WESTERN PIRACY IN THE BALKANS
Compiled by June Kelly
ICDSM (Irish Section)
for People Against War
WESTERN PIRACY IN THE BALKANS -
Compiled by People Against War Network -
"THE BALKAN KUWAIT
Voice of Russia, Moscow 18 May 2000
"FOLLOWING SOLDIERS, OIL PROSPECTORS MIGHT COME. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE
WEST HAS COME TO KOSOVO WITH SERIOUS INTENTIONS AND THAT IT SHALL STAY
THERE FOR LONG (permanently). BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE GAINED IN KUWAIT
AND OTHER GULF COUNTRIES WE KNOW THAT OIL AND AMERICAN MILITARY
PRESENCE ALWAYS GO HAND IN HAND."
Moscow - 18 May
The recent report published in the New York Times throws more light on
the West's policy towards Kosovo and displays its consequences on the
economic plane. It is well known that Kosovo has extensive natural
resources. According to an expert opinion, published in in the London
"Economist" weekly, the West is interested in industrial exploitation
of coal, lead, zinc, gold, silver, cobalt, nickel, chromium,
polymetallic ores and various mineral deposits. Kosovo also has a good
river potential.
Energy sources are of particular importance for the industrial
development. Because of the current high price of oil, difficulties in
the exploitation of the Caspian oil and fuel problems in the USA. West
oil corporations must radically re-examine methods of prospecting and
exploitation of the energy sources. In this context the peace operation
in Kosovo seems welcome.
The New York Times correspondent Chris Hemis regards it was not by
chance that Kosovo has attracted West's attention. Following his visit
to Kosovo, Chris Hemis described this Province as the richest area of
the Balkans. The fifteen-million-ton lignite reserves represent a
unique opportunity for the cheap exploitation. Everything suggests that
Kosovo shall soon become one of the major oil regions in Europe.
Prognoses of the Yugoslav and Western experts coincide on this matter.
A few years ago Serbian experts carried out a geological investigation
in the areas southward of the Sava and Danube. The Radio Yugoslavia
communicated that the geologists have obtained unexpectedly favourable
results. Below the thick lignite layer in Kosovo there are huge
deposits of oil.
Similar data were published by the USA AMOCO oil company, The satellite
photographs of that region show that Kosovo has as rich oil deposits as
never before seen in the Balkans and that the first-stage exploitation
might bring about even more sensational results.
A map drawn by the AMOCO experts coincides with the patter of
deployment of the KFOR US contingent in Kosovo. Following soldiers, oil
prospectors might come. It is obvious that the West has come to Kosovo
with serious intentions and that it shall stay there for long. Based on
the experience gained in Kuwait and other Gulf countries we know that
oil and American military presence always go hand in hand."
(Above whole item typed by June Kelly from "Serbia In The World" No.
98/99 June/July 2000)
______________________________________________
"BRITISH TROOPS INJURED IN KOSOVO CLASH
By Lutz Kleveman In Belgrade -
Daily Telegraph (UK) 15.8.2000
THE POLLUTION ARGUMENT IS ONLY A PRETEXT FOR GAINING CONTROL, OF OUR
FACTORY -
British troops clashed yesterday with hundreds of Kosovo Serbs in the
town of Mitrovica after peacekeepers raided and shut down a Serb-owned
lead smelter, said to be a pollution hazard.
Four members of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, serving with Nato's
Kfor troops, were slightly injured when bricks and stones were thrown
at them. A number of Serbs were also wounded when troops responded with
plastic bullets.
The surprise seizure of the plant in the ethnically divided town
infuriated Serb workers, who saw it as part of a plan to push them out
of Kosovo. A crowd of several hundred gathered near the factory and
started scuffles with Kfor soldiers and United Nations police.
At dawn, about 900 British, Danish and French troops had moved in
armoured vehicles to the plant, which is part of the large Trebca
mining complex.
Neither the UN nor the peacekeepers had notified the factory's managers
or workers, who offered little resistance at first.
The takeover had been ordered to assert UNMIK's right to manage the
firm and its profits. Serbs in Kosovo are not convinced. "The pollution
argument is only a pretext for gaining control of our factory," said
Oliver Ivanovic, the local Serb leader."
