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Weekly had story about Serb PM's murder day early
alertnet.org ^ | 14 Mar 2003 19:31 | Gordana Kukic

Posted on 03/14/2003 1:46:38 PM PST by Destro

14 Mar 2003 19:31

Weekly had story about Serb PM's murder day early

By Gordana Kukic

BELGRADE, March 14 (Reuters) - Serb police have detained the owner of a small weekly that ran a headline about the planned assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic the day before he was gunned down, one of its journalists said on Friday.

Journalist Zika Rakonjac said police arrested Gradisa Katic, also editor-in-chief of the tabloid Identitet weekly, at around noon on Thursday. Djindjic was killed by a sniper bullet in central Belgrade on Wednesday.

In the issue that hit news stands on Tuesday it said in a front-page headline -- referring to Serb suspects held at the United Nations war crimes tribunal in The Hague -- "Djindjic the target of freelance shooter. Serbs from The Hague ordered assassination."

Rakonjac said he believed this was why his boss was held, saying he had not heard from him since. But he said the article was part of a series and that it was a coincidence it was published shortly before the premier's death.

"We were all shocked by the news of Djindjic's murder and the coincidence. I assume the headline was the reason for his arrest," he said.

Police were not immediately available for comment.

Djindjic had pledged to clamp down on the organised crime that flourished during the bloodstained rule of then Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, ousted by reformers in 2000.

It was Djindjic who in 2001 sent Milosevic to the The Hague war crimes tribunal to face charges of genocide and crimes against humanity linked to the wars in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. The decision enraged Serbian nationalists.

Rakonjac said the article was the fourth in a series based on what the weekly described as "top secret" intelligence material given to it by Serbian hardline leader Vojislav Seselj, who turned himself in to the U.N. war crimes court last month.

The part of the story on which the headline was apparently based quoted a secret agent nicknamed Maksa as saying in a report dated mid-2002 that Djindjic feared a killer hired by one of those he had sent to The Hague would shoot him.

The government has said a powerful criminal gang based in the Belgrade municipality of Zemun was behind Djindjic's murder, saying it wanted to sow fear and chaos in the Balkan republic.

It declared a state of emergency and vowed to hunt down those responsible, making dozens of arrests. But the key suspects, including a battle-hardened former special police commander, remained at large.

As part of the state of emergency imposed after Djindjic's murder, the government put restrictions on the media, telling news organisations to stick to its statements and threatening to temporarily shut any that did not.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: balkans; campaignfinance; serbia
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HOW THE SAS WAS GOING TO ASSASSINATE MILOSEVIC (Did SAS hit squad take out Serbia's Zoran Djindjic?)
1 posted on 03/14/2003 1:46:38 PM PST by Destro
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To: joan; habaes corpussel; DTA; vooch; bobi; *balkans; Justin Raimondo
the site went up again
2 posted on 03/14/2003 1:47:31 PM PST by Destro (Fight Islamic terrorisim by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
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To: *balkans
THE QUISLING OF BELGRADE In his recent biography of Milosevic, Adam LeBor reveals how the US poured $70m into the coffers of the Serb opposition in its efforts to oust the Yugoslav leader in 2000. On the orders of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, a covert US Office of Yugoslav Affairs was set up to help organise the uprising that would sweep the autocratic Milosevic from power. At the same time, there is evidence that underworld groups, controlled by Zoran Djindjic and linked to US intelligence, carried out a series of assassinations of key supporters of the Milosevic regime, including Defence Minister Pavle Bulatovic and Zika Petrovic, head of Yugoslav Airlines.
3 posted on 03/14/2003 1:49:56 PM PST by Destro (Fight Islamic terrorisim by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
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To: Destro
Let me try something here:

Flurry Times

"Today the democratic party announced that all members were leaving the US to form a new Utopia in the middle east."

Now let's see what happens.


4 posted on 03/14/2003 1:55:38 PM PST by Conspiracy Guy (RW&B)
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To: Destro
Whoever eliminated Djindjic had interesting timing, to say the least.

KOSOVO: U.N. Prepares For Asset Sell-Off Despite Serbian Complaints (10 March)

The U.N. Mission in Kosovo is planning the first privatization of socially owned enterprises in the province, BBC Online reported yesterday.

