelter at Zvecan, driveby
bombing
of Serb children and bombing of the Yugoslav U.N. liaison office," he
added.
He went on to say that these actions perpetuate the process of
ethnic cleansing of KosovoMetohija and are designed to prevent
KosovoMetohija residents from voting in Yugoslav parliamentary and
presidential elections called for Sept. 24.
---
50 MOSCHEE NUOVE DI ZECCA DAGLI EMIRATI ARABI UNITI PER IL KOSMET
UAE minister to build 50 mosques in Kosovo The defence minister
offered to build 50 mosques in Kosovo at his own expense
August 20, 2000, 07:43 AM
DUBAI (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates' defence minister has offered
to build 50 mosques in Kosovo at his own expense, the official WAM news
agency reported on Saturday.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's project would be carried out
with the help of UAE troops serving in the NATO-led peacekeeping force
in the province, WAM added. It did not say how much the building work
would cost.
Kosovo's ethnic Albanian population is nominally Muslim, while the
minority Serbs belong mainly to the Orthodox church.
International authorities took responsibility for Kosovo in June last
year after a NATO bombing campaign to drive out Serb forces. The UAE has
about 1,200 troops in Kosovo and another 250 soldiers operating nearby.
---
UN UFFICIO PER LA OPPOSIZIONE DEMOCRATICA...
A BUDAPEST, CON I SOLDI AMERICANI
U.S. Opens New Office in Hungary
The Associated Press
Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2000; 4:20 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON –– The State Department has opened a new office at the
U.S.
Embassy in Hungary to support democratic forces in Yugoslavia in advance
of
national elections, a spokesman said Tuesday.
The office will be headed by the ambassador to Croatia, William
Montgomery.
"We think it's very important to let those committed to true democracy
in
Serbia know that we support their efforts," State Department spokesman
Philip
Reeker said. Serbia and the smaller republic of Montenegro comprise the
Yugoslav Federation.
Montgomery will be addressing "a full range of issues related to our
long-term goal of advancing democracy in Serbia," Reeker said.
The Clinton administration is hoping for a strong showing by opposition
forces in the Sept. 24 elections. President Slobodan Milosevic has
changed
the constitution to allow him to serve an additional eight years. In
addition
to the presidency, elections for the federal parliament also will be
held.
Reeker said Montgomery will retain the title of ambassador to Croatia
but
will be based in Budapest until a new ambassador is appointed in Zagreb.
© Copyright 2000 The Associated Press
---
LA NATO NASCONDE LA VERITA' SULLE BOMBE A FRAMMENTAZIONE
http://www.serbia-info.com/news
NATO accused of hiding truth about cluster bombs
August 12, 2000
Shocking document about cluster bombs
Lisboa, August - Today, Portuguese dailies pass a report of the
International Association for campaign against contact mines (WGL) in
which, governments of countries, members of NATO pact are accused of
interfering in detailed investigation about cluster bombs, which take
victims after NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.
Leading Lisboa daily "Publico" points out that "governments of
countries, members of NATO pact have been accused, these days, of making
it impossible to find out new proofs about contents of cluster bombs,
although there are more and more innocent victims in the territory of
Kosovo and Metohija".
Portuguese daily also quotes Director of International Association WGL
Richard Lloyd that "cluster bombs were thrown at the territory of
Yugoslavia and in that way NATO pact severely violated existing
international law and U.N. Charter".
Large number of civilians, throughout Yugoslavia, are becoming victims
of sudden explosions, and little boys are the most frequent victims,
Portuguese daily quotes parts of the report of Association of WGL.
Only, during June, over 200 persons died because of mines, and among
them, 50 were victims of cluster bombs, which look like tin of beer or
coca-cola", stresses "Publiko" quoting parts from the report.
That international association recently published shocking document,
after detailed analysis of their experts for explosives of all kinds,
and emergently demanded that energetic measures be taken for cleaning of
terrain, Portuguese dailies quote.
Portuguese dailies remark that every "cluster bomb contains about 147
smaller bombs with strong effect, which during the fall breaks into
pieces". Experts think that, during last year's bombing of Yugoslavia,
bombardiers of squadrons of NATO pact threw 1392 "cluster bombs". After
the explosions of "bombs carriers" about 205 thousand small bombs left
unexploded.
"Publico" writes that published report on dangerous effect of cluster
bombs included an interesting detail that mentioned bomb in British
cooperation (RBL 755) has some kind of impreciseness during targeting
objects and "if it misses wanted target, it can sow death where it
explodes". This kind of cluster bombs is used in Kosovo and Metohija
where large misses were registered, quotes Portuguese daily.
Portuguese analysts conclude energetically that cluster bombs are
continuing with sowing death and with the presence of international
forces for establishing peace.
---
STRANO "ESPERTO" EUROPEO IN MONTENEGRO
ILLEGAL EUROSLOVENIAN "EXPERT" IN MONTENEGRO
PODGORICA, August 9 (Tanjug) Illegally, without any legal
basis
or approval of the Yugoslav government, the Council of Europe has
appointed
its "expert" in Podgorica, the capital of the Yugoslav republic of
Montenegro, which is, among other things, proof of attempts by certain
western countries to treat a Yugoslav republic as a separate state.
Slovenian diplomat Eva Tomic has been appointed special
representative of the Council of Europe in Podgorica. In the status of
expert, she will work within the representative office of the
Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and be in charge of
"providing assistance to the Montenegrin authorities in reforming
education, local selfadministration, the judicial system, and drafting
laws."
In appointing an "expert" within the OSCE, the Council of
Europe
gave up its original plan to open its office in Podgorica, which implies
that there are inside conflicts and divisions regarding Yugoslavia's
stand
that the opening of a Council representative office must imply the
previous
regulation of Yugoslavia's status within the Council of Europe, and that
the opening of a representative office is possible only following
approval
of the Yugoslav government.
The appointment of an official at "expert" level also confirms
that most members of the Council of Europe refuse to accept a stand
which
more seriously denies Yugoslavia's sovereignty and territorial
integrity,
since an "expert" acting within an OSCE office has neither the status
nor
prerogatives of a representative office, which is for certain countries
an
alibi and a way to "ease their conscience."
However, regardless of the fact that its presence has been
reduced
to the slightest possible form, such a decision by the Council of Europe
is
in violation of its own Statute, presents an attempt at direct
interference
in the internal affairs of Yugoslavia as a unique and sovereign state,
as
well as an attempt at stoking activities by secessionist forces in
Montenegro.
Such an action by the Council of Europe also runs contrary to
the
usual practice of international organizations that their representatives
in
federal states are appointed in agreement with that state's central
organs,
and not with the approval of only one of the members of the federal
state.
This is why Yugoslavia has lodged a protest in the strongest
terms
to Council SecretaryGeneral Walter Schwimmer, critically pointing out
that
the Council had opted, in spite of Yugoslavia's expressed readiness for
cooperation, to send an expert without approval of the Belgrade
government,
thus violating the usual forms of cooperation, its own Statute, and the
very procedure for sending representatives to European countries. In the
protest, Yugoslavia also demanded the recalling of Eva Tomic.
---
CHI HA PAURA DI RADOVAN KARADZIC?
THE TIMES (London)
August 8 2000
US 'too afraid of casualties to arrest Karadzic'
BY JAMES PRINGLE IN FOCA
BRITISH forces in Bosnia are the only troops capable of arresting
Radovan Karadzic, the indicted Bosnian Serb war criminal,
American officials working in the region believe.
Although the United States, with more than 4,000 troops in
southeastern Bosnia has almost double Britain's force of 2,400,
American observers claim that fears of losing a US soldier in
combat will render them incapable of taking on the mission. "It's
not a question of courage, it's a political decision in Washington
that there should be no American deaths in Bosnia," one
American official, exasperated by the US troops' failure to act,
said. "Given that, probably only British troops backed by the
SAS are up to the job."
Western offcials doubt US troops will be ordered to act because
of the so-called "Somalia syndrome" that stemmed from the death
of 18 US soldiers in Mogadishu in 1993.
The watchword of American troops in the Nato-led Stabilisation
Force is "force protection" - a focus on avoiding casualties - in
spite of the State Department plastering "wanted" posters across
the region and offering a $5 million (#3.3 million) reward for the
capture of Dr Karadzic and other alleged war criminals. Jacques
Klein, a retired American general who heads the United Nations
Mission in Bosnia, is pressing for his capture before
parliamentary elections in November so as to remove his
influence on Bosnian Serb voters.
"We must arrest Karadzic," he said. "How can we ask the
Croatian Government to pick up their war criminals and hand them
over when the international community isn't willing to do that
here?"
In April French Nato troops arrested Momcilo Krajisnik in Pale,
the highest-ranking war crimes suspect to be detained in Bosnia.
But since 1995, French forces stationed near Visegrad had been
accused of ignoring war crimes suspects.
Dr Karadzic, charged for crimes linked to the siege of Sarajevo
and the slaughter of thousands of Bosnian Muslims in
Srebrenica, remains at large in eastern Bosnia. Ratko Mladic, the
infamous chief of the Bosnian Serb armed forces, is said to be in
Belgrade.
Western intelligence sources say that Dr Karadzic is guarded by
a formidable paramilitary force and that capturing him would be
"not only difficult but dangerous". British officials said that there
were no plans to deploy troops in the hunt for the former Bosnian
Serb leader..
---
LA NATO MINACCIA UNA NUOVA GUERRA DI AGGRESSIONE CONTRO LA JUGOSLAVIA
-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Aug. 10, 2000
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------
NATO THREATENS NEW WAR AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA
By John Catalinotto
With news statements and articles, NATO leaders renewed
their threats against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in
the last week of July, raising the specter of a new war of
aggression against that country.
NATO Secretary General George Rob ert son threw the weight
of the military alliance behind the move to split Montenegro
away from the remaining Yugoslavia.
Speaking to the media July 27, Robertson said, "I again
repeat my warning to President Milosevic not to make
mistakes that he has made in the past and not to continue to
undermine the elected government of Montenegro."
This is a barely veiled threat that NATO will again bomb
Yugoslavia, as it did for 78 days after Belgrade refused in
March 1999 to submit to the Rambouillet ultimatum that would
have opened all of Yugoslavia to NATO occupation.
What Robertson calls "the elected government of Montenegro"
is the regime headed by President Milo Djukanovic, who is
always described as "pro-Western" in the big-business media
here. This means he has adopted the German Deutschemark as
Montenegro's currency and has tried to split from
Yugoslavia.
Of the 800,000 people living in Montenegro, however, at
least half prefer to remain part of Yugoslavia. This was
seen in last June's elections, which pro-Yugoslavia parties
won in the major seaport town of Herceg Novi and almost won
in Podgorica, the capital. In reality Montenegro is not a
viable independent state. If it split it would become a NATO
protectorate.
Under those conditions, an attempt by Djukanovic to
unconstitutionally split from Yugoslavia runs the danger of
starting a civil war. Asked about possible NATO intervention
in this situation, Robertson made this vague threat: "We
aren't saying what we will do. One of the lessons of Kosovo
is that you don't reveal your cards too far in advance."
To add to the danger, U.S. President Bill Clinton and German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder--heads of the two biggest
imperialist powers in NATO--signed an article in the July 28
International Herald Tribune pledging to intervene in the
Yugoslav national election now set for Sept. 24.
They said they would help the opposition to Milosevic unite
and that they would also support Djukanovic if he boycotts
the election.
"We will continue to work with the democratic opposition in
Serbia, to help it unite around a common platform, to
support nongovernmental organizations and the independent
media, and to back President Milo Djukanovic of Montenegro
until all those who have suffered under Mr. Milosevic's rule
can take their place in Europe," Clinton and Schroeder
wrote.
If there were any doubt before, the two Western leaders made
it clear that there is no serious opposition to Milosevic's
party and its allies except those groups that are toadies of
the Western imperialist powers.
The Yugoslav political leaders have set local, national
parliamentary and presidential elections for Sept. 24. Using
strictly legal parliamentary decisions to change some
election laws, the Milosevic government has maximized its
chances of surviving the election and of keeping Yugoslavia
out of the clutches of NATO.
But this does not end the threat of new NATO intervention in
Yugoslavia, as the NATO leaders have now made clear.
- END -
(Copyleft Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to
copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but
changing it is not allowed. For more information
contactWorkers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-
mail: ww@.... For subscription info send message to:
info@.... Web: http://www.workers.org)
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC SENDS MESSAGE TO SENEGALESE COUNTERPART
BELGRADE, Aug 24 (Tanjug). Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic
has addressed a message to his Senegalese counterpart Abdoulaye Wade.
The message was presented by Ambassador Danilo Milic of the
Yugoslav foreign ministry to Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane
Gadio in Dakar.
The message points to the need for expanding the traditionally
friendly relations between the two countries on the basis of equality
and
mutual respect, and for stepping up bilateral cooperation and joint
endeavors in international forums.
Gadio accepted the message on behalf of absent President Wade
and
underlined that Senegal wishes to enhance the friendly ties and allround
cooperation with Yugoslavia.
The talks also focused on the forthcoming Millennium Summit in
New
York and 55th UN General Assembly.
Senegal, one of the leading memberstates of the Organization of
the Islamic Conference, advocates Yugoslavia's full reintegration in the
UN
and the Nonaligned Movement.