(Above excerpt typed directly from newspaper clippings by June Kelly -
ICDSM - Irish Section)
__________________________________________
"BATTLE FOR MINERAL WEALTH
By Lara Marlowe - The Irish Times 10.10.2000
THEY WANT THE MINES, THE TREPCA MINES. HOW MANY TIMES BEFORE AND DURING
NATO'S BOMBARDMENT OF YUGOSLAVIA I HEARD SERBS CLAIMING THAT THE WEST'S
"AGGRESSION" WAS A PLOT TO SEIZE THE VAST MINERAL WEALTH IN AND AROUND
MITROVICA _
They want the mines, the Trepca mines. How many times before and during
NATO's bombardment of Yugoslavia I heard Serbs claiming that the West's
"aggression" was a plot to seize the vast mineral wealth in and around
Mitrovica.
On August 14th, soldiers from the NATO force in Kosovo, KFOR, acting at
the request of the UN administrator, Dr Bernard Kouchner, marched into
the lead and zinc foundry at Zvecan and took it over.
Cleaning up the environment of northern Kosovo was the stated goal of
the raid on Zvecan, and it marked the first time Dr Kouchner exerted
his authority in the northern Serb enclave. But it cannot have escaped
Dr Kouchner's attention that the mines were an important source of
revenue.
KFOR officers said Belgrade was extracting gold and silver from Zvecan
but not the lead.
Nor has the tremendous economic potential of the mines gone unnoticed.
At Zvecan, the miners of Mitrovica produced 175,000 tonnes of lead,
80,000 tonnes of zinc, up to 200 tonnes of silver, 122 tonnes of
bismuth and 680 kilos of gold every year. The three foreign companies
which have formed a consortium to explore restarting the mines are
treated as if they were charitable institutions for investing $16
million in the project.
They are not the first foreigners to take an interest. The British ran
Trepca from 1926 until 1939, when it was taken over by Nazi Germany
until the end of the war. Trepca became the most profitable business in
former Yugoslavia, with thousands of employees."
(Above excerpt typed directly from newspaper article by June Kelly -
ICDSM-Irish Section)
________________________________________________
WHAT OF THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA -
People Against War 25.11.1995
For the third time this century the Serbian nation has been subjected
to a genocidal programme masterminded and carried out by foreign
capitalists whose aim is to grab the vast human, mineral, timber and
oil resources of former and present Yugoslavia.
The multi ethnic state of Serbia has been a block to this process of
piracy and forced market reforms - That is - Capitalism.
First the West wants Serbian land - The peoples of Serbia were accused
by the media of "invading Bosnia". Not true - Prior to this war,
indigenous Serbian people owned, worked and lived on over 68% of
Bosnia-Herzegovina territory.
In respect of Serbia and Montenegro - (Tanjug 25.10.1995) - "Analysts
say agriculture, food processing, telecommunications, transport, copper
mining, machinery, textiles and tourism are the most promising sectors
for foreign investments in Yugoslavia's republics of Serbia and
Montenegro. Analysts say that SERBIA CAN OFFER CHEAP, SKILLED LABOUR, A
MARKET OF 10.5 MILLION PEOPLE AND A UNIQUE POSITION IN THE HEART OF THE
BALKANS. INVESTORS WILL BE LOOKING FOR CLEAR INDICATIONS THAT FREE
MARKET REFORMS ARE UNDER WAY AND THAT THE REFORMS WILL NOT BE REVERSED"
Elizabeth Morrisey of Kleinman International Consultants in New York
said". (Reuters).
The Western devised CONTACT GROUP PLAN FOR BOSNIA -
Under the Contact Group Plan (CGP) the Serbs agreed to relinquish 21%
of their ancestral lands in Bosnia to the Muslim/Croatian Federation in
Bosnia. Under the CGP for Bosnia the Muslim/Croatian Federation stands
to gain 70% to 100% of all lead, zinc, ore, bauxite, salt, magnesite,
asbestos, dolomite, oil, coal and lignite deposits. 75% of existing
hydro electric power facilities and 78% of all thermal power plants, 13
Bosnian Serb cities, Serb roads and waterways would be cut off allowing
no access to industrial facilities. The biggest railway juncture at
Dodoj with river ports would become property of the Muslim/Croatian
Federation. Under the CGP, Serbs would lose most of their hospitals,
all arms factories would be retained by the Muslim/Croat Federation and
all river valleys would become territory of the Muslim/Croat Federation.
The Muslim business class in Bosnia would retain control of the arms
factories.