UNMIK spokeswoman Sarah Hackaj said about 50 of Kosovo's 350 socially owned enterprises -- a setup that dates back to communist-era Yugoslavia -- will be sold, and the rest shut down. Hackaj said UNMIK does not know the value of the assets involved and that they will be "left up to the market."

Trade unions and the government of Serbia and Montenegro, of which the U.N.-administered province is still a part, have opposed the sales. Serbia last year appealed to the U.N. Security Council to suspend the program because of what it called a lack of consultation with Belgrade. In particular, Serbia is reportedly concerned about $1.4 billion in international debt that it has guaranteed but which is owed by Kosovar enterprises.

UNMIK has said the privatization is crucial for reviving the Kosovar economy. BBC Online reports that Kosovo is one of Europe's poorest regions, most working-age Kosovars are unemployed, outside donor support has dwindled and economic revitalization is needed after years of neglect under Serbia and Montenegro's predecessor state, Yugoslavia.

Six companies were to have been put up for sale this week, but advertisements of the sale were delayed because the United Nations has not yet passed land use regulations on disputed and unclear titles. "Once the [land use] regulation has been approved, it will be full-steam ahead with the advertisements," Hackaj said.

Wonder if Djindjic's replacement will oppose the sales.

5 posted on 03/14/2003 2:08:28 PM PST by Hamiltonian
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To: Hamiltonian
at the same time more or less --as my SAS link shows UNMIK was force evicting the "sepratist" Serbs from their building.

Nice to see your posting again, H.

6 posted on 03/14/2003 2:12:21 PM PST by Destro (Fight Islamic terrorisim by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
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To: Destro

Free Slobo

Send Clinton to The Hague

7 posted on 03/14/2003 2:38:53 PM PST by Incorrigible
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To: Destro
FM Papandreou, on visit to Yugoslavia, says 'the Balkans are changing'

BELGRADE 15/01/2003 (ANA/E. Boukaouri)

Foreign Minister and EU Council of Ministers President George Papandreou, who arrived here on Tuesday within the framework of a tour of western Balkan countries, said that ''we are creating the new Balkans, we want to prove that this region is not only a flashpoint of crises but a successful history. The Balkans are changing.''

Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and Serbian President Vojislav Kostunica, who received Papandreou in his capacity as EU Council of Ministers president, stressed their desire for the existence of a European prospect in the region, with the ultimate goal of the country's accession to the new enlarged European Union.

Both sides recognized that Kosovo constituted a major problem and should be solved on the basis of European criteria, principles and values.

Djindjic in particular asked for a new initiative for a settlement of the problem and Papandreou replied that ''we will help in the procedure for its settlement.''

The Greek foreign minister stressed that the Greek EU presidency will support the region's European prospect and that in Thessaloniki, where the parallel EU-Balkans summit will be held, there should be a commitment and clear message from the Balkan countries that they are advancing reforms, democracy, security, respect of human rights and that they hope in economic development.

Within the framework of bilateral relations, Greece will grant Yugoslavia 265 million euro from the Greek Plan for the Economic Reconstruction of the Balkans.

Papandreou stressed that negotiations should start for the association and stabilization agreement of Yugoslavia that the constitutional changes and the new charter for Montenegro and Serbia should proceed, in order for these countries to proceed on the European road, at the same time solving the problem of Kosovo.

Papandreou will visit Sarajevo on Wednesday to attend the ceremony of the installation of the European Police, and his tour, the first which he is conducting as EU Council of Ministers president, will end with a visit to Kosovo's Pristina.

7 February 2003 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FIRMLY REJECTS TALKS ON STATUS OF KOSOVA

In response to recent statements by Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic that he wants talks on the status of Kosova to begin soon, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro William Montgomery told the Belgrade daily "Blic" that the new state will harm its relations with the United States if it opens the Kosova question, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reported on 6 February (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 6 February 2003). Elsewhere in Belgrade, EU security policy chief Javier Solana said the time has not yet come to discuss the status of Kosova. In New York, UN civilian administration (UNMIK) chief Michael Steiner told the Security Council that "jobs, security, and multiethnicity" are UNMIK's priorities, Reuters reported. He added: "This is what the international community wants. This is what people in Kosovo want." He criticized Belgrade for saying Kosova is part of Serbia while being concerned only with the Serbian minority there. Steiner also said the Albanian majority fails to deal with the problems facing Serbs and other minorities. Also at the UN, U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said the time has come increasingly to transfer responsibilities from UNMIK to the elected authorities in Kosova, "Koha Ditore" reported on 7 February.