---
RELAZIONI BILATERALI RFJ-IRAQ
YUGOSLAV DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES IRAQI HEALTH MINISTER
BELGRADE, Aug 23 (Tanjug) Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister
Nikola
Sainovic received on Wednesday Iraqi Health Minister Omar Madhat
Mubarak,
who is on a few days visit to Yugoslavia heading an Iraqi delegation of
leading medical and pharmacological experts.
The two governments give priority to bilateral cooperation in the
health
sector, as both countries have been victims of NATO aggressions and
international sanctions, it was said at the meeting.
During the Iraqi delegation's visit to Belgrade, programmes for
cooperation between the two countries concerning mother and child health
care, cancer treatment, production and supply of medicines and
professional
staff training must be defined, both sides noted.
Yugoslav Minister of Labour, Health and Social Policy, Miodrag Kovac
and
Iraqi Ambassador to Yugoslavia Sami Sadun were present at the meeting, a
Yugoslav information ministry statement said.
YUGOSLAVIA AND IRAQ CONDEMN SANCTIONS
BELGRADE, Aug 24 (Tanjug). Serbian parliament Speaker Dragan
Tomic
met Thursday the Iraqi Minister of Health Omar Madhat Mubarak.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the development of
overall
bilateral cooperation based on traditional friendship, understanding and
mutual trust, the parliamentary press service said in a statement.
Both countries abide by the principles of peaceful coexistence,
the UN Charter and international law, and both most strongly condemn the
practice of sanctions which are applied against countries such as
Yugoslavia and Iraq by states whose hegemonistic policies are aimed at
creating a unipolar world, it was noted during the meeting.
Yugoslavia and Iraq will continue stepping up their cooperation
in
the economic and other fields to mutual benefit, in line with the
stances
of Presidents Slobodan Milosevic of Yugoslavia and Saddam Hussein of
Iraq,
the statement says.
---
L'AMBASCIATORE JUGOSLAVO ALL'ONU ACCUSA KFOR, UNMIK E KOUCHNER
YUGOSLAV UN AMBASSADOR CHARGES KFOR, UNMIK, KOUCHNER WITH COMPLICITY
GENEVA, Aug 24 (Tanjug). Head of Yugoslavia's permanent mission
at
the UN in Geneva Branko Brankovic addressed Thursday to various
international figures a letter strongly condemning the crimes
perpetrated
by ethnic Albanian terrorists in Serbia's KosovoMetohija province,
following the recent discovery of a mass grave containing bodies of Serb
victims in the provincial capital Pristina.
The letter was addressed to the DirectorGeneral of the UN
Office
in Geneva Vladimir Petrovsky, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Sadako
Ogata, head of the UN Human Rights Commission Mary Robinson. Special
Rapporteur on Human Rights for the former Yugoslavia Jiri Dienstbier,
Special Envoy of the UN SecretaryGeneral for the Balkans Carl Bildt and
others.
Recent press reports said that the international administration
in
KosovoMetohija had long been aware of the discovery of a mass grave
containing bodies of 160 Serbs and other nonAlbanians in a Pristina
cemetery. The victims were killed over the past 14 months, since the
arrival of international KFor troops and UN civilian administration
UNMIK
and the withdrawal of Yugoslav forces in June 1999.
The following is the official translation of the letter:
Excellency,
As is publicly well known, KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner
openly
assist terrorists of the socalled KLA to carry out ethnic cleansing of
Serbs and other nonAlbanian population in the Serbian province of Kosovo
and Metohija.
KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner go even further. Namely, they
are
doing their best to hide crimes committed by Albanian terrorists in
Kosovo
and Metohija. The latest example testifying to this is the discovery of
mass graves with Serbs. The largest one was discovered in the Dragodan
village. More than 160 brutally killed Serbs were buried in it. These
persons were buried under either false names, or names of living
persons,
or even with only a number on metal plaques. KFOR has found the graves
several months ago but it is only at the beginning of August that it
called
family members to help identify the bodies.
This massacre of Serbs by Albanian terrorists was committed
soon
after the arrival in Kosovo and Metohija of KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard
Kouchner. The way KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner, call, individually
and
in secrecy, family members to identify the bodies, indicates that KFOR,
UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner are doing everything to conceal the crime
committed by Albanian terrorists against innocent Serbian civilians.
Only
close relatives, who were long ago expelled from Kosovo and Metohija,
can
identify the killed Serbs.
KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner were dutybound to inform of
the
massacre and discovered graves the relevant authorities of the FR of
Yugoslavia, which they did not do. It means that identification of
bodies
is being continued without the assistance of pathologists from the FR of
Yugoslavia. KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner neglect on a daily basis
the
fact that Kosovo and Metohija is the integral part of the Republic of
Serbia and the FR of Yugoslavia.
Excellency,
The concealing by KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner of crimes
committed by Albanian terrorists against innocent Serbian civilians is,
de
facto, as if they themselves committed the said crimes. Consequently,
KFOR,
UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner are equally responsible for the massacre of
Serbs as the perpetrators of this crime.
The government of the FR of Yugoslavia expects that you will
most
energetically publicly condemn these crimes committed against innocent
Serb
civilians by Albanian terrorists. At the same time, it expects that you
will condemn the complicity of KFOR, UNMIK and Bernard Kouchner in these
crimes and do your utmost that the UN Security Council Resolution 1244
(1999) be implemented without delay.
In expectation of your prompt reaction, please accept,
Excellency,
the assurances of my highest consideration. (end of translation)
---
LA JUGOSLAVIA FA APPELLO ALL'UNESCO PER LA SISTEMATICA DISTRUZIONE DEI
BENI ARTISTICI E DEL PATRIMONIO CULTURALE DEL KOSMET DA PARTE DEGLI
ALLEATI DELLA NATO
YUGOSLAVIA APPEALS TO UNESCO TO PROTECT CULTURAL
MONUMENTS
PARIS, Aug 23 (Tanjug). Head of Yugoslavia's permanent
delegation
to the UNESCO in Paris, Ambassador Nada Popovic Perisic, has appealed to
the organization to take measures against the continuing systematic
destruction of cultural heritage in Serbia's KosovoMetohija province and
violence against its population, particularly children.
Instead of securing the conditions for peace, safety of all
inhabitants of the province and interethnic coexistence and equality of
all
ethnic communities in line with the Security Council Resolution 1244,
the
UN civilian and military missions in KosovoMetohija (UNMIK and KFor)
have
allowed ethnic Albanian separatists and terrorists to systematically
endanger the safety and lives of Serbs and other nonAlbanians, to
perpetrate murders, abductions and arson and to destroy the rich
cultural
heritage in order to annihilate all traces of centuries of Serb presence
in
the area, PopovicPerisic said in a letter to the UNESCO executive
council.
Children in KosovoMetohija are the most endangered, she said.
Ethnic Albanian terrorists do not refrain even from violence
against children at play. In the past few days only, they threw a bomb
at a
playground and seriously injured nine Serb children in Crkvene Vodice
village near Obilic and opened fire on a group of children in Staro
Gracko
village, who were saved only by chance.
The rights of Serb inhabitants of KosovoMetohija to education
and
information in their own language are being violated by decisions of
UNMIK
chiefs, whose task is precisely to protect such rights, PopovicPerisic
said.
Following the closure of the Pristina paper Jedinstvo and
Pristina
TV, The Zvecan Radio S which used to broadcast in the Serb language was
also silenced a few days ago, she noted.
---
LA RUSSIA CONDANNA IL TERRORISMO IN KOSMET
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY CONDEMNS TERRORISM IN KOSOVOMETOHIJA
MOSCOW, Aug 23 (Tanjug) Russian foreign ministry once again
condemned terrorist acts in KosovoMetohija on Wednesday, saying that the
leaders of the civilian mission UNMIK and the international force KFor
are
fully responsible for inadequate safety conditions in the province.
The statement, carried by Russian ItarTass news agency
Wednesday,
said that people were injured in the Aug 18 blast that targeted the
building in Pristina housing the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) mission and offices of the Yugoslav Committee for
Liaison
with the U.N. mission in KosovoMetohija and of several political
parties.
On Aug 17, another blast demolished the Orthodox church in
Velika
Reka village. The day before, eight Serb children from Crkvena Vodica
village, near Obilic, were seriously injured in an ethnic Albanian
extremists' bomb attack.
This evidently shows that the leaders of U.N. mission and KFor
are turning a blind eye to the violence against Serbs and ethnic
minorities
in KosovoMetohija, and are therefore fully responsible for inadequate
safety conditions in the province. Scheduled local elections cannot
therefore be fair, free or democratic, the statement said.
UNMIK chief Bernard Kouchner scheduled local elections for
Oct.
28 in KosovoMetohija, despite the strong opposition of the local Serbs
and
the Yugoslav government in Belgrade.
This is the second protest of the Russian Ministry to the same
effect in two days. In the first protest, made public on Tuesday, the
ministry described the August 17 UNMIK and KFor declaration on their own
status as a glaring violation of the Security Council resolution 1244
which
placed Serbia's southern province under UN administration last summer.
KFor and UNMIK proclaimed their own status unilaterally,
without
approval by legitimate Yugoslav authorities, the ministry said.
Claims by KFor and UNMIK that they are empowered to decide
their
own status are untrue. Moscow considers this document to be politically
harmful and dangerous, as it violates in form and content the basic
provisions of Resolution 1244 regarding Yugoslavia's sovereignty and
territorial integrity, the statement says.
---
FOSSA COMUNE CON I CORPI DI 160 SERBI RAPITI DAGLI ALLEATI DELLA NATO
MASS CRIMES BY ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS REVEALED
PRISTINA, Aug 23 (Tanjug). The two mass graves discovered in
Pristina, capital of Serbia's KosovoMetohija province, have once again
revealed the horrible truth about the atrocities committed by ethnic
Albanian terrorists last year, the Pristina Center for Peace and
Tolerance
said in a statement Wednesday.
Bodies of 160 victims were discovered Monday in a mass grave in
the Pristina district of Dragodan. They are believed to have been killed
by
ethnic Albanian terrorists over the past 14 months, since the arrival of
international KFor troops and UN civilian mission UNMIK following the
pullout of Yugoslav security forces from the province.
KFor's and UNMIK's silence so far about the discovery
constitutes
complicity with the crimes and an encouragement to the terrorists to
commit
more murders, abductions or bomb attacks on innocent children and state
institutions, the statement says.
The Center urges representatives of the international community
to
respond to the demands of relatives of about 1,000 abducted Serbs and
other
nonAlbanians and to appeals by humanitarian organization for information
regarding the whereabouts of the bodies of the victims and for autopsy
results, the statement says.
It is evident that the international mission in KosovoMetohija
is
unwilling to face reality, secure peace or provide safety to all in the
province, the Center said.
The UN Security Council must therefore reconsider its decisions
and withdraw the military and civilian missions from Serbia's province
in
order to entrust the resolving of the situation there to others who will
strive for peace and safety for all inhabitants, the statement says.
---
EVOLUZIONI NEL CONTENZIOSO SULLE MINIERE SEQUESTRATE DALLA NATO
TREPCA MANAGER MAKES OFFER TO UN KOSOVOMETOHIJA ADMINISTRATOR
NOVI PAZAR, Aug 23 (Tanjug). General Manager of the Trepca
mining
industry of Serbia's KosovoMetohija province Novak Bjelic addressed
Wednesday an open letter to the head of the UN civilian mission Bernard
Kouchner proposing conditions for resuming production in the Kosovska
Mitrovica and Zvecan plants.
KFor and UNMIK stormed Trepca plants in Mitrovica and Zvecan
and
its mines in Leposavic on August 14 at dawn, justifying their action by
environmental concerns.
Bjelic addressed his letter from the temporary Trepca
management
office in Novi Pazar, southern Serbia, as he is banned from entering
KosovoMetohija by Kouchner, who had said that his return would depend on
changing his stance regarding company activities.
The letter also points to the need for the immediate pullout of
KFor and UNMIK from Trepca plants and mines.
Bjelic requested tenders for revitalizing the industry and
acquiring modern equipment for production and environment protection,
and
proposed that Trepca itself finance environment cleanup activities in
Kosovska Mitrovica.
Trepca can overhaul its installations and ensure highest
environment protection standards within six months, Bjelic said.
The zinc processing installations could be made operational
within
18 months after revitalization works start, Bjelic said.
Work in Zvecan should be done exclusively by nonAlbanians and
in
the southern part of Kosovska Mitrovica exclusively by ethnic Albanians
in
a first stage, until full conditions for peace and tolerance are ensured
throughout the province, Bjelic said in his letter.
PROTESTING TREPCA WORKERS ENDORSE THEIR MANAGER'S OFFER TO
KOUCHNER
ZVECAN, Aug 24 (Tanjug). Workers of the Trepca mining industry
and
Kosovska Mitrovica residents continued their protest Thursday in Zvecan,
Serbia's KosovoMetohija province, over the storming of the Trepca lead
smelter by Kfor troops on August 14.
Management member Dragan Vasic read to the protesters a letter
addressed Wednesday by Trepca general manager Novak Bijelic to civilian
mission UNMIK chief Bernard Kouchner, proposing a resumption of work
provided some conditions are ensured.
The principal condition for resuming production is a pullout of
Kfor and UNMIK forces from the Zvecan plant and the Trepca mine in
Leposavic within three days, Bijelic said in his letter.
