27.05.1999

OHR SRT News Summary, 27 May 1999

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  • Hague Tribunal Indicted FRY President, Slobodan Milosevic
  • New Casualties of Shelling in Kosovo, 3 people Killed and 2 Heavily Injured
  • NATO Planes Conducted 741 Flights in Last 24 Hours
  • RS Government Assesses Situation in RS As Tolerant
  • OHR Informs That BiH Municipal Authorities Are Banned From Disposing of Socially Owned Property, Retroactively Since April 1992

The International Tribunal for war crimes committed in the territory of the former Yugoslavia indicted FRY President, Slobodan Milosevic, President of Serbia, Milutinovic, Head of the Yugoslav Army General Staff, Ojdanic, FRY Vice President, Sajinovic and Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia, Stojiljkovic.

The Government of Yugoslavia issued a press release on the Hague indictments, stating that this was yet another manipulation of the NATO aggressor over the FRY, and further evidence that the Hague Tribunal was not an institution of law and justice, but just an instrument for carrying out orders from Washington and Brussels.

President of SPR, Draskovic, stated today that the Hague indictments against Milosevic and four other officials were a political provocation and pressure with the aim of undermining the peace initiatives.

President of the BiH Presidency, Radisic told the SRT that he did not know the details of the decision, but that he was surprised and stunned.

According to Tanjug, the FRY Envoy at the UN in Geneva, Brankovic, warned that the indictment against President Milosevic was raised by an non-existent court and that it would be used as an excuse for NATO to continue the air campaign.

Vice President of Serbia, Seselj, told Srna that the Hague Tribunal was a political institution, it had no legal grounds and was an instrument of Americans, who now felt the need to declare that the FRY President is a war criminal.

According to Srna, Vice President of the SDP, Orlic said that his party continued to request the resignation of the FRY President, Milosevic, because power had been in his hands for the last 10 years, and the indictment was another reason for us to be even more persistent.

Press release of the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry states that despite the indictment against Milosevic, Russia would continue its diplomatic efforts to solve the Kosovo crisis, with the participation of the FRY President.

According to “New York Times”, Clinton’s administration assesses that the indictment against the FRY President would not prevent direct negotiations on Kosovo with him.

Srna reports that the Minister of Internal Affairs of France had criticised the raising of the indictment against Milosevic, stating that such a step did not lead to peace.

Spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered that the indictment against Milosevic would complicate the Kosovo peace process.

Greece considers that the raising of the indictment against Milosevic was a wrong move which would cause additional complications in the Kosovo crisis.

NATO Spokesman, Shea stated today in Brussels that the indictment against Milosevic did not change anything in the strategy of the alliance.

According to Beta, Canada requested NATO today to be more careful in choosing targets for air raids on the FRY. Canada supports air raids, but wants NATO to be more careful in order to reduce the damage to hospitals and civilian facilities.

Beta reports that the Pentagon announced it will ban retiring members of the air force, in order to provide a sufficient number of soldiers for an air war against Yugoslavia.

Military sources in Paris today confirmed that one pilotless French aircraft was shot down yesterday over Kosovo. This is the third pilotless aircraft which the French have lost over Kosovo since the beginning of NATO aggression on the FRY.

NATO air raids: In last night’s shelling of several civilian targets in Kosovo 3 people were killed and 2 heavily injured. According to the Belgrade media, 70 missiles were directed at companies in this area. Villages in the municipalities of Glina, Lipljan, Zubin Potok, Dragas, Pec, Kosovska Mitrovica, Urosevac and Suva Reka were shelled in Kosovo. Areas of Belgrade, Pozega, Nis, Bor, Cuprija, Despotovac, Novi Sad were also targeted.

NATO briefing: General Jertz stated that NATO planes conducted 741 flights in last night’s air raids on Yugoslavia. He emphasised that the activities of the Yugoslav air defence were intensified and said that the fighting between Yugoslav Army and so-called KLA continue in Kosovo.

Beta reports that two resolutions were proposed to the deputies in the Montenegro Parliament with the aim of preserving the civilian peace in Montenegro. The first one supports the principles of the G 8 and the other one emphasizes that the Yugoslav Army is the main armed force and main form of armed confrontation to the enemy.

According to Tanjug, the second round of negotiations between Chernomyrdin, Talbot and Ahtisaari to find a solution to the Kosovo crisis was completed this afternoon in Moscow but the results have not yet been published.

The “Washington Post” reports that the Special Russian Envoy for Yugoslavia, Chernomyrding today called on NATO to suspend the air raids on the FRY or, otherwise to face the withdrawal of Russia from the negotiating process.

Russian Foreign Affairs Minister, Ivanov, stated today in Stockholm that Russia will positively consider the possibility of participation in international forces in Kosovo, if such a resolution is passed by the UN and if it will be suitable for Russia. Onasa reports that US State Secretary, Albright stated that the aim of the IC was not an independent Kosovo, but that all the refugees from that area should return to their homes and obtain all political rights.

According to Beta, the US Senate yesterday again rejected a measure which would limit American military operations in Kosovo without the permission of Congress.

Beta reports that the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fischer stated that Yugoslavia should have a place and a vote in the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe, but only when it fulfils the conditions set by the IC.

Reuters reports that British diplomatic sources claim that NATO strongly believes that control over Kosovo should not be given to the separatist KLA.

According to Beta, NATO will demand Rumania and other member countries of Partnership for Peace to participate in future peace forces in Kosovo.

Tanjug reports that PM of Greece, Semitis, addressed a letter to European leaders, requesting his colleagues to use their influence on the main participants in the Kosovo crisis to do everything in their power in order to bring back peace in the region.

According to Tanjug, Spanish Defence Minister, Sera stated in Madrid that one must insist on international law in relations between states. All the polls show that the public of Spain is against NATO military actions in Yugoslavia.

Beta reports that public support to US President Clinton and deputies of the Democratic Party in the Congress decreased in relation to the high level shown in the polls conducted last winter.

Today’s Russian daily reports that the UN resolution on solution of the Kosovo crisis, which is being prepared completely excludes any mention of NATO, as reported by Beta.

Tanjug reports Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister has requested modern Chinese diplomatic surveys to deal with the way in which political domination and the politics of force continue to spread.

Head of UN Humanitarian Mission in Yugoslavia, Demello, stated that NATO bombs caused huge damage, but could not justify the exodus of refugees from Kosovo.

At today’s session of the RS Government special attention was focused on information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the security situation and public order and peace in the RS.

RS Vice President, Sarovic, today received Ambassador of Turkey to BiH, Erozan. Erozan also met with PM Dodik, Deputy PM Loncar, Deputy Chairman of the RS Chamber of Commerce, Suzic. PM Dodik also met with the Ambassador of Sweden to BiH, Eliason.