18 February 2003 U.S. WARNS OF ATTEMPTS TO 'DESTABILIZE' KOSOVA...

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in Washington on 12 February that "the United States is concerned by recent developments in Serbia and Montenegro and in Kosovo regarding the timing and nature of decisions on Kosovo's future status," a State Department statement noted. Boucher stressed that the United States supports UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and UN civilian administration (UNMIK) head Michael Steiner's program for achieving democratic standards before tackling the question of status. Boucher added that "statements or actions by the authorities in Belgrade or on behalf of Kosovo parties or institutions which attempt to force the pace of the future status process...are unhelpful and potentially destabilizing" (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 7 February 2003 and "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 31 January 2003). In Prishtina on 13 February, the legislators belonging to three leading Kosovar Albanian political parties issued a joint declaration in support of independence, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reported. For his part, Steiner warned against any unilateral moves aimed at changing Kosova's status. In Belgrade, the Foreign Ministry condemned the three-party declaration.

...AND CAUSE TENSIONS IN SOUTHERN SERBIA

U.S. Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro William Montgomery said in Nis on 14 February that both Belgrade and local Albanians are to blame for the recent increase in tensions in the Presevo region, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 12 and 14 February 2003). In Belgrade, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic warned of ethnic Albanian "terrorism," adding there will be no compromise with "extremists," the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" reported on 15 February.

Serbian authorities have also sent an unspecified number of additional police units into the region following continued peaceful protests by local Albanians.

4 March 2003 UNMIK HEAD INVITES SERBIAN LEADERS TO TRILATERAL MEETING ON KOSOVA

Michael Steiner, the head of the UN civilian administration in Kosova (UNMIK), announced in Prishtina on 3 March that he has invited Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic and the Serbian government's coordinator for Kosova, Nebojsa Covic, for trilateral talks with representatives of UNMIK and of Kosova's institutions, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reported. Kosovar Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi welcomed the invitation, saying he will head the province's delegation if Djindjic heads the Serbian delegation, according to Tanjug news agency. Covic also reacted positively to the invitation but added that the agenda proposed by Steiner should also include the return of Serbs to Kosova, decentralization, and security.

5 March 2003 UNMIK REBUFFS SERBIAN COORDINATOR FOR KOSOVA

A spokesman for the UN civilian administration in Kosova (UNMIK) on 4 March dismissed Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic's request to put additional issues on the agenda of upcoming trilateral talks between UNMIK, the Serbian government, and Kosova province institutions, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reported. Covic had demanded that working groups be set up to discuss issues such as refugee returns, freedom of movement, and decentralization of power prior to the trilateral talks. In related news, Kosovar Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi asked the province's parliament on 4 March to discuss the proposed trilateral talks, RFE/RL reported.

6 March 2003 ADVISER HINTS SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO WILL BLOCK HAGUE ACCESS TO ARCHIVES...

Vladimir Djeric, an adviser to the joint Foreign Ministry of Serbia and Montenegro, said in Belgrade on 5 March that prosecutors from The Hague-based international war crimes tribunal have no right to access the state's archives, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reported.

Djeric added that the issue will be on the agenda of a meeting between the prosecutor's office and a delegation from Serbia and Montenegro that is scheduled to take place in The Hague on 10 March.

....AS TRIBUNAL'S CHIEF PROSECUTOR, EU REPRESENTATIVES ASSESS SITUATION

Carla Del Ponte, the war crimes tribunal's chief prosecutor, met on 5 March with EU foreign- and security-policy chief Javier Solana and EU Foreign Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten to assess obstacles to cooperation between the tribunal and Serbia and Montenegro, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reported. Solana also met with Serbia and Montenegro acting Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic the same day. While stressing the shared goal of reintegrating Serbia and Montenegro into European institutions, Solana said the union state must build common institutions, unify internal markets, and cooperate with the war crimes tribunal, according to Tanjug. Solana reportedly also encouraged Belgrade to join talks with the Kosovar leadership and the UN civilian administration in the province (UNMIK) (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 4 and 5 March 2003).