---
L'ALTO COMMISSARIO ONU IN BOSNIA-ERZEGOVINA
CENSURA LE TRASMISSIONI DI RADIO JUGOSLAVIA
REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS CONCERNED OVER CLOSURE OF RADIO YUGOSLAVIA
SARAJEVO, Aug 24 (Tanjug). International nongovernmental
organization Reporters Without Borders expressed concern Thursday over
the
recent closure of the Radio Yugoslavia broadcasting center in Bijeljina,
Republika Srpska.
The organization requested clarifications in a letter to the
High
Representative of the international community for BosniaHerzegovina
Wolfgang Petritsch.
Last weekend, Petritch ordered the personnel of Radio
Yugoslavia
in Bijeljina to cease broadcasting under threat of force.
---
SOLDATI DELLA KFOR PICCHIANO SUORA DEL CONVENTO DI SOKOLICA
E POI ADDUCONO SCUSE RAZZISTE: "SEMBRAVA EGIZIANA"
> > >Politika, Belgrade, Yugoslavia
> > >August 23, 2000
> > >
> > >BRUTISH BEHAVIOR OF KFOR MEMBERS IN NORTHERN KOSOVO
> > >
> > >Danish soldiers beat prioress of Sokolica Monastery
> > >
> > >KFOR's cynical explanation is that the soldiers thought she was an
> > Egyptian
> > woman
> > >because women in that country dress similarly to our nuns
> > >
> > >Kosovska Mitrovica, August 22
> > >
> > >The arrogant behavior of members of KFOR and the UNMIK police in the
> > northern
> > part
> > >of Kosovo during "routine" controls at permanent and temporary
> > check-points
> > has
> > >exceeded all measure in recent days. For three days now hardly anyone
> > can pass
> > along
> > >the main road from Kosovska Mitrovica - Leposavic by the newly formed
> > checkpoint at
> > >the spot called "Kod Simonide" ("At Simonida's"), held by Danish
> > soldiers,
> > without
> > >being subjected to mistreatment, a detailed search and beatings as
> > well.
> > Danish
> > >soldiers at this check-point are especially rough toward the clergy.
> > Recently
> > they
> > >stopped the prioress of Sokolica Monastery, Mother Dr. Makarija
> > (Obradovic),
> > who was
> > >returning from Kraljevo to the monastery, and forced her to get out of
> > the
> > >automobile by beating her.
> > >
> > >"They stopped me and since I could not understand what they were
> > saying, I
> > answered
> > >that I could communicate with them in either Serbian, or in the
> > English,
> > German,
> > >Greek or Slovenian languages and I simply did not understand what they
> > were
> > saying.
> > >At that moment, one of the soldiers swung his arm and struck me on the
> > neck.
> > >Humiliated, in pain which caused me to see stars in the middle of the
> > day, I
> > reacted
> > >humanly, as any elderly woman would. I cried while they searched my
> > automobile," the
> > >prioress of Sokolica Monastery, Dr. Makarija, told us.
> > >
> > >An artist herself and a former professer of Byzantine art at the
> > Swedish Royal
> > >Academy, Dr. Makarija was a professor of physical chemistry at the
> > University
> > of
> > >Belgrade prior to taking her vows; for the past ten years, she has been
> > the
> > head of
> > >the one of the most renowned schools of iconography, besides Krska,
> > which is
> > located
> > >inside Sokolica Monastery, seven kilometers from Kosovska Mitrovica.
> > >
> > >Even more ironically, she subsequently received a cynical explanation
> > from
> > KFOR that
> > >the Danish soldiers thought she was an Egyptian woman because women of
> > that
> > country
> > >wear black dresses similiar to the robes worn by Christian Orthodox
> > nuns.
> > >
> > >M. L.
> > >
> > >Translated by S. Lazovic (August 23, 2000)
---
"NUOVA DOTTRINA MILITARE" PER LA RF DI JUGOSLAVIA
YUGOSLAVIA'S CHIEF OF STAFF GIVES INTERVIEW ON MILITARY DOCTRINE
BELGRADE, Aug 21 (Tanjug). Yugoslavia's recently adopted
military
doctrine is a sciencebased and experiencetested system of organizing,
training, deployment and safety of the Yugoslav Army in war and peace
both
at present and in the future, Chief of General Staff General Nebojsa
Pavkovic said in an interview published Monday by the Belgrade daily
Politika.
Pavkovic underlined that the doctrine duly takes into account
Yugoslavia's general capabilities, is founded on international law and
humanitarian law, abides by all international charters, resolutions and
agreements, and reflects Yugoslavia's lasting and traditional adherence
to
peace and freedom.
The public has demonstrated a great interest in the document in
the present situation characterized by the use of military force in
international relations and the attempts of the single world
superpower the US to create a unipolar world, Pavkovic said.
The military doctrine is neither a policy, an economy, a
technology nor a science, it is a document comprising specific
instructions
to the military profession on its place, role, purpose and tasks in
confronting various forms and methods of military threats to national
security and takes into account the achievements of all the mentioned
fields of human endeavour, Pavkovic said.
Underlining that the fundamental message of Yugoslavia's
military
doctrine is peace as the basic precondition for general development of
all
world nations and states, Pavkovic noted that the military option
unfortunately increasingly prevails today in international relations.
Defensive strategies and doctrines are applied by countries
favouring peace and peaceful settlement of all issues, and by countries
which are unable to keep the pace of contemporary trends of development
of
the deadliest armament systems, Pavkovic said.
Contemporary strategies and doctrines are conditioned by the
aspirations of neighbouring states and by the present possibilities of
manufacturing or acquiring modern combat systems, Pavkovic said.
One article of the doctrine analyses all elements of world
military factors and sums up the experience of last year's NATO
aggression
on Yugoslavia. This was done in an objective manner, taking into account
both the positive and negative aspects, with a special emphasis on the
outstanding achievement of the unity of the people, the state
leadership,
the Yugoslav Army and the police, Pavkovic said.
As regards Yugoslavia's strategic position, it is based on an
allround analysis of all military and political factors which as a
changing category influence the training, the organization and the
deployment of the Yugoslav Army.
It is obvious that all attempts to threaten Yugoslavia's
security
at first focus on the socalled unarmed methods of destabilizing the
country
from the inside, which then escalate into armed rebellion as a specific
form of internal aggression an external blow dealt internally, Pavkovic
said.
That socalled indirect strategy consisting of threats to
national
security through finding hostile forces within the country which was the
victim of aggression, was realized most brutally in Yugoslavia, where
ethnic Albanian terrorism, powerfully backed by external factors, had
brought about the armed aggression by NATO, Pavkovic said.
The Yugoslav military doctrine points to the presence of latent
threats to national security by both internal and external factors in
both
unarmed and armed forms, Pavkovic said. An armed aggression such as the
one
launched against Yugoslavia is also possible in a local or world war, in
which military operations would depend on the relative power of parties
to
the conflict, the goals of the aggressor, the focus of military
operations,
the kind of combat means and other factors, Pavkovic explained.
Yugoslavia's military doctrine specifies that the defense
system
comprises the general organization, preparedness and functioning of all
defense forces and subjects with the aim of protecting national
sovereignty, territory, independence and constitutional order, Pavkovic
said.
The basic goals of Yugoslavia's defense system are: 1.
preventing
and eliminating internal crises, 2. dissuading a potential aggressor
from
undertaking aggression, 3. preventing a strategic surprise and 4.
successful warfare, Pavkovic said.
Referring to the doctrine section on war, Pavkovic said that
Yugoslavia has no territorial pretensions towards any country and never
designates an aggressor in advance. Any war that Yugoslavia may fight if
it
is imposed on this country will be defensive, conventional, contemporary
and offensive. Yugoslavia deems such a war as just and will fight it in
abidance with all provisions of international war and humanitarian laws
in
order to reduce to a minimum its own losses and devastation to the
country
and to achieve a maximum defense effect, Pavkovic said.
A special and central section of the doctrine is devoted to the
Yugoslav Army. As a defense army, its priority tasks are deterring a
potential aggressor, fighting against terrorist and rebel forces, and
armed
combat throughout the country in any conditions of aggression on
Yugoslavia, Pavkovic said.
The Yugoslav Army is organized in line with its purpose and its
tasks, international agreements, and demographic, economic, material and
territorial factors, keeping in mind all international norms and
experiences of other contemporary armies, Pavkovic said.
The size of the Yugoslav Army in war and peace has been
realistically assessed on the basis of an allround analysis of all
factors,
especially economic capabilities. It retains its three principal
armies the land army, the airforce and the antiaircraft defense, and
the
navy, and priorities have been set as regards equipment and
modernization
which will enable it to carry out its constitutional role and tasks in
contemporary combat conditions, Pavkovic said.
The doctrine precisely defines the command structure, ranging
from
the strategic commanding the army in war and peace to the tactical.
The
president of the republic commands the Yugoslav Army in war and peace as
supreme commander, Pavkovic said.
The doctrine defines the use of the army as regards function
and
tasks, he said, underlining that the Yugoslav Army is the fundamental
force
for deterring a potential aggressor and for armed combat, and that its
parts can be engaged in combatting terrorism or rebellion in cooperation
with the police, Pavkovic said.
Referring to the recent public reactions to the military
doctrine,
Pavkovic agreed that the military doctrine must be a part of the defense
doctrine, but underlined that the military doctrine is a professional
document which cannot be made dependent on the political will of any
political party, as it would then have to be changed after any
elections.
A serious military organization must be conceived in such a way
as
to ensure the carrying out of consititional tasks, regardless of the
political views of authorities in power or of the identity and power of
a
potential aggressor. The military doctrine was not adopted hastily or as
part of the preelection campaign, but through a normal procedure and as
part of the overall process of reorganizing the national defense force
in
line with internal and international conditions, Pavkovic said.
Yugoslavia's military doctrine was drawn up and adopted in line
with all legal regulations and procedures and constitutes one of the
regular and basic issues in the reorganization of the Yugoslav Army. It
was
drawn up on the basis of known military doctrines of various states and
takes into account the real national situation and capabilities,
Pavkovic
said.
Like all military doctrines in the world, Yugoslavia's military
doctrine is temporary in nature and can be changed according to changes
in
relevant factors, General Pavkovic concluded.
---
RAPPORTI BILATERALI RFJ-INDIA
YUGOSLAV FOREIGN MINISTER JOVANOVIC SENDS MESSAGE TO INDIAN COUNTERPART
BELGRADE, Aug 21 (Tanjug) Ambassador at the Yugoslav Foreign
Ministry Milena Vlahovic has delivered Foreign Minister Zivadin
Jovanovic's
personal message to his Indian counterpart Jashvanth Singh in New Delhi,
said a statement from the Ministry on Monday.
The topics of ensuing talks were the forthcoming Millennium
summit
in New York, the 55th session of the U.N. General Assembly, as well as
activities related to the NonAligned Movement.
Both sides stressed the importance of improving bilateral
relations, as well as political, economic, and other aspects of
cooperation.
International relations can be based exclusively on strict
adherence to sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as on
noninterference in internal affairs of other countries. Democratization
of
decisionmaking within the U.N., as well as the organization itself,
should
have a distinctive role to play in international relations, and the
NonAligned Movement can make a significant contribution in that respect.
The Indian officials reiterated their support for Yugoslav
standpoints on the situation in the Serbian KosovoMetohija province,
expressing great concern about the ongoing violation of the U.N.
Security
Council Resolution 1244. They also condemned all forms of separatism and
terrorism leading to destabilization of prodemocratic countries, as well
as
the policy of double standards.
---
UN NUOVO CENSIMENTO DEI PROFUGHI NELLA RFJ
UNHCR TO CARRY OUT A NEW REFUGEE CENSUS IN YUGOSLAVIA THIS YEAR
BELGRADE, Aug 22 (Tanjug) In the year 2000, the United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) will carry out a census of
refugees
in the territory of Yugoslavia, the UNHCR Belgrade office spokeswoman
Maki
Shinohara told media on Tuesday.
In cooperation with the Serbian Refugees Commissioner and the
Montenegro Commissioner for Displaced Persons, the UNHCR carried out the
first census in 1996. It showed that there were 600,000 refugees and
displaced persons from BosniaHerzegovina and Croatia.
Preparations are being made for a media campaign promoting the
return of refugees from Yugoslavia to BosniaHerzegovina. UNHCR Sarajevo
office Chief Werner Glother has recently met with Yugoslav Minister for
Refugees Bratislava Morina to discuss this issue.
The Serbian province of KosovoMetohija is not a safe
environment
for nonAlbanian communities, and their position is very grave, Shinohara
said. She went on to say that since the arrival of Eric Morris, the new
envoy for Yugoslavia whose office is in Pristina, the UNHCR is no longer
part of the U.N. mission in KosovoMetohija (UNMIK), and will operate
independently in future.
Conditions for the safe return of the KosovoMetohija refugees
have
not been ensured. Therefore, the UNHCR does not encourage the return to
the
province, not only for security reasons, but because of insufficient
accommodation as well, Shinohara explained.
She added that the UNHCR is focusing on help for nonAlbanian
communities that have remained in the province.
---
KOUCHNER SOTTO INDAGINE IN SERBIA PER GENOCIDIO
SERBIAN MINISTER: U.N. KOSOVOMETOHIJA ENVOY UNDER INVESTIGATION
BELGRADE, Aug 22 (Tanjug) The Pristina District Court in
Serbian
(Yugoslav) U.N.run KosovoMetohija is investigating U.N. mission (UNMIK)
chief Bernard Kouchner for crimes of genocide against Serbs, Serbia's
justice minister said on Tuesday.