Compiled by June Kelly
ICDSM (Irish Section)
for People Against War
WESTERN PIRACY IN THE BALKANS -
Compiled by People Against War Network -
"THE BALKAN KUWAIT
Voice of Russia, Moscow 18 May 2000
"FOLLOWING SOLDIERS, OIL PROSPECTORS MIGHT COME. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE
WEST HAS COME TO KOSOVO WITH SERIOUS INTENTIONS AND THAT IT SHALL STAY
THERE FOR LONG (permanently). BASED ON THE EXPERIENCE GAINED IN KUWAIT
AND OTHER GULF COUNTRIES WE KNOW THAT OIL AND AMERICAN MILITARY
PRESENCE ALWAYS GO HAND IN HAND."
Moscow - 18 May
The recent report published in the New York Times throws more light on
the West's policy towards Kosovo and displays its consequences on the
economic plane. It is well known that Kosovo has extensive natural
resources. According to an expert opinion, published in in the London
"Economist" weekly, the West is interested in industrial exploitation
of coal, lead, zinc, gold, silver, cobalt, nickel, chromium,
polymetallic ores and various mineral deposits. Kosovo also has a good
river potential.
Energy sources are of particular importance for the industrial
development. Because of the current high price of oil, difficulties in
the exploitation of the Caspian oil and fuel problems in the USA. West
oil corporations must radically re-examine methods of prospecting and
exploitation of the energy sources. In this context the peace operation
in Kosovo seems welcome.
The New York Times correspondent Chris Hemis regards it was not by
chance that Kosovo has attracted West's attention. Following his visit
to Kosovo, Chris Hemis described this Province as the richest area of
the Balkans. The fifteen-million-ton lignite reserves represent a
unique opportunity for the cheap exploitation. Everything suggests that
Kosovo shall soon become one of the major oil regions in Europe.
Prognoses of the Yugoslav and Western experts coincide on this matter.
A few years ago Serbian experts carried out a geological investigation
in the areas southward of the Sava and Danube. The Radio Yugoslavia
communicated that the geologists have obtained unexpectedly favourable
results. Below the thick lignite layer in Kosovo there are huge
deposits of oil.
Similar data were published by the USA AMOCO oil company, The satellite
photographs of that region show that Kosovo has as rich oil deposits as
never before seen in the Balkans and that the first-stage exploitation
might bring about even more sensational results.
A map drawn by the AMOCO experts coincides with the patter of
deployment of the KFOR US contingent in Kosovo. Following soldiers, oil
prospectors might come. It is obvious that the West has come to Kosovo
with serious intentions and that it shall stay there for long. Based on
the experience gained in Kuwait and other Gulf countries we know that
oil and American military presence always go hand in hand."
(Above whole item typed by June Kelly from "Serbia In The World" No.
98/99 June/July 2000)
______________________________________________
"BRITISH TROOPS INJURED IN KOSOVO CLASH
By Lutz Kleveman In Belgrade -
Daily Telegraph (UK) 15.8.2000
THE POLLUTION ARGUMENT IS ONLY A PRETEXT FOR GAINING CONTROL, OF OUR
FACTORY -
British troops clashed yesterday with hundreds of Kosovo Serbs in the
town of Mitrovica after peacekeepers raided and shut down a Serb-owned
lead smelter, said to be a pollution hazard.
Four members of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, serving with Nato's
Kfor troops, were slightly injured when bricks and stones were thrown
at them. A number of Serbs were also wounded when troops responded with
plastic bullets.
The surprise seizure of the plant in the ethnically divided town
infuriated Serb workers, who saw it as part of a plan to push them out
of Kosovo. A crowd of several hundred gathered near the factory and
started scuffles with Kfor soldiers and United Nations police.
At dawn, about 900 British, Danish and French troops had moved in
armoured vehicles to the plant, which is part of the large Trebca
mining complex.
Neither the UN nor the peacekeepers had notified the factory's managers
or workers, who offered little resistance at first.
The takeover had been ordered to assert UNMIK's right to manage the
firm and its profits. Serbs in Kosovo are not convinced. "The pollution
argument is only a pretext for gaining control of our factory," said
Oliver Ivanovic, the local Serb leader."