10 March 2003 POLITICIAN CALLS ON FORMER YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT TO LEAD SERBIAN OPPOSITION

Vuk Draskovic, the chairman of the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) and one-time opposition leader, said in a speech on 9 March that former Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and his Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) should lead public protests aimed at bringing down the government of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, Beta reported. Draskovic called for a new "9 March" -- a reference to the SPO-led demonstration against Slobodan Milosevic's state-run media 12 years ago that led to violent clashes with police and high-profile resignations in the broadcast media.

11 March 2003 SERBIAN AUTHORITIES CONFIRM PLANS FOR SECURITY BASE IN SOUTHERN SERBIA

A Serbian Army representative has confirmed that the foundations will be laid for a major security base in the Presevo Valley, the "Southeast European Times" reported on 11 March. According to Major General Mladjen Cirkovic, the facility will house some 1,000 police and army officers. Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic has played down fears that an increasing police and army presence reflects security concerns in the region, according the paper (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 10, 14, 18, and 20 February 2003).

8 posted on 03/14/2003 4:50:41 PM PST by Hamiltonian
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To: Destro
Voice of Russia 3 February 2003

WHY NO COMPLIANCE WITH UN DECISION TO RETURN SERBIAN TROOPS TO KOSOVO

The Serbian Prime Minister, Zoran Djindjic, has demanded that Nato's commander for southeastern Europe, Admiral Gregory Johnson, provide the conditions for the immediate return to Kosovo of at least one thousand Yugoslav and Serbian security forces. More from our observer Yuri Solton.

The demand complies with Resolution 12-44 adopted by the United Nations Security Council on July 10th 1999. The Resolution details the functions of the international civil and military missions in Kosovo, following the withdrawal of the Yugoslav army. It states that Yugoslav and Serb troops are to be allowed to return to Kosovo to clear fields of mines, protect Serbian holy sites and safeguard key checkpoints on the border. The Yugoslav army has formed a special unit with appropriate personnel and equipment as required in the Resolution.

But now in response to the demand of the Serbian Prime Minister, the head of the UN mission in Kosovo, Michael Steiner, says no. The UN civil mission and the international peacekeeping force, he says, bear full responsibility for security in the province. The refusal comes as no surprise. The international peacekeeping force is made up of NATO troops, and its leaders along with the leaders of the civil mission consider it their duty to support the extremist ethnic Albanians. As a result, about a quarter of a million Serbs have fled Kosovo and ethnic Albanians hold all the governing posts at all levels. And now there are plans for a drastic reduction of the international military presence in Kosovo and hand over of security functions to the ethnic Albanian authorities.

The resolution of the UN Security Council demands preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the former Yugoslavia. If a Serbian contingent is allowed to return to Kosovo, this will confirm Serbia's sovereignty over Kosovo. The refusal by a UN official to allow this is a direct violation of the UN resolution.

9 posted on 03/14/2003 4:53:03 PM PST by Hamiltonian
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To: Hamiltonian
But as long as we can blame the mafia....
10 posted on 03/14/2003 5:34:35 PM PST by Destro (Fight Islamic terrorisim by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
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To: Destro; aristeides; Askel5; Boyd; crazykatz; George Frm Br00klyn Park; Incorrigible; Joe Montana; ..
February 13, 2003

Kosovo's Final Status (Press statement made by the U.S. State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher on February. 12, 2003)

(Washington, DC) - The United States is concerned by recent developments in Serbia and Montenegro and in Kosovo regarding the timing and nature of decisions on Kosovo's future status. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 mandates a political process for determining Kosovo's future status. The United States strongly reiterates its support for Resolution 12441 and for this process. We also share the view of Michael Steiner, the Special Representative of the Secretary General, that the best and only acceptable way to prepare for discussions concerning Kosovo's future status is through the achievement of key democratic goals -- a process called "standards before status." We believe that statements or actions by the authorities in Belgrade or on behalf of Kosovo parties or institutions which attempt to force the pace of the future status process or to re-interpret the provisions of Resolution 1244 are unhelpful and potentially de-stabilizing. We urge all concerned to continue to work with the international community to create the foundation for a democratic Kosovo.

1Huh?