"Since he came to our southern province, Bernard Kouchner has,
by
commission or omission and together with UNMIK and the international
force
KFor, been the perpetrator of or an accessory to numerous crimes
punishable
under the laws of Yugoslavia and its republic of Serbia", Dragoljub
Jankovic told TANJUG.
The court has started proceedings on the orders of the district
prosecutor in Pristina, Jankovic explained. "To the wide pallette of his
crimes Kouchner has recently added further crimes of inciting or failing
to
prevent the storming of the Trepca lead smelter at Zvecan, driveby
bombing
of Serb children and bombing of the Yugoslav U.N. liaison office," he
added.
He went on to say that these actions perpetuate the process of
ethnic cleansing of KosovoMetohija and are designed to prevent
KosovoMetohija residents from voting in Yugoslav parliamentary and
presidential elections called for Sept. 24.
---
50 MOSCHEE NUOVE DI ZECCA DAGLI EMIRATI ARABI UNITI PER IL KOSMET
UAE minister to build 50 mosques in Kosovo The defence minister
offered to build 50 mosques in Kosovo at his own expense
August 20, 2000, 07:43 AM
DUBAI (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates' defence minister has offered
to build 50 mosques in Kosovo at his own expense, the official WAM news
agency reported on Saturday.
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum's project would be carried out
with the help of UAE troops serving in the NATO-led peacekeeping force
in the province, WAM added. It did not say how much the building work
would cost.
Kosovo's ethnic Albanian population is nominally Muslim, while the
minority Serbs belong mainly to the Orthodox church.
International authorities took responsibility for Kosovo in June last
year after a NATO bombing campaign to drive out Serb forces. The UAE has
about 1,200 troops in Kosovo and another 250 soldiers operating nearby.
---
UN UFFICIO PER LA OPPOSIZIONE DEMOCRATICA...
A BUDAPEST, CON I SOLDI AMERICANI
U.S. Opens New Office in Hungary
The Associated Press
Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2000; 4:20 p.m. EDT
WASHINGTON –– The State Department has opened a new office at the
U.S.
Embassy in Hungary to support democratic forces in Yugoslavia in advance
of
national elections, a spokesman said Tuesday.
The office will be headed by the ambassador to Croatia, William
Montgomery.
"We think it's very important to let those committed to true democracy
in
Serbia know that we support their efforts," State Department spokesman
Philip
Reeker said. Serbia and the smaller republic of Montenegro comprise the
Yugoslav Federation.
Montgomery will be addressing "a full range of issues related to our
long-term goal of advancing democracy in Serbia," Reeker said.
The Clinton administration is hoping for a strong showing by opposition
forces in the Sept. 24 elections. President Slobodan Milosevic has
changed
the constitution to allow him to serve an additional eight years. In
addition
to the presidency, elections for the federal parliament also will be
held.
Reeker said Montgomery will retain the title of ambassador to Croatia
but
will be based in Budapest until a new ambassador is appointed in Zagreb.
© Copyright 2000 The Associated Press
---
LA NATO NASCONDE LA VERITA' SULLE BOMBE A FRAMMENTAZIONE
http://www.serbia-info.com/news
NATO accused of hiding truth about cluster bombs
August 12, 2000
Shocking document about cluster bombs
Lisboa, August - Today, Portuguese dailies pass a report of the
International Association for campaign against contact mines (WGL) in
which, governments of countries, members of NATO pact are accused of
interfering in detailed investigation about cluster bombs, which take
victims after NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.
Leading Lisboa daily "Publico" points out that "governments of
countries, members of NATO pact have been accused, these days, of making
it impossible to find out new proofs about contents of cluster bombs,
although there are more and more innocent victims in the territory of
Kosovo and Metohija".
Portuguese daily also quotes Director of International Association WGL
Richard Lloyd that "cluster bombs were thrown at the territory of
Yugoslavia and in that way NATO pact severely violated existing
international law and U.N. Charter".
Large number of civilians, throughout Yugoslavia, are becoming victims
of sudden explosions, and little boys are the most frequent victims,
Portuguese daily quotes parts of the report of Association of WGL.
Only, during June, over 200 persons died because of mines, and among
them, 50 were victims of cluster bombs, which look like tin of beer or
coca-cola", stresses "Publiko" quoting parts from the report.
That international association recently published shocking document,
after detailed analysis of their experts for explosives of all kinds,
and emergently demanded that energetic measures be taken for cleaning of
terrain, Portuguese dailies quote.
Portuguese dailies remark that every "cluster bomb contains about 147
smaller bombs with strong effect, which during the fall breaks into
pieces". Experts think that, during last year's bombing of Yugoslavia,
bombardiers of squadrons of NATO pact threw 1392 "cluster bombs". After
the explosions of "bombs carriers" about 205 thousand small bombs left
unexploded.
"Publico" writes that published report on dangerous effect of cluster
bombs included an interesting detail that mentioned bomb in British
cooperation (RBL 755) has some kind of impreciseness during targeting
objects and "if it misses wanted target, it can sow death where it
explodes". This kind of cluster bombs is used in Kosovo and Metohija
where large misses were registered, quotes Portuguese daily.
Portuguese analysts conclude energetically that cluster bombs are
continuing with sowing death and with the presence of international
forces for establishing peace.
---
STRANO "ESPERTO" EUROPEO IN MONTENEGRO
ILLEGAL EUROSLOVENIAN "EXPERT" IN MONTENEGRO
PODGORICA, August 9 (Tanjug) Illegally, without any legal
basis
or approval of the Yugoslav government, the Council of Europe has
appointed
its "expert" in Podgorica, the capital of the Yugoslav republic of
Montenegro, which is, among other things, proof of attempts by certain
western countries to treat a Yugoslav republic as a separate state.
Slovenian diplomat Eva Tomic has been appointed special
representative of the Council of Europe in Podgorica. In the status of
expert, she will work within the representative office of the
Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and be in charge of
"providing assistance to the Montenegrin authorities in reforming
education, local selfadministration, the judicial system, and drafting
laws."
In appointing an "expert" within the OSCE, the Council of
Europe
gave up its original plan to open its office in Podgorica, which implies
that there are inside conflicts and divisions regarding Yugoslavia's
stand
that the opening of a Council representative office must imply the
previous
regulation of Yugoslavia's status within the Council of Europe, and that
the opening of a representative office is possible only following
approval
of the Yugoslav government.
The appointment of an official at "expert" level also confirms
that most members of the Council of Europe refuse to accept a stand
which
more seriously denies Yugoslavia's sovereignty and territorial
integrity,
since an "expert" acting within an OSCE office has neither the status
nor
prerogatives of a representative office, which is for certain countries
an
alibi and a way to "ease their conscience."
However, regardless of the fact that its presence has been
reduced
to the slightest possible form, such a decision by the Council of Europe
is
in violation of its own Statute, presents an attempt at direct
interference
in the internal affairs of Yugoslavia as a unique and sovereign state,
as
well as an attempt at stoking activities by secessionist forces in
Montenegro.
Such an action by the Council of Europe also runs contrary to
the
usual practice of international organizations that their representatives
in
federal states are appointed in agreement with that state's central
organs,
and not with the approval of only one of the members of the federal
state.
This is why Yugoslavia has lodged a protest in the strongest
terms
to Council SecretaryGeneral Walter Schwimmer, critically pointing out
that
the Council had opted, in spite of Yugoslavia's expressed readiness for
cooperation, to send an expert without approval of the Belgrade
government,
thus violating the usual forms of cooperation, its own Statute, and the
very procedure for sending representatives to European countries. In the
protest, Yugoslavia also demanded the recalling of Eva Tomic.
---
CHI HA PAURA DI RADOVAN KARADZIC?
THE TIMES (London)
August 8 2000
US 'too afraid of casualties to arrest Karadzic'
BY JAMES PRINGLE IN FOCA
BRITISH forces in Bosnia are the only troops capable of arresting
Radovan Karadzic, the indicted Bosnian Serb war criminal,
American officials working in the region believe.
Although the United States, with more than 4,000 troops in
southeastern Bosnia has almost double Britain's force of 2,400,
American observers claim that fears of losing a US soldier in
combat will render them incapable of taking on the mission. "It's
not a question of courage, it's a political decision in Washington
that there should be no American deaths in Bosnia," one
American official, exasperated by the US troops' failure to act,
said. "Given that, probably only British troops backed by the
SAS are up to the job."
Western offcials doubt US troops will be ordered to act because
of the so-called "Somalia syndrome" that stemmed from the death
of 18 US soldiers in Mogadishu in 1993.
The watchword of American troops in the Nato-led Stabilisation
Force is "force protection" - a focus on avoiding casualties - in
spite of the State Department plastering "wanted" posters across
the region and offering a $5 million (#3.3 million) reward for the
capture of Dr Karadzic and other alleged war criminals. Jacques
Klein, a retired American general who heads the United Nations
Mission in Bosnia, is pressing for his capture before
parliamentary elections in November so as to remove his
influence on Bosnian Serb voters.
"We must arrest Karadzic," he said. "How can we ask the
Croatian Government to pick up their war criminals and hand them
over when the international community isn't willing to do that
here?"
In April French Nato troops arrested Momcilo Krajisnik in Pale,
the highest-ranking war crimes suspect to be detained in Bosnia.
But since 1995, French forces stationed near Visegrad had been
accused of ignoring war crimes suspects.
Dr Karadzic, charged for crimes linked to the siege of Sarajevo
and the slaughter of thousands of Bosnian Muslims in
Srebrenica, remains at large in eastern Bosnia. Ratko Mladic, the
infamous chief of the Bosnian Serb armed forces, is said to be in
Belgrade.
Western intelligence sources say that Dr Karadzic is guarded by
a formidable paramilitary force and that capturing him would be
"not only difficult but dangerous". British officials said that there
were no plans to deploy troops in the hunt for the former Bosnian
Serb leader..
---
LA NATO MINACCIA UNA NUOVA GUERRA DI AGGRESSIONE CONTRO LA JUGOSLAVIA
-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Aug. 10, 2000
issue of Workers World newspaper
-------------------------
NATO THREATENS NEW WAR AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA
By John Catalinotto
With news statements and articles, NATO leaders renewed
their threats against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in
the last week of July, raising the specter of a new war of
aggression against that country.
NATO Secretary General George Rob ert son threw the weight
of the military alliance behind the move to split Montenegro
away from the remaining Yugoslavia.
Speaking to the media July 27, Robertson said, "I again
repeat my warning to President Milosevic not to make
mistakes that he has made in the past and not to continue to
undermine the elected government of Montenegro."
This is a barely veiled threat that NATO will again bomb
Yugoslavia, as it did for 78 days after Belgrade refused in
March 1999 to submit to the Rambouillet ultimatum that would
have opened all of Yugoslavia to NATO occupation.
What Robertson calls "the elected government of Montenegro"
is the regime headed by President Milo Djukanovic, who is
always described as "pro-Western" in the big-business media
here. This means he has adopted the German Deutschemark as
Montenegro's currency and has tried to split from
Yugoslavia.
Of the 800,000 people living in Montenegro, however, at
least half prefer to remain part of Yugoslavia. This was
seen in last June's elections, which pro-Yugoslavia parties
won in the major seaport town of Herceg Novi and almost won
in Podgorica, the capital. In reality Montenegro is not a
viable independent state. If it split it would become a NATO
protectorate.
Under those conditions, an attempt by Djukanovic to
unconstitutionally split from Yugoslavia runs the danger of
starting a civil war. Asked about possible NATO intervention
in this situation, Robertson made this vague threat: "We
aren't saying what we will do. One of the lessons of Kosovo
is that you don't reveal your cards too far in advance."
To add to the danger, U.S. President Bill Clinton and German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder--heads of the two biggest
imperialist powers in NATO--signed an article in the July 28
International Herald Tribune pledging to intervene in the
Yugoslav national election now set for Sept. 24.
They said they would help the opposition to Milosevic unite
and that they would also support Djukanovic if he boycotts
the election.
"We will continue to work with the democratic opposition in
Serbia, to help it unite around a common platform, to
support nongovernmental organizations and the independent
media, and to back President Milo Djukanovic of Montenegro
until all those who have suffered under Mr. Milosevic's rule
can take their place in Europe," Clinton and Schroeder
wrote.
If there were any doubt before, the two Western leaders made
it clear that there is no serious opposition to Milosevic's
party and its allies except those groups that are toadies of
the Western imperialist powers.
The Yugoslav political leaders have set local, national
parliamentary and presidential elections for Sept. 24. Using
strictly legal parliamentary decisions to change some
election laws, the Milosevic government has maximized its
chances of surviving the election and of keeping Yugoslavia
out of the clutches of NATO.
But this does not end the threat of new NATO intervention in
Yugoslavia, as the NATO leaders have now made clear.
- END -
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TREPCA E SOROS
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---
L'articolo che segue uscira' sul prossimo numero di
CONTROPIANO - giornale per l'iniziativa politica di classe
cpiano@...
-
L'emblematica e vergognosa vicenda delle miniere di Trepca
Kossovo: Soros ordina e la NATO esegue
In un clima di sistematica persecuzione ed espulsione della minoranze
serbe, rom, garani da parte delle truppe NATO e dell'UCK, in Kossovo si
comincia a parlare di affari. E' in corso una concorrenza spietata.
