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Yugoslavia Greets Hague Cooperation Act with Caution and Chaos Radio B92 BELGRADE, Apr 12, 2002 -- The United States yesterday gave a reserved welcome to the passage of Yugoslavia's Hague cooperation legislation without any decision on whether it would open the way for new U.S. aid. State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said that Yugoslavia was already obliged under international law to hand over suspects and Washington would be waiting to see whether Belgrade "followed through with urgent and effective action". "No hope" for Stojiljkovic There is now no hope that former interior minister Vlajko Stojiljkovic will survive, a representative of the Belgrade Emergency Centre said a short time ago. Stojiljkovic, who shot himself in the head on the steps of the Federal Parliament last night, is on a respirator, unable to breathe unaided. His blood pressure is being maintained only with infusions, said the spokesman, and it is now only a matter of time until his hearts ceases functioning. Kostunica slams international community over Stojiljkovic The suicide attempt by former police minister Vlajko Stojiljkovic on the steps of the Federal Parliament building is a warning to the international community, Vojislav Kostunica said today. The federal president said that one section of the international community was constantly setting conditions, dictating actions and applying pressure to Belgrade. "The Hague