Me thinkum fat boy from Foggy Bottom speak with forked tongue. Here's some of 1244 that nothin's been done about:

Resolution 1244 (1999)

Adopted by the Security Council at its 4011th meeting, on 10 June 1999

4.Confirms that after the withdrawal an agreed number of Yugoslav and Serb military and police personnel will be permitted to return to Kosovo to perform the functions in accordance with annex 2;

b.Demilitarizing the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and other armed Kosovo Albanian groups as required in paragraph 15 below;

15.Demands that the KLA and other armed Kosovo Albanian groups end immediately all offensive actions and comply with the requirements for demilitarization as laid down by the head of the international security presence in consultation with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General;

8.A political process towards the establishment of an interim political framework agreement providing for substantial self-government for Kosovo, taking full account of the Rambouillet accords and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the other countries of the region, and the demilitarization of UCK. Negotiations between the parties for a settlement should not delay or disrupt the establishment of democratic self-governing institutions

Djindjic was guilty of trying to enforce a UN resolution for his country that NATO ignored for nearly 4 years.......... as heroin dealers and Al Qaeda terrorists destroyed Christian people and Churches..........while the U.S. government, having created the situation, and with forces on the ground there under a UN mandate, looked elsewhere.

Djindjic outlived his usefulness. He will be replaced. However, IMO the Russians are in the drivers seat about now.

Lest we forget.

Nothin' like a bipartisan consensus.

11 posted on 03/14/2003 6:28:35 PM PST by Hamiltonian
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To: dirtboy; Torie
February 22, 2003

Serbs may back rebel republic in Kosovo By John Phillips

BELGRADE will sponsor a breakaway Serbian mini-state in Kosovo if the West prevents Serbian troops returning to the province to guarantee Serb rights, Zoran Djindjic, the Serbian Prime Minister, said yesterday.

In an interview with The Times, Dr Djindjic dismissed the American contention that it is too early to discuss Kosovo, saying that its hard-won democracy could be at risk.

This month, the United States issued a statement saying that it was concerned with developments in Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo and said that any attempt to force the pace of change could lead to instability.

Dr Djindjic said nationalist extremists could regain power in Belgrade in elections next year if the international community did not stop Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian majority obtaining independence, which, he argued, the UN was already fostering.

“What is going on is the transfer of all sovereignty to the Kosovar institutions,” he said. “This didn’t just happen. It was planned. International institutions are creating a fully independent Kosovo. By passing laws in Kosovo’s parliament they don’t care what happens in Serbia.”

Dr Djindjic, a formidable opponent of Slobodan Milosevic, received Western support after the former Yugoslav President was overthrown in 2000.

Recently, however, his increasingly patriotic stance has alarmed Western diplomats. But Dr Djindjic is now concerned about a nationalist backlash.

He said that the powers of Kosovo’s parliament, elected under the auspices of the UN interim administration, exceeded the “substantial autonomy”, envisaged under UN Resolution 1244.

According to Dr Djindjic, this outrages Serb refugees from Kosovo in Serbia, who make up about 15 per cent of the electorate.

“They would explode if Kosovo became fully independent. People would say my Government was not defending them,” he said.

“It is time to put our cards on the table. The international community should say how it imagines the future. I don’t think that democratic government can survive if we don’t do enough now.

“Next year we have elections. Kosovo will be the issue. We can’t say it is not time now. We can offer a solution from Belgrade’s side but, if we say we are unable to do that, nationalistic forces will say: ‘We have a solution’.”

Dr Djindjic said that “a thousand or a few hundred” Serb troops should be deployed in Kosovo to enable Serb refugees to return.

“None of the promises have been implemented. All the promises to the Albanian side have been implemented but nothing on the Serbian side.”

“I can leave office and say: ‘OK, I can’t handle this’. But what will come after this Government? In the 2002 elections, the extreme nationalists, led by (Radical Party leader Vojislav) Seselj, got 30 per cent.”

Dr Djindjic denies courting nationalist votes, saying he is entrenched politically because he has outmanoeuvred his rival, Vojislav Kostunica.

Mr Kostunica became Yugoslav President after Milosevic’s downfall but was marginalised when Yugoslavia became the Union of Serbia and Montenegro.

“Some people say this is an attempt to get support. I don’t need that now. Kostunica is not competition,” he said.

“My proposal is to give the Kosovo Serbs constitutional rights and the institutional tools to protect their interests. As a first step it would be enough for the Serbs to be recognised like the Croats in the Bosnian federation. The Croats were 17 per cent and they got a third of representation. In 1999, Kosovo’s Serbs were 18 per cent.