Espropriate le miniere di Trepca. A farla da padrone è Soros, diventato
fiduciario dell'amministrazione Clinton nei Balcani.
Ma in mezzo ci sono anche degli italiani..."insospettabili".
A luglio, i quotidiani finanziari rendono nota la notizia che i
finanziamenti USA per i Balcani saranno gestiti da George Soros. Secondo
quanto riportato, l'agenzia chiamata a gestire gli aiuti - la OPIC
ovvero "Overseas Private Investment Corporation - ha preferito Soros
rispetto ad altri 16 candidati.
Il noto speculatore finanziario si troverà così a gestire 150 milioni di
dollari dei circa 600 che gli USA hanno stanziato per gli investimenti
nei Balcani.
Il presidente della OPIC, affidando la gestione del fondo a Soros, ha
dichiarato che "Il governo americano e le aziende statunitensi vogliono
avere un ruolo da protagonisti nella regione". (1)
La notizia in sè non è di quelle sorprendenti ma conferma ulteriormente
quello è stato - e rimane - il ruolo del tutto particolare svolto da
Soros in tutta la vicenda che ha portato la NATO ad occupare
militarmente il Kossovo e bombardare il resto della Jugoslavia.
L'incredibile esproprio delle miniere di Trepca
A metà agosto, le truppe della NATO hanno occupato e chiuso una parte
delle miniere di Trepca.La vicenda del complesso minerario di Trepca, il
più importante della ex Jugoslavia e ovviamente del Kossovo, conferma il
doppio filo che lega le operazioni finanziarie e il ruolo dei soldati
della NATO e dell'UCK.
Innanzitutto, occorre sottolineare come una parte degli impianti
minerari siano collocati a Kosovska Mitrovica, ovvero l'enclave in cui
la minoranza serba sta resistendo disperatamente alle persecuzioni, agli
attacchi e alle intimidazioni sistematiche e congiunte dell'UCK e dei
contingenti della NATO. Ma Trepca rappresenta anche una delle poche vere
ricchezze del Kossovo occupato.
"Essendo una delle poche imprese in Kosovo in grado di attirare valuta
estera, Trepca eserciterà un ruolo assai significativo nel contesto
dello sforzo internazionale per la ricostruzione" segnalava un anno
prima il Financial Times (2) ed in effetti la previsione del quotidiano
finanziario era destinata ada avverarsi in poco tempo.
Un rapporto dell'ICG (International Crisis Group) nel novembre del 1999,
è dedicato proprio al complesso minerario di Trepca. Questo rapporto
raccomandava alla missione ONU in Kossovo (la Unmik) di appropriarsi nel
più breve tempo possibile delle miniere e suggeriva anche le modalità e
la tempistica con cui realizzare questo esproprio ai danni della
Repubblica Federale di Jugoslavia. Le miniere di Trepca, nonostante
varie controversie di cui parleremo, risultano ancora essere di
proprietà statale della Repubblica Jugoslava.
Secondo il rapporto, una volta espropriate le miniere "la forza e il
management vanno selezionati in base al merito ...ma non va presa in
considerazione nessuno che abbia legami con il regime di Belgrado". Ma
anche sui tempi dell'esproprio è interessante quanto dice il rapporto
dell'ICG: "Se l'iniziativa venisse presa prima di qualunque
consultazione elettorale in Serbia, questa non sconvolgerebbe
necessariamente una eventuale strategia per deporre Milosevic, e
potrebbe anzi contribuire anche a questa impresa" (3).
E' importante, a questo punto, sapere che l'ICG è un centro di ricerca
sui Balcani finanziato da Soros e gestito dal suo braccio destro nel
Kossovo, l'ex ambasciatore USA in Turchia Morton Abramowitz.
A marzo, la KFOR già aveva provveduto a far ripartire una parte del
complesso minerario, quello in cui lavoravano operai albanesi alle
dipendenze dell'ing.Burhan Kavaja a cui il viceré dell'Unmik, l'esaltato
Bernard Kouchner, ha affidato la direzione dell'impianto.
Nella Repubblica Federale di Jugoslavia, il 24 settembre si terranno le
elezioni politiche generali. Ad agosto, conformemente a quanto sostenuto
dall'ICG, le truppe NATO occupano militarmente le altre miniere di
Trepca, cacciano via gli ultimi operai serbi che vi lavoravano (circa
600) e le chiudono perché "sarebbero inquinanti". Se non fosse
vergognoso ci sarebbe da ridere: la NATO che con le sue bombe all'uranio
ed i bombardamenti sistematici sulle raffinerie di Pancevo ha inquinato
tutta l'area danubiana, si preoccupa dell'inquinamento delle miniere di
Trepca!!!
Una concorrenza spietata sulle ricchezze del Kossovo
Una volta cacciati via i lavoratori serbi, le miniere saranno affidate
ad investitori esteri disposti a rilevarle.
Sulle miniere, tra l'altro, esisteva già un pretendente/concorrente di
Soros. Si tratta di un finanziere greco, Evangelos Mytilineos, il quale
reclama le miniere come risarcimento di un credito ormai inesigibile a
causa della guerra, verso il governo jugoslavo. Ma se le miniere vengono
espropriate dall'Unmik, per il finanziere greco non ci sarà nulla da
fare.
Per lui, come per altri imprenditori, pesa l'accusa di "aver fatto
affari con Milosevic", per cui anche se il Kossovo non è formalmente
indipendente ma amministrato dall'ONU, non può più accampare diritti. Il
finanziere greco ha chiesto un arbitrato internazionale a Vienna ma in
Kossovo decidono le armi, quelle della NATO ma anche quelle dell'UCK. Lo
conferma quanto avvenuto ad un altro imprenditore-avvoltoio, un questo
caso italiano. "E' il caso della società siderurgica Duferco di Brescia
che non riesce a rientrare in possesso di due laminatoi a Urosevac e
Vucitrin" scrive il Sole 24 Ore." Nel primo sono alloggiate le truppe
greche, nel secondo i kossovari vogliono una partecipazione...Gli
impianti erano stati ceduti dalla Siderurgica statale di Belgrado in
cambio di debiti accumulati verso la società italiana a metà degli anni
'90. Adesso un certo Ramadani, kosovaro di Slovenia, dichiara ai
giornali di volere un partner per la "sua" fabbrica" di Vucinar"(4).
Seguendo la stessa logica, la francese Alcatel, utilizzando una sua
società basata a Montecarlo, ha "soffiato" alla Telecom italiana la rete
di telefonia cellulare nel Kossovo. La Telecom era "rea" di aver fatto
affari con Belgrado partecipando insieme alla greca Ote alla
privatizzazione della società telefonica jugoslava. Il 19 giugno è
scaduto il termine stabilito dalla "Agenzia Europea per la Ricostruzione
del Kossovo" per gli appalti delle gare per la ricostruzione dei ponti
di Zaimovo e Luzane e la riparazione dei convogliatori di carbone delle
miniere di Bardh e Mirash. Sembra che ci siano stati "colpi bassi" di
ogni tipo, incluso qualche morto ammazzato. Si potrebbe dire che "è la
concorrenza, bellezza"!!
Tra gli espropriatori anche degli "insospettabili italiani"
Ma le pagine vergognose sulla ricostruzione del Kossovo "gestita"
dall'ONU-NATO (ovvero Unmik-KFOR) non sono finite. Un'altra pagina
vergognosa è quella scitta da CGIL CISL UIL.
Con alcuni articoli di insolito"coraggio", il Manifesto, ha reso noto
che agli investimenti sulle miniere di Trepca, partecipa anche un fondo
comune di 1,5 miliardi di lire, messo su dai sindacati confederali
italiani e dalla Confindustria (altro che concertazione!!!NdR). Non
solo, ma i soldi utilizzati da CGIL CISL UIL sono quelli raccolti nei
posti di lavoro per la famigerata "Missione Arcobaleno" (finita sotto
inchiesta della magistratura) attraverso il versamento di "un'ora di
lavoro per il Kossovo".
Il 10 maggio, il commissario italiano per i fondi privati della Missione
Arcobaleno, Marco Vitale, e il viceré dell'ONU in Kossovo, Kouchner,
hanno reso noto di aver firmato l'accordo per la donazione dei soldi e
la destinazione alle miniere di Trepca, specificamente per l'impianto di
Stari Terg (5).
Il Manifesto accusa esplicitamente la "pulizia etnica sindacale". Loris
Campetti denuncia che "quelle miniere, che sono la realtà economica più
importante del Kossovo, sono state di fatto consegnate ai vincitori,
agli albanesi, che hanno proceduto ad una "deserbificazione" forzata".
Tre mesi dopo, questa deserbificazione è stata continuata direttamente
da quasi 2.000 militari della NATO. Soros ordina...e i soldati della
NATO eseguono. Una cosa è certa, alla vergogna di aver appoggiato
l'aggressione NATO un anno fa, nel Kossovo occupato si aggiungono
quotidianamente episodi e rivelazioni che dovrebbero suggerire, a chi ha
sposato la tesi della guerra umanitaria, di sopprimersi da solo.
Note :
(1) Sole 24 Ore del 26 luglio 2000; (2) Financial Times del 6 luglio
1999; (3) vedi l'articolo di Diana Johnstone sul Manifesto del 19 marzo
2000; (4) Sole 24 Ore del 23 marzo 2000; (5) Manifesto dell'11 e del 12
maggio 2000.
---
U.N.STORMED TREPCA'S WORKERS CONTINUE PROTESTS
ZVECAN, Aug 22 (Tanjug) Trepca lead smelter employees and
people
in divided Kosovska Mitrovica held a peaceful rally early on Tuesday in
protest against the KosovoMetohija plant's violent takeover by the
international force KFor on Aug. 14.
The assembled protesters, who have been rallying outside
factory
gates since the day of the takeover, were addressed by Trepca Assistant
General Manager Vojislav Radulovic.
"We are gathering here daily because we are not allowed to
work.
We ask that we be returned to our jobs, to go back to doing what we have
been doing", Radulovic said.
According to Radulovic, environmental concerns pleaded as the
reason for KFor's occupation of Trepca (in the north of the Yugoslav
republic of Serbia's U.N.administered KosovoMetohija province) are a
pretext to justify the outrage in the eyes of the world.
"But Trepca was not built yesterday, and all of us who have
worked
here are alive and our health is unimpaired," he stressed, urging the
people to keep up the peaceful protests.
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
Le puntate precedenti su:
http://www.egroups.com/message/crj-mailinglist/405
http://www.egroups.com/message/crj-mailinglist/406
---
L'articolo che segue uscira' sul prossimo numero di
CONTROPIANO - giornale per l'iniziativa politica di classe
cpiano@...
-
L'emblematica e vergognosa vicenda delle miniere di Trepca
Kossovo: Soros ordina e la NATO esegue
In un clima di sistematica persecuzione ed espulsione della minoranze
serbe, rom, garani da parte delle truppe NATO e dell'UCK, in Kossovo si
comincia a parlare di affari. E' in corso una concorrenza spietata.
Espropriate le miniere di Trepca. A farla da padrone è Soros, diventato
fiduciario dell'amministrazione Clinton nei Balcani.
Ma in mezzo ci sono anche degli italiani..."insospettabili".
A luglio, i quotidiani finanziari rendono nota la notizia che i
finanziamenti USA per i Balcani saranno gestiti da George Soros. Secondo
quanto riportato, l'agenzia chiamata a gestire gli aiuti - la OPIC
ovvero "Overseas Private Investment Corporation - ha preferito Soros
rispetto ad altri 16 candidati.
Il noto speculatore finanziario si troverà così a gestire 150 milioni di
dollari dei circa 600 che gli USA hanno stanziato per gli investimenti
nei Balcani.
Il presidente della OPIC, affidando la gestione del fondo a Soros, ha
dichiarato che "Il governo americano e le aziende statunitensi vogliono
avere un ruolo da protagonisti nella regione". (1)
La notizia in sè non è di quelle sorprendenti ma conferma ulteriormente
quello è stato - e rimane - il ruolo del tutto particolare svolto da
Soros in tutta la vicenda che ha portato la NATO ad occupare
militarmente il Kossovo e bombardare il resto della Jugoslavia.
L'incredibile esproprio delle miniere di Trepca
A metà agosto, le truppe della NATO hanno occupato e chiuso una parte
delle miniere di Trepca.La vicenda del complesso minerario di Trepca, il
più importante della ex Jugoslavia e ovviamente del Kossovo, conferma il
doppio filo che lega le operazioni finanziarie e il ruolo dei soldati
della NATO e dell'UCK.
Innanzitutto, occorre sottolineare come una parte degli impianti
minerari siano collocati a Kosovska Mitrovica, ovvero l'enclave in cui
la minoranza serba sta resistendo disperatamente alle persecuzioni, agli
attacchi e alle intimidazioni sistematiche e congiunte dell'UCK e dei
contingenti della NATO. Ma Trepca rappresenta anche una delle poche vere
ricchezze del Kossovo occupato.
"Essendo una delle poche imprese in Kosovo in grado di attirare valuta
estera, Trepca eserciterà un ruolo assai significativo nel contesto
dello sforzo internazionale per la ricostruzione" segnalava un anno
prima il Financial Times (2) ed in effetti la previsione del quotidiano
finanziario era destinata ada avverarsi in poco tempo.