(Above excerpt typed directly from newspaper clippings by June Kelly -
ICDSM - Irish Section)
__________________________________________
"BATTLE FOR MINERAL WEALTH
By Lara Marlowe - The Irish Times 10.10.2000
THEY WANT THE MINES, THE TREPCA MINES. HOW MANY TIMES BEFORE AND DURING
NATO'S BOMBARDMENT OF YUGOSLAVIA I HEARD SERBS CLAIMING THAT THE WEST'S
"AGGRESSION" WAS A PLOT TO SEIZE THE VAST MINERAL WEALTH IN AND AROUND
MITROVICA _
They want the mines, the Trepca mines. How many times before and during
NATO's bombardment of Yugoslavia I heard Serbs claiming that the West's
"aggression" was a plot to seize the vast mineral wealth in and around
Mitrovica.
On August 14th, soldiers from the NATO force in Kosovo, KFOR, acting at
the request of the UN administrator, Dr Bernard Kouchner, marched into
the lead and zinc foundry at Zvecan and took it over.
Cleaning up the environment of northern Kosovo was the stated goal of
the raid on Zvecan, and it marked the first time Dr Kouchner exerted
his authority in the northern Serb enclave. But it cannot have escaped
Dr Kouchner's attention that the mines were an important source of
revenue.
KFOR officers said Belgrade was extracting gold and silver from Zvecan
but not the lead.
Nor has the tremendous economic potential of the mines gone unnoticed.
At Zvecan, the miners of Mitrovica produced 175,000 tonnes of lead,
80,000 tonnes of zinc, up to 200 tonnes of silver, 122 tonnes of
bismuth and 680 kilos of gold every year. The three foreign companies
which have formed a consortium to explore restarting the mines are
treated as if they were charitable institutions for investing $16
million in the project.
They are not the first foreigners to take an interest. The British ran
Trepca from 1926 until 1939, when it was taken over by Nazi Germany
until the end of the war. Trepca became the most profitable business in
former Yugoslavia, with thousands of employees."
(Above excerpt typed directly from newspaper article by June Kelly -
ICDSM-Irish Section)
________________________________________________
WHAT OF THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA -
People Against War 25.11.1995
For the third time this century the Serbian nation has been subjected
to a genocidal programme masterminded and carried out by foreign
capitalists whose aim is to grab the vast human, mineral, timber and
oil resources of former and present Yugoslavia.
The multi ethnic state of Serbia has been a block to this process of
piracy and forced market reforms - That is - Capitalism.
First the West wants Serbian land - The peoples of Serbia were accused
by the media of "invading Bosnia". Not true - Prior to this war,
indigenous Serbian people owned, worked and lived on over 68% of
Bosnia-Herzegovina territory.
In respect of Serbia and Montenegro - (Tanjug 25.10.1995) - "Analysts
say agriculture, food processing, telecommunications, transport, copper
mining, machinery, textiles and tourism are the most promising sectors
for foreign investments in Yugoslavia's republics of Serbia and
Montenegro. Analysts say that SERBIA CAN OFFER CHEAP, SKILLED LABOUR, A
MARKET OF 10.5 MILLION PEOPLE AND A UNIQUE POSITION IN THE HEART OF THE
BALKANS. INVESTORS WILL BE LOOKING FOR CLEAR INDICATIONS THAT FREE
MARKET REFORMS ARE UNDER WAY AND THAT THE REFORMS WILL NOT BE REVERSED"
Elizabeth Morrisey of Kleinman International Consultants in New York
said". (Reuters).
The Western devised CONTACT GROUP PLAN FOR BOSNIA -
Under the Contact Group Plan (CGP) the Serbs agreed to relinquish 21%
of their ancestral lands in Bosnia to the Muslim/Croatian Federation in
Bosnia. Under the CGP for Bosnia the Muslim/Croatian Federation stands
to gain 70% to 100% of all lead, zinc, ore, bauxite, salt, magnesite,
asbestos, dolomite, oil, coal and lignite deposits. 75% of existing
hydro electric power facilities and 78% of all thermal power plants, 13
Bosnian Serb cities, Serb roads and waterways would be cut off allowing
no access to industrial facilities. The biggest railway juncture at
Dodoj with river ports would become property of the Muslim/Croatian
Federation. Under the CGP, Serbs would lose most of their hospitals,
all arms factories would be retained by the Muslim/Croat Federation and
all river valleys would become territory of the Muslim/Croat Federation.
The Muslim business class in Bosnia would retain control of the arms
factories.