“The people say: ‘Why do Albanians in Macedonia come into the constitution and why do Croats in Bosnia? Why South Tyrol? Why ten other situations?’ What should I answer?” Without a Western-brokered compromise, he said Belgrade would not shrink from partition; with the Serb majority in northern Kosovo, next to Serbia proper, forming a breakaway mini-state similar to the Republic of Srpska in Bosnia.

Ethnic Albanian leaders would oppose that since the province’s mineral wealth is in the north around the city of Mitrovica and war could erupt again in Kosovo threatening Nato peacekeepers.

12 posted on 03/14/2003 6:54:01 PM PST by Hamiltonian
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To: Destro
..................Cut and dried Mafia hit. Nothing here.
13 posted on 03/14/2003 6:55:16 PM PST by Hamiltonian
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To: Destro
I guess they were ahead of the news curve........
14 posted on 03/14/2003 8:03:11 PM PST by habaes corpussel
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To: Hamiltonian; aristeides; Askel5; Boyd; crazykatz; George Frm Br00klyn Park; Incorrigible; ...
and just in time too.....

Ex-Milosevic ally, liked by West, now acting Serb PM

13 Mar 2003 12:33

BELGRADE, March 13 (Reuters) - Nebojsa Covic, thrust into the role of acting Serbian prime minister after the killing of Zoran Djindjic, was once an ally of ex-Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and later joined reformers who ousted him.

As deputy prime minister in Djindjic's reformist government, the 44-year-old former Belgrade mayor won praise from Western governments for the way he helped end a local Albanian guerrilla insurgency which gripped southern Serbia east of U.N.-run Kosovo in 2001.

Instead of deploying the heavy-handed tactics Milosevic used in a failed attempt to quell a 1998-99 uprising in Kosovo, he helped engineer a peace deal under which rebels lay down their arms in return for improved rights for the Albanian community.

He is also the government's point man for Kosovo, the majority Albanian province in southern Serbia which came under international administration in 1999 following 11 weeks of NATO air strikes to halt Serb repression under Milosevic.

Covic, a former top basketball player and now an avid basketball fan, is one of four deputy prime ministers in the government and it remains unclear how long he will remain acting prime minister.

He has openly opposed some of Djindjic's reform policies in the past and supported former Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, who ran against a candidate backed by Djindjic in December's failed presidential election.

A politician who does not shy away from firm action, he reportedly brought a truck laden with weapons to Belgrade on the eve of the October 5, 2000 uprising which ousted Milosevic. He went into hiding after police issued an arrest warrant.

Married with two children, he was a rising star in Milosevic's Socialist Party and Belgrade mayor from 1994 to 1997.

But Covic, who stood behind Milosevic during government-organised rallies, was expelled from the party after he conceded defeat to the opposition in elections for Belgrade city hall in the winter of 1996-97. Djindjic took over as mayor.

Covic subsequently formed the Democratic Alternative, one of the smaller parties in Serbia's ruling DOS alliance.

A former first division basketball player who briefly headed the Yugoslav Basketball Association, he has a masters degree in mechanical engineering and heads a metal packaging company, which owns a basketball club.

15 posted on 03/14/2003 8:12:52 PM PST by Destro (Fight Islamic terrorisim by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
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To: branicap; Tamodaleko; kosta50
fyi
16 posted on 03/14/2003 9:18:14 PM PST by Destro (Fight Islamic terrorisim by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
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To: Destro; kosta50; Hamiltonian
U.S. Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro William Montgomery said in Nis on 14 February that both Belgrade and local Albanians are to blame for the recent increase in tensions in the Presevo region, RFE/RL's South Slavic and Albanian Languages Service reported (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 12 and 14 February 2003). In Belgrade, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic warned of ethnic Albanian "terrorism," adding there will be no compromise with "extremists," the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" reported on 15 February.

I do like this Montgomery caracter,a clone of William Walker of Kosovo/Rachak fame!

Serbian police had raided a village which was/is a major KLA stronghold and ,also,drugs distribution center!Kalasnikovs,flack jackets,RPGs ,hand granades handuns,Motorolas were found.12 people arrested,seven released.

Plus,two policemen killed by a remote detonated mine,third (Albanian) gunned down in the broad daylight,two policeman disarmed (broad daylight)and beatten by KLA suporters and former commanders...A death threats issued by ANA/KLA against any Albanian taking part in Multiethnic police(contrary to all UNMIK directives)...and "both Serbs and Albanians are equally guilty for the tensions???"

Well done Mr.Montgomery!

17 posted on 03/15/2003 4:57:09 AM PST by branicap
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To: Destro; Hamiltonian; kosta50; joan; DTA; Tamodaleko; vooch; Voronin; Gael; downunder
But as long as we can blame the mafia....

Destro,I strongly believe that The West is not behind this.Not at all!Instability in Serbia is against the interests of NATO/US/EU,especially at this time and UN divisions over Iraq.

The warning about a hired assassin published by this small magazine and theory of "revenge" ordered from Hague does not contradict the alleged Serbian mafia hit!It complements it.

You have told me a day ago that my posts are to "local" for you to follow because you were not familiar with names and people involved.So,let me draw a simple picture to you:

in the beggining of 91 a small group of (till then)petty criminals from the village of Surchin ,where Belgrade`s airport is,came to prominence by selling some weapons smuggled to Serbia from Krajina.Then,they got involved in selling of the cars stollen from the war zone in Croatia a,d.later,Bosnia.Than,they expanded their business and went into sanctions busting(petrol,cigaretes,drugs) and became very rich.That was a so called Surchin Klan a precursor of today`s Zemun Klan,blaimed for the Z.D assassination.These guys ,also,were the major car thiefs and their trade mark was to steal the car and then,send a "friendly policeman" to advise the owner thak he/she can got a car back for a certain ammount of money!More reach!Then came the kidnapings and ransoms paid were astronomical.

Now,enter Sesellj.He has a house in the village/Belgrade subburb of Batajnitsa*Major Airbase) a few miles from both Surchin and Zemun.He knew almost all of the gang leaders,and was friendly with some of them.But,the most important thing was that in order to operate in Serbia with impunity,criminals had to have a permission of the authorities!Marko Miloshevich (Slobo`s son) was the Boss,and Surchin klan was allowed to operate thank`s to him.

Two years ago,the group had split up in two factions,and Boys from Zemun won!Their team had one major "aquisition" Legia,and his military capabilities!This group from Zemun,had overtaken the market and teritory fron Surchin klan and during last year was involved in open war against them.Murders,police raids on their business centers and interests were freaquent,and finally,failed assassination of the leader of the Surchin klan,ljubisha Buha ,aka "Chume".His bodyguard was killed,he survived and fled the country!Two months ago,his construction company "Defence road" was destroyed by a group of 20-30 men,who had with military precision and and discipline dinamited his expensive road building machines.Surchin klan is no more!

Long live Zemun klan!

Now,Seselj claims that Chume is with Americans and under their protection and that he is singing like a canary!Revealing his conections and dealings from 90 til 2002!probasblewitness for Hague.He had also ofered publicly to testify against Legia and Zemun boys but,current "reformers" remained very silent about the offer???No one wants him to talk!

So,big Boss,Sloba is in Hague,his son in Kazakstan(?),Seselj in Hague...enough grudge to order an assassination of Djindjich.

A friend of mine,from Belgrade,had told me that Maria Miloshevich,Slobodan`s daughter had told one of the Djindjich`s asossiates :"My father will die in a foreign prison,but,your boss ,that traitorous c**t, will go six feet under before that!"

Got a picture?

18 posted on 03/15/2003 5:51:18 AM PST by branicap
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To: Destro; branicap
Got a picture?

Destro, if you need the tune with the picture. Don't forget to take a sip of Chianti as well.

Sonny: What the hell is this?
Tessio: It's a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.

Classic branicap, classic!

19 posted on 03/15/2003 8:03:38 AM PST by Tamodaleko
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To: Tamodaleko; Destro
Classic branicap, classic

Written like this ,it means that my post is classic!?

I think that "classic,branicap,classic!" was your idea!

Certanly is,Godfather is No1 of all times!

Tell you what,Tamo,this FR sometimes can be very entertaining!

And,not because of Hoplites,SuperDupes and other clowns!

BTW,where are our local moral lecturers and Neo -Nazis???

Such a seismic event in Balkans and they have nothing to say??

We need some guidance here,we the ignorrant and missguided!!!

Thank`s for the laugh,Tamo!

20 posted on 03/15/2003 9:43:17 AM PST by branicap
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