Un rapporto dell'ICG (International Crisis Group) nel novembre del 1999,
è dedicato proprio al complesso minerario di Trepca. Questo rapporto
raccomandava alla missione ONU in Kossovo (la Unmik) di appropriarsi nel
più breve tempo possibile delle miniere e suggeriva anche le modalità e
la tempistica con cui realizzare questo esproprio ai danni della
Repubblica Federale di Jugoslavia. Le miniere di Trepca, nonostante
varie controversie di cui parleremo, risultano ancora essere di
proprietà statale della Repubblica Jugoslava.
Secondo il rapporto, una volta espropriate le miniere "la forza e il
management vanno selezionati in base al merito ...ma non va presa in
considerazione nessuno che abbia legami con il regime di Belgrado". Ma
anche sui tempi dell'esproprio è interessante quanto dice il rapporto
dell'ICG: "Se l'iniziativa venisse presa prima di qualunque
consultazione elettorale in Serbia, questa non sconvolgerebbe
necessariamente una eventuale strategia per deporre Milosevic, e
potrebbe anzi contribuire anche a questa impresa" (3).
E' importante, a questo punto, sapere che l'ICG è un centro di ricerca
sui Balcani finanziato da Soros e gestito dal suo braccio destro nel
Kossovo, l'ex ambasciatore USA in Turchia Morton Abramowitz.
A marzo, la KFOR già aveva provveduto a far ripartire una parte del
complesso minerario, quello in cui lavoravano operai albanesi alle
dipendenze dell'ing.Burhan Kavaja a cui il viceré dell'Unmik, l'esaltato
Bernard Kouchner, ha affidato la direzione dell'impianto.
Nella Repubblica Federale di Jugoslavia, il 24 settembre si terranno le
elezioni politiche generali. Ad agosto, conformemente a quanto sostenuto
dall'ICG, le truppe NATO occupano militarmente le altre miniere di
Trepca, cacciano via gli ultimi operai serbi che vi lavoravano (circa
600) e le chiudono perché "sarebbero inquinanti". Se non fosse
vergognoso ci sarebbe da ridere: la NATO che con le sue bombe all'uranio
ed i bombardamenti sistematici sulle raffinerie di Pancevo ha inquinato
tutta l'area danubiana, si preoccupa dell'inquinamento delle miniere di
Trepca!!!
Una concorrenza spietata sulle ricchezze del Kossovo
Una volta cacciati via i lavoratori serbi, le miniere saranno affidate
ad investitori esteri disposti a rilevarle.
Sulle miniere, tra l'altro, esisteva già un pretendente/concorrente di
Soros. Si tratta di un finanziere greco, Evangelos Mytilineos, il quale
reclama le miniere come risarcimento di un credito ormai inesigibile a
causa della guerra, verso il governo jugoslavo. Ma se le miniere vengono
espropriate dall'Unmik, per il finanziere greco non ci sarà nulla da
fare.
Per lui, come per altri imprenditori, pesa l'accusa di "aver fatto
affari con Milosevic", per cui anche se il Kossovo non è formalmente
indipendente ma amministrato dall'ONU, non può più accampare diritti. Il
finanziere greco ha chiesto un arbitrato internazionale a Vienna ma in
Kossovo decidono le armi, quelle della NATO ma anche quelle dell'UCK. Lo
conferma quanto avvenuto ad un altro imprenditore-avvoltoio, un questo
caso italiano. "E' il caso della società siderurgica Duferco di Brescia
che non riesce a rientrare in possesso di due laminatoi a Urosevac e
Vucitrin" scrive il Sole 24 Ore." Nel primo sono alloggiate le truppe
greche, nel secondo i kossovari vogliono una partecipazione...Gli
impianti erano stati ceduti dalla Siderurgica statale di Belgrado in
cambio di debiti accumulati verso la società italiana a metà degli anni
'90. Adesso un certo Ramadani, kosovaro di Slovenia, dichiara ai
giornali di volere un partner per la "sua" fabbrica" di Vucinar"(4).
Seguendo la stessa logica, la francese Alcatel, utilizzando una sua
società basata a Montecarlo, ha "soffiato" alla Telecom italiana la rete
di telefonia cellulare nel Kossovo. La Telecom era "rea" di aver fatto
affari con Belgrado partecipando insieme alla greca Ote alla
privatizzazione della società telefonica jugoslava. Il 19 giugno è
scaduto il termine stabilito dalla "Agenzia Europea per la Ricostruzione
del Kossovo" per gli appalti delle gare per la ricostruzione dei ponti
di Zaimovo e Luzane e la riparazione dei convogliatori di carbone delle
miniere di Bardh e Mirash. Sembra che ci siano stati "colpi bassi" di
ogni tipo, incluso qualche morto ammazzato. Si potrebbe dire che "è la
concorrenza, bellezza"!!
Tra gli espropriatori anche degli "insospettabili italiani"
Ma le pagine vergognose sulla ricostruzione del Kossovo "gestita"
dall'ONU-NATO (ovvero Unmik-KFOR) non sono finite. Un'altra pagina
vergognosa è quella scitta da CGIL CISL UIL.
Con alcuni articoli di insolito"coraggio", il Manifesto, ha reso noto
che agli investimenti sulle miniere di Trepca, partecipa anche un fondo
comune di 1,5 miliardi di lire, messo su dai sindacati confederali
italiani e dalla Confindustria (altro che concertazione!!!NdR). Non
solo, ma i soldi utilizzati da CGIL CISL UIL sono quelli raccolti nei
posti di lavoro per la famigerata "Missione Arcobaleno" (finita sotto
inchiesta della magistratura) attraverso il versamento di "un'ora di
lavoro per il Kossovo".
Il 10 maggio, il commissario italiano per i fondi privati della Missione
Arcobaleno, Marco Vitale, e il viceré dell'ONU in Kossovo, Kouchner,
hanno reso noto di aver firmato l'accordo per la donazione dei soldi e
la destinazione alle miniere di Trepca, specificamente per l'impianto di
Stari Terg (5).
Il Manifesto accusa esplicitamente la "pulizia etnica sindacale". Loris
Campetti denuncia che "quelle miniere, che sono la realtà economica più
importante del Kossovo, sono state di fatto consegnate ai vincitori,
agli albanesi, che hanno proceduto ad una "deserbificazione" forzata".
Tre mesi dopo, questa deserbificazione è stata continuata direttamente
da quasi 2.000 militari della NATO. Soros ordina...e i soldati della
NATO eseguono. Una cosa è certa, alla vergogna di aver appoggiato
l'aggressione NATO un anno fa, nel Kossovo occupato si aggiungono
quotidianamente episodi e rivelazioni che dovrebbero suggerire, a chi ha
sposato la tesi della guerra umanitaria, di sopprimersi da solo.
Note :
(1) Sole 24 Ore del 26 luglio 2000; (2) Financial Times del 6 luglio
1999; (3) vedi l'articolo di Diana Johnstone sul Manifesto del 19 marzo
2000; (4) Sole 24 Ore del 23 marzo 2000; (5) Manifesto dell'11 e del 12
maggio 2000.
---
U.N.STORMED TREPCA'S WORKERS CONTINUE PROTESTS
ZVECAN, Aug 22 (Tanjug) Trepca lead smelter employees and
people
in divided Kosovska Mitrovica held a peaceful rally early on Tuesday in
protest against the KosovoMetohija plant's violent takeover by the
international force KFor on Aug. 14.
The assembled protesters, who have been rallying outside
factory
gates since the day of the takeover, were addressed by Trepca Assistant
General Manager Vojislav Radulovic.
"We are gathering here daily because we are not allowed to
work.
We ask that we be returned to our jobs, to go back to doing what we have
been doing", Radulovic said.
According to Radulovic, environmental concerns pleaded as the
reason for KFor's occupation of Trepca (in the north of the Yugoslav
republic of Serbia's U.N.administered KosovoMetohija province) are a
pretext to justify the outrage in the eyes of the world.
"But Trepca was not built yesterday, and all of us who have
worked
here are alive and our health is unimpaired," he stressed, urging the
people to keep up the peaceful protests.
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
* SOROS IL "FILANTROPO"
STOP NATO: NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.HOME-PAGE.ORG
Soros, the Philanthropist
George Soros is the typical case of the new speculative capital that is
entering in Hispano-America. In addition to his great purchase of the
lucrative Russian telephone monopoly Svyazinvest, in collaboration with
the
Deutsche Morgan Grenfel, where some people alleges that Soros has
earned billions speculating with the exchange rate in England and more
recently in Southeast Asia, where he and his cabal of speculators, aka
Quantum Group, “upset currencies in order to pursue his own political
agenda” (Malasyan PM’s words) in 1997. The currencies in the region were
drastically devalued in a few weeks and more than $100 billion in the
central
bank reserves of those countries were expended in a failed attempt to
defend their currencies. There was a net withdrawal of foreign funds
reaching $12 billion from South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and
the Philippines. In a year, $105 billion flowed out ($12 billion net
outflow in
1997 coming after a $93 billion net inflow in 1996), equivalent to 11%
of total
production in these countries. In the span of a few months, the overall
value
of stock markets in Asia fell by 60%.
The philanthropic incursions of Soros in East Europe helped him to
create
bridges with future politicians and intellectuals that later facilitated
lucrative
opportunities to him of investment in the purchase of companies in that
region.
Like it was to be expected, Soros is the first in front of the
speculative
outpost in Latin America. He found right opportunities to make a great
fortune under the Carlos Menem's regime. With an initial investment of
$10
million in 1990, his profits in real estate now surpass $550 million,
including
two towers of offices, two residential marinas in a de-luxe harbour
complex,
flats for sectors of high income and plans to reconvert the Market of
Supply
(Mercado de Abastos) of Buenos Aires. He has bought four of the six
biggest mall centres of Buenos Aires and a great sport complex and today
he is the biggest landowner and cattle dealer of Argentina. This last
one is a
result from an investment of $17 million in 400.000 hectares of land and
160,000 heads of cattle. At the beginning of 1997, with a profitability
of $90
million taken from that property, Soros bought another 60,000 hectares
of
agrarian land plus 87,000 heads of cattle. The value of the land has
been
duplicated in about two years and the American market "has been suddenly
opened" to exports of Argentinean beef meat for first time in 60 years.
And while the value of the land increased and his leasing business were
multiplying, Menem's regime was proclaiming its success to attract new
capitals. At the same time, general strikes were spreading to every
province
of Argentina and massive demonstrations of Health and Education Service
workers, usually exploited or unpaid, became frequent.
Mexico is another target for the speculative adventures of Soros, with
investments of $1,3 billion in real estate. Thus, while the standard of
life is
going down, the external predator arrives to catch the profits.
In Venezuela, Soros took control of numerous "automatic tellers"
networks
and a company of real estate whose capital surpasses $150 million (Fund
of Real Estate Values, FVI). In addition, he has shares in lucrative
companies of mining, textiles and electrical energy. Of course, he
financially help the opposition to Hugo Chavez's populist government.
In Brazil, he has shares for $245 million in privatised
telecommunication
company, Telebras, a majority share in Brazil Realty, and investments in
skyscrapers for business offices in the centre of Sao Paulo.
Like in his previous incursions, taking advantage - in association with
local
speculators- of the legal vacuum fomented by corrupt and repressive US-
backed regimes, Soros covered up his predatory actions with a
philanthropic faccade. In effect, while he was earning trillions at the
expense
of farmers and natives deprived of their land, Soros Foundation opened
an
office to offer free education to indigenous and street-children in
Guatemala
City.
Very Philanthropic.
Javier Bernal (copyleft 2000 - Feel free to forward as much as you can)
PS: To know more:
Latin America in the Time of Cholera : Electoral Politics, Market
Economics, and Permanent Crisis, by James Petras, Morris Morley
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0415905354/amazonatechelon
"George Soros buys Ukraine", by Connie Bruck in The New Yorker, 23
January 1995
http://www.ukar.org/soros01.shtml
"Beware of billionaires bearing gifts", by Richard C. Morais in Forbes 7
April
1997
If you've dimly wondered what is happening in Albania, we can, in a
brief
sentence, explain: George Soros' friends are coming out on top...
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/97/0407/5907082a.htm
---
* SOROS LANCIA UN FONDO DI INVESTIMENTO PER COMPRARSI I BALCANI
STOP NATO: ¡NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Berger, Munoz, Soros Launch Southeast Europe Equity Fund
Jul. 26, 2000 | 12:40 p.m.
To: National Desk
Contact: Lawrence Spinelli, 202-336-8690, or Timothy Harwood,
202-336-8744, both of OPIC
Web site: http://www.opic.gov
WASHINGTON, July 26 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Samuel R. Berger, Assistant to
the President for National Security Affairs, George Munoz, President and
CEO of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), and George
Soros, organizer of Soros Private Funds Management (SPFM), today
launched the Southeast Europe Equity Fund, a $150 million fund to
provide new business development, expansion, restructuring, and
privatization in the region.
At a ceremony in the Old Executive Office Building at the White House
marking the one-year anniversary of the Stability Pact for Southeast
Europe, Munoz and Soros signed an agreement on basic terms under which
SPFM is prepared to manage, and OPIC is prepared to provide financing
for, the fund.
``A year ago, after NATO won the war in Kosovo, more than 40 leaders
came together in Sarajevo determined to win the peace,´´ Berger
said. ``With the Stability Pact Summit, we launched a new partnership
between Southeast Europe and the international community to reverse the
habits of history, de-Balkanize the Balkans and work toward a peaceful
and stable region. We made clear that the nations of Southeast Europe
must undertake reforms to attract investment, and that they must work
together. Our efforts are working.´´
Berger noted that economic growth is accelerating throughout the region
and that the OPIC fund is one of a number of steps the United States has
taken over the past year to promote trade, investment, and economic
growth in Southeast Europe, as promised by President Clinton at the
Stability Pact Summit Pact last July. Berger said the United States will
continue to provide strong support, particularly for initiatives to
strengthen democracy and create sustainable economic growth.
Munoz said, ``I am pleased that we are taking another significant step
in demonstrating that Southeast Europe is an important region on which
we should focus our efforts, to enable it to rebuild and enter the
global marketplace as a full partner. The Southeast Europe Equity Fund
is an ideal vehicle to connect American institutional capital with
European entrepreneurs eager to help Americans tap their growing
markets. OPIC is pleased that Soros Private Funds Management has chosen
to send a strong, positive signal that Southeast Europe is open for
business.´´
Soros said, ``After all the horror and destruction wrought by the
Milosevic regime, the United States and the European Union are deeply
committed to ensuring a better future for the region. This creates
investment opportunities and private investment in turn can make an
important contribution to the region. OPIC is rendering a real service
by providing financing for this fund and I am happy to put my money
where they are putting theirs.´´
Congressman Benjamin A. Gilman (R-N.Y.), Chairman of the House
International Relations Committee, said, ``I am very pleased that this
new fund of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation will be able to
play a key role in mobilizing private sector support for the future
development of Southeast Europe. The Fund´s creation is as much a
recognition of the importance of this region´s vibrant new markets for
U.S. products as it is a reflection of our long-term support to its
emerging market economies. With the financial commitments of the
Fund´s management team already in place, it should quickly be able to
raise the capital needed to promote those projects demonstrating the
best corporate governance practices.´´
The fund will serve Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Montenegro
and Turkey - an emerging consumer market of 112 million people. Its
primary purpose will be to provide capital for new business development,
expansion, restructuring, and privatization.
Soros Private Funds Management was selected as fund manager by the OPIC
Board of Directors in June, concluding a transparent, seven-month
selection process by OPIC management. A Soros affiliate will commit $50
million in private equity, while OPIC will commit to provide a $100
million loan guaranty. Interests in the fund will not be offered to the
public.
OPIC currently provides more than $65 million in financing and insurance
for projects in Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania. Other OPIC-supported
funds have invested more than $30 million in the region.
``OPIC has taken a leadership role in responding to the Clinton
Administration´s Southeast Europe initiative to stabilize and
integrate the countries of southeast Europe into the transatlantic
community,´´ Munoz said. ``OPIC opened a southeast Europe regional
office in Zagreb last February, to serve as a focal point for
establishing potential joint venture partnerships between U.S. and
regional businesses. We will continue to support and encourage U.S.
investment in the region.´´
OPIC is a self-sustaining federal agency that sells investment products
to small, medium and large American businesses expanding into some 140
developing nations and emerging markets around the world. OPIC's
political risk insurance, project finance and investment funds fill a
commercial void, create a level playing field for U.S. businesses and
support development in emerging economies. Since 1971, OPIC has
supported $130 billion worth of investments that will generate $61
billion in U.S. exports and create more than 242,000 American jobs.
> http://my.aol.com/news/story.tmpl?table=n&cat=01&id=0007260631427097
Soros Fund Launches $150 Mln US-Backed Balkans Investment
Bloomberg News, Jul 26 2000 6:31PM
---
* ALTRI DOCUMENTI IMPORTANTI SU GEORGE SOROS:
> http://www.geocities.com/WallStreet/3880/
The unofficial George Soros Homepage
BIOGRAFIA NON-UFFICIALE DI GEORGE SOROS
> http://www.antiwar.com/justin/pf/p-j073100.html
Behind the Headlines by Justin Raimondo (July 31, 2000)
PROFITEERS OF EMPIRE CHENEY, SOROS, AND CO.
SOROS TRA I PROFITTATORI DELL'IMPERO
> http://www.tao.ca/fire/nettime/0788.html
George Soros on the Kosovo situation
Commencement Speech delivered by George Soros on May 27, 1999, at Paul
H.
Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, John Hopkins University.
1999: SOROS PARTECIPA ALLA CAMPAGNA DI DIFFAMAZIONE DELLA JUGOSLAVIA ED
APPOGGIA LE BOMBE UMANITARIE
> http://www.FreeRepublic.com/forum/a393bebad667e.htm
Soros opens Bank so Montenegro can be just liks Kosovo
June 2 1999 /PRNewswire/
SOROS APRE UNA BANCA IN MONTENEGRO
> http://geocities.com/CapitolHill/2890/
Center for Strategic Studies - Belgrade
SOROS NON HA IN MANO SOLAMENTE TUTTI I MEDIA DELL'OPPOSIZIONE, MA ANCHE
ISTITUZIONI DI RICERCA E PERSINO UN CENTRO DI STUDI STRATEGICI A
BELGRADO!
---
* IL MONDO DI SOROS
http://www.antiwar.com/rep/szamuely/szamuely50.html
Soros' World
by George Szamuely
New York Press, 8/22/00
Last week 900 NATO troops, under UN auspices, stormed into a smelting
factory at Zvecan in Kosovo and closed the place down. According to the
UN Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK) chief, Bernard Kouchner,
pollution from the plant – part of the vast Trepca mining complex that
produces gold, silver, lead, zinc and cadmium – was raising lead
levels in the environment to 200 times World Health Organization norms.
"I would be a debauched person if I let this threat to the health of
children and pregnant women continue operating any longer," he
announced.
One wonders if the Frenchman managed to keep a straight face as he said
this. Kouchner is running the province on behalf of a NATO that littered
the place with cluster bombs and depleted uranium shells, that presided
over the expulsion of some 200,000 Serbs, that sent bridges crashing
into the Danube, that happily released clouds of toxic fumes from
bombed-out petrochemical factories into the atmosphere. The residents of
this town – particularly the women – showed their usual ingratitude
to their benefactors by throwing stones at them. Trepca is the leading
employer of Serbs in Kosovo and is Yugoslavia's chief exporter. The
protesters got the Los Angeles treatment: tear gas and rubber bullets.
The Yugoslav government disputes Kouchner's claims. Yugoslavia's record
for telling the truth is considerably better than NATO's. Seizure of
Zvecan gives UNMIK control of the Trepca mines. Already an agreement has
been signed with a group of major mining companies, ITT Kosovo
Consortium, to begin rehabilitation of the complex. Some $16 million is
forthcoming from the EU, the United States, France, Italy, Holland and
Sweden.
UNMIK, needless to say, does not have the right to take over property
that belongs to others. The agency was set up by UN Security Council
Resolution 1244; strangely enough, it remained silent on the matter of
stealing. However, as is the way with NATO, Kouchner simply issued a
decree last year: "UNMIK shall administer movable or immovable property,
including monies, bank accounts, and other property of, or registered in
the name of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or the Republic of Serbia
or any of its organs, which is in the territory of Kosovo."
Interestingly enough, the seizure of Trepca had been urged on him as
long ago as last November by the International Crisis Group (ICG). The
ICG, invariably described in the media as an "independent" and "private"
think tank, is largely financed and run by the billionaire financier
George Soros. Its "independence" can be gauged by the fact that on its
board sits Louise Arbour, former chief prosecutor at that travesty of
justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia;
as well as Wesley Clark, loony chief bomber from last year. Financial
support also comes from the governments of France, the UK and the U.S.
The ICG is a fascinating case study of the way human rights
organizations, governments and international corporations work hand in
glove these days. "Independent" figures like Soros identify a "crisis"
demanding urgent government attention. Governments act on them and then
parcel out the lucrative contracts to Soros and his pals. The Trepca
report begins with the usual tendentious boilerplate: "The future of
Trepca cuts to the heart of the Kosovars' identity. Its great mineral
wealth is the basis of the economy of Kosovo, but the complex is badly
run-down as a result of under-investment and over-exploitation by
governments in Belgrade… Trepca…is Kosovo's Berlin Wall. It has long
stood for Kosovar Albanians as the symbol of Serbian oppression and of
their own resistance." Therefore, "UNMIK…should implement a rapid and
categorical takeover of Trepca complex, including the immediate, total
shutdown of the environmentally hazardous facilities at Zvecan." There
is no question of turning the mines over to the Kosovar Albanians. And
forget about there being lots of jobs for the locals. Trepca is to be
rehabilitated and then divided up among foreign investors.
The report notes, with pleasure, that the KLA appears to be thoroughly
up-to-date on the issue of turning Kosovo over to international
financiers. George Soros has littered the world with innumerable think
tanks and foundations, all dedicated to promoting his nebulous notions
of the "open society." Cut away the pompous verbiage and what his
pronouncements amount to is that enlightened businessmen like himself
and enlightened governments with the appropriate globalist outlook
should help each other out. To hell with national sovereignty.
It is an outlook that has been happily in conformity with that of the
Clinton administration. And it has gone out of its way to be very
helpful to Soros. Last month, Soros Private Funds Management announced
that it will invest $50 million of its own equity in the Balkans. The
U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corp. will provide a loan guarantee for
another $100 million of investments. The Soros investment was chosen
over 16 other proposals.
Last December the Clinton administration ordered the U.S. Export-Import
Bank to delay approval of $500 million in credit guarantees to a Russian
company, Tyumen Oil, following complaints by Western investors,
including Soros, that they had been swindled. The U.S. Export-Import
Bank argued that the loan met all its financial criteria. After talking
to Soros, however, it was announced that it was not in the "national
interest" to go ahead with the loan "for the time being." Now comes the
seizure of Trepca. There is little mystery as to what it is our society
is "open" to.
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
STOP NATO: NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.HOME-PAGE.ORG
Soros, the Philanthropist
George Soros is the typical case of the new speculative capital that is
entering in Hispano-America. In addition to his great purchase of the
lucrative Russian telephone monopoly Svyazinvest, in collaboration with
the
Deutsche Morgan Grenfel, where some people alleges that Soros has
earned billions speculating with the exchange rate in England and more
recently in Southeast Asia, where he and his cabal of speculators, aka
Quantum Group, “upset currencies in order to pursue his own political
agenda” (Malasyan PM’s words) in 1997. The currencies in the region were
drastically devalued in a few weeks and more than $100 billion in the
central
bank reserves of those countries were expended in a failed attempt to
defend their currencies. There was a net withdrawal of foreign funds
reaching $12 billion from South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and
the Philippines. In a year, $105 billion flowed out ($12 billion net
outflow in
1997 coming after a $93 billion net inflow in 1996), equivalent to 11%
of total
production in these countries. In the span of a few months, the overall
value
of stock markets in Asia fell by 60%.
The philanthropic incursions of Soros in East Europe helped him to
create
bridges with future politicians and intellectuals that later facilitated
lucrative
opportunities to him of investment in the purchase of companies in that
region.
Like it was to be expected, Soros is the first in front of the
speculative
outpost in Latin America. He found right opportunities to make a great
fortune under the Carlos Menem's regime. With an initial investment of
$10
million in 1990, his profits in real estate now surpass $550 million,
including
two towers of offices, two residential marinas in a de-luxe harbour
complex,
flats for sectors of high income and plans to reconvert the Market of
Supply
(Mercado de Abastos) of Buenos Aires. He has bought four of the six
biggest mall centres of Buenos Aires and a great sport complex and today
he is the biggest landowner and cattle dealer of Argentina. This last
one is a
result from an investment of $17 million in 400.000 hectares of land and
160,000 heads of cattle. At the beginning of 1997, with a profitability
of $90
million taken from that property, Soros bought another 60,000 hectares
of
agrarian land plus 87,000 heads of cattle. The value of the land has
been
duplicated in about two years and the American market "has been suddenly
opened" to exports of Argentinean beef meat for first time in 60 years.
And while the value of the land increased and his leasing business were
multiplying, Menem's regime was proclaiming its success to attract new
capitals. At the same time, general strikes were spreading to every
province
of Argentina and massive demonstrations of Health and Education Service
workers, usually exploited or unpaid, became frequent.
Mexico is another target for the speculative adventures of Soros, with
investments of $1,3 billion in real estate. Thus, while the standard of
life is
going down, the external predator arrives to catch the profits.
In Venezuela, Soros took control of numerous "automatic tellers"
networks
and a company of real estate whose capital surpasses $150 million (Fund
of Real Estate Values, FVI). In addition, he has shares in lucrative
companies of mining, textiles and electrical energy. Of course, he
financially help the opposition to Hugo Chavez's populist government.
In Brazil, he has shares for $245 million in privatised
telecommunication
company, Telebras, a majority share in Brazil Realty, and investments in
skyscrapers for business offices in the centre of Sao Paulo.
Like in his previous incursions, taking advantage - in association with
local
speculators- of the legal vacuum fomented by corrupt and repressive US-
backed regimes, Soros covered up his predatory actions with a
philanthropic faccade. In effect, while he was earning trillions at the
expense
of farmers and natives deprived of their land, Soros Foundation opened
an
office to offer free education to indigenous and street-children in
Guatemala
City.
Very Philanthropic.
Javier Bernal (copyleft 2000 - Feel free to forward as much as you can)
PS: To know more:
Latin America in the Time of Cholera : Electoral Politics, Market
Economics, and Permanent Crisis, by James Petras, Morris Morley
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0415905354/amazonatechelon
"George Soros buys Ukraine", by Connie Bruck in The New Yorker, 23
January 1995
http://www.ukar.org/soros01.shtml
"Beware of billionaires bearing gifts", by Richard C. Morais in Forbes 7
April
1997
If you've dimly wondered what is happening in Albania, we can, in a
brief
sentence, explain: George Soros' friends are coming out on top...
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/97/0407/5907082a.htm
---
* SOROS LANCIA UN FONDO DI INVESTIMENTO PER COMPRARSI I BALCANI
STOP NATO: ¡NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Berger, Munoz, Soros Launch Southeast Europe Equity Fund
Jul. 26, 2000 | 12:40 p.m.
To: National Desk
Contact: Lawrence Spinelli, 202-336-8690, or Timothy Harwood,
202-336-8744, both of OPIC
Web site: http://www.opic.gov
WASHINGTON, July 26 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Samuel R. Berger, Assistant to
the President for National Security Affairs, George Munoz, President and
CEO of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), and George
Soros, organizer of Soros Private Funds Management (SPFM), today
launched the Southeast Europe Equity Fund, a $150 million fund to
provide new business development, expansion, restructuring, and
privatization in the region.
At a ceremony in the Old Executive Office Building at the White House
marking the one-year anniversary of the Stability Pact for Southeast
Europe, Munoz and Soros signed an agreement on basic terms under which
SPFM is prepared to manage, and OPIC is prepared to provide financing
for, the fund.
``A year ago, after NATO won the war in Kosovo, more than 40 leaders
came together in Sarajevo determined to win the peace,´´ Berger
said. ``With the Stability Pact Summit, we launched a new partnership
between Southeast Europe and the international community to reverse the
habits of history, de-Balkanize the Balkans and work toward a peaceful
and stable region. We made clear that the nations of Southeast Europe
must undertake reforms to attract investment, and that they must work
together. Our efforts are working.´´
Berger noted that economic growth is accelerating throughout the region
and that the OPIC fund is one of a number of steps the United States has
taken over the past year to promote trade, investment, and economic
growth in Southeast Europe, as promised by President Clinton at the
Stability Pact Summit Pact last July. Berger said the United States will
continue to provide strong support, particularly for initiatives to
strengthen democracy and create sustainable economic growth.
Munoz said, ``I am pleased that we are taking another significant step
in demonstrating that Southeast Europe is an important region on which
we should focus our efforts, to enable it to rebuild and enter the
global marketplace as a full partner. The Southeast Europe Equity Fund
is an ideal vehicle to connect American institutional capital with
European entrepreneurs eager to help Americans tap their growing
markets. OPIC is pleased that Soros Private Funds Management has chosen
to send a strong, positive signal that Southeast Europe is open for
business.´´
Soros said, ``After all the horror and destruction wrought by the
Milosevic regime, the United States and the European Union are deeply
committed to ensuring a better future for the region. This creates
investment opportunities and private investment in turn can make an
important contribution to the region. OPIC is rendering a real service
by providing financing for this fund and I am happy to put my money
where they are putting theirs.´´
Congressman Benjamin A. Gilman (R-N.Y.), Chairman of the House
International Relations Committee, said, ``I am very pleased that this
new fund of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation will be able to
play a key role in mobilizing private sector support for the future
development of Southeast Europe. The Fund´s creation is as much a
recognition of the importance of this region´s vibrant new markets for
U.S. products as it is a reflection of our long-term support to its
emerging market economies. With the financial commitments of the
Fund´s management team already in place, it should quickly be able to
raise the capital needed to promote those projects demonstrating the
best corporate governance practices.´´
The fund will serve Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Montenegro
and Turkey - an emerging consumer market of 112 million people. Its
primary purpose will be to provide capital for new business development,
expansion, restructuring, and privatization.
Soros Private Funds Management was selected as fund manager by the OPIC
Board of Directors in June, concluding a transparent, seven-month
selection process by OPIC management. A Soros affiliate will commit $50
million in private equity, while OPIC will commit to provide a $100
million loan guaranty. Interests in the fund will not be offered to the
public.
OPIC currently provides more than $65 million in financing and insurance
for projects in Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania. Other OPIC-supported
funds have invested more than $30 million in the region.
``OPIC has taken a leadership role in responding to the Clinton
Administration´s Southeast Europe initiative to stabilize and
integrate the countries of southeast Europe into the transatlantic
community,´´ Munoz said. ``OPIC opened a southeast Europe regional
office in Zagreb last February, to serve as a focal point for
establishing potential joint venture partnerships between U.S. and
regional businesses. We will continue to support and encourage U.S.
investment in the region.´´
OPIC is a self-sustaining federal agency that sells investment products
to small, medium and large American businesses expanding into some 140
developing nations and emerging markets around the world. OPIC's
political risk insurance, project finance and investment funds fill a
commercial void, create a level playing field for U.S. businesses and
support development in emerging economies. Since 1971, OPIC has
supported $130 billion worth of investments that will generate $61
billion in U.S. exports and create more than 242,000 American jobs.
> http://my.aol.com/news/story.tmpl?table=n&cat=01&id=0007260631427097
Soros Fund Launches $150 Mln US-Backed Balkans Investment
Bloomberg News, Jul 26 2000 6:31PM
---
* ALTRI DOCUMENTI IMPORTANTI SU GEORGE SOROS:
> http://www.geocities.com/WallStreet/3880/
The unofficial George Soros Homepage
BIOGRAFIA NON-UFFICIALE DI GEORGE SOROS
> http://www.antiwar.com/justin/pf/p-j073100.html
Behind the Headlines by Justin Raimondo (July 31, 2000)
PROFITEERS OF EMPIRE CHENEY, SOROS, AND CO.
SOROS TRA I PROFITTATORI DELL'IMPERO
> http://www.tao.ca/fire/nettime/0788.html
George Soros on the Kosovo situation
Commencement Speech delivered by George Soros on May 27, 1999, at Paul
H.
Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, John Hopkins University.
1999: SOROS PARTECIPA ALLA CAMPAGNA DI DIFFAMAZIONE DELLA JUGOSLAVIA ED
APPOGGIA LE BOMBE UMANITARIE
> http://www.FreeRepublic.com/forum/a393bebad667e.htm
Soros opens Bank so Montenegro can be just liks Kosovo
June 2 1999 /PRNewswire/
SOROS APRE UNA BANCA IN MONTENEGRO
> http://geocities.com/CapitolHill/2890/
Center for Strategic Studies - Belgrade
SOROS NON HA IN MANO SOLAMENTE TUTTI I MEDIA DELL'OPPOSIZIONE, MA ANCHE
ISTITUZIONI DI RICERCA E PERSINO UN CENTRO DI STUDI STRATEGICI A
BELGRADO!
---
* IL MONDO DI SOROS
http://www.antiwar.com/rep/szamuely/szamuely50.html
Soros' World
by George Szamuely
New York Press, 8/22/00
Last week 900 NATO troops, under UN auspices, stormed into a smelting
factory at Zvecan in Kosovo and closed the place down. According to the
UN Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK) chief, Bernard Kouchner,
pollution from the plant – part of the vast Trepca mining complex that
produces gold, silver, lead, zinc and cadmium – was raising lead
levels in the environment to 200 times World Health Organization norms.
"I would be a debauched person if I let this threat to the health of
children and pregnant women continue operating any longer," he
announced.
One wonders if the Frenchman managed to keep a straight face as he said
this. Kouchner is running the province on behalf of a NATO that littered
the place with cluster bombs and depleted uranium shells, that presided
over the expulsion of some 200,000 Serbs, that sent bridges crashing
into the Danube, that happily released clouds of toxic fumes from
bombed-out petrochemical factories into the atmosphere. The residents of
this town – particularly the women – showed their usual ingratitude
to their benefactors by throwing stones at them. Trepca is the leading
employer of Serbs in Kosovo and is Yugoslavia's chief exporter. The
protesters got the Los Angeles treatment: tear gas and rubber bullets.
The Yugoslav government disputes Kouchner's claims. Yugoslavia's record
for telling the truth is considerably better than NATO's. Seizure of
Zvecan gives UNMIK control of the Trepca mines. Already an agreement has
been signed with a group of major mining companies, ITT Kosovo
Consortium, to begin rehabilitation of the complex. Some $16 million is
forthcoming from the EU, the United States, France, Italy, Holland and
Sweden.
UNMIK, needless to say, does not have the right to take over property
that belongs to others. The agency was set up by UN Security Council
Resolution 1244; strangely enough, it remained silent on the matter of
stealing. However, as is the way with NATO, Kouchner simply issued a
decree last year: "UNMIK shall administer movable or immovable property,
including monies, bank accounts, and other property of, or registered in
the name of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or the Republic of Serbia
or any of its organs, which is in the territory of Kosovo."
Interestingly enough, the seizure of Trepca had been urged on him as
long ago as last November by the International Crisis Group (ICG). The
ICG, invariably described in the media as an "independent" and "private"
think tank, is largely financed and run by the billionaire financier
George Soros. Its "independence" can be gauged by the fact that on its
board sits Louise Arbour, former chief prosecutor at that travesty of
justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia;
as well as Wesley Clark, loony chief bomber from last year. Financial
support also comes from the governments of France, the UK and the U.S.
The ICG is a fascinating case study of the way human rights
organizations, governments and international corporations work hand in
glove these days. "Independent" figures like Soros identify a "crisis"
demanding urgent government attention. Governments act on them and then
parcel out the lucrative contracts to Soros and his pals. The Trepca
report begins with the usual tendentious boilerplate: "The future of
Trepca cuts to the heart of the Kosovars' identity. Its great mineral
wealth is the basis of the economy of Kosovo, but the complex is badly
run-down as a result of under-investment and over-exploitation by
governments in Belgrade… Trepca…is Kosovo's Berlin Wall. It has long
stood for Kosovar Albanians as the symbol of Serbian oppression and of
their own resistance." Therefore, "UNMIK…should implement a rapid and
categorical takeover of Trepca complex, including the immediate, total
shutdown of the environmentally hazardous facilities at Zvecan." There
is no question of turning the mines over to the Kosovar Albanians. And
forget about there being lots of jobs for the locals. Trepca is to be
rehabilitated and then divided up among foreign investors.
The report notes, with pleasure, that the KLA appears to be thoroughly
up-to-date on the issue of turning Kosovo over to international
financiers. George Soros has littered the world with innumerable think
tanks and foundations, all dedicated to promoting his nebulous notions
of the "open society." Cut away the pompous verbiage and what his
pronouncements amount to is that enlightened businessmen like himself
and enlightened governments with the appropriate globalist outlook
should help each other out. To hell with national sovereignty.
It is an outlook that has been happily in conformity with that of the
Clinton administration. And it has gone out of its way to be very
helpful to Soros. Last month, Soros Private Funds Management announced
that it will invest $50 million of its own equity in the Balkans. The
U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corp. will provide a loan guarantee for
another $100 million of investments. The Soros investment was chosen
over 16 other proposals.
Last December the Clinton administration ordered the U.S. Export-Import
Bank to delay approval of $500 million in credit guarantees to a Russian
company, Tyumen Oil, following complaints by Western investors,
including Soros, that they had been swindled. The U.S. Export-Import
Bank argued that the loan met all its financial criteria. After talking
to Soros, however, it was announced that it was not in the "national
interest" to go ahead with the loan "for the time being." Now comes the
seizure of Trepca. There is little mystery as to what it is our society
is "open" to.
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
DARE DA BERE AGLI ASSETATI
Al termine della grande adunata dei papa-boys, delle ragazze pon-pon e
degli altri giovani tifosi di quella che era un tempo chiamata chiesa
cattolica, sono stati denunciati per sciacallaggio alcuni passanti che
si erano ingenuamente dissetati con alcune bottiglie d'acqua minerale
prese dai distributori giubilari. Alla faccia del comandamento cristiano
di dar bere agli assetati!
(Notizia ascoltata personalmente dal compagno Luciano di Genova al
notiziario nazionale RAI 3 serale delle 19:30 del 21/8/2000)
Sull'adunata papalina si veda anche:
http://digilander.iol.it/Yuri/kermesse.htm
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
Al termine della grande adunata dei papa-boys, delle ragazze pon-pon e
degli altri giovani tifosi di quella che era un tempo chiamata chiesa
cattolica, sono stati denunciati per sciacallaggio alcuni passanti che
si erano ingenuamente dissetati con alcune bottiglie d'acqua minerale
prese dai distributori giubilari. Alla faccia del comandamento cristiano
di dar bere agli assetati!
(Notizia ascoltata personalmente dal compagno Luciano di Genova al
notiziario nazionale RAI 3 serale delle 19:30 del 21/8/2000)
Sull'adunata papalina si veda anche:
http://digilander.iol.it/Yuri/kermesse.htm
--------- COORDINAMENTO ROMANO PER LA JUGOSLAVIA -----------
RIMSKI SAVEZ ZA JUGOSLAVIJU
e-mail: crj@... - URL: http://marx2001.org/crj
http://www.egroups.com/group/crj-mailinglist/
------------------------------------------------------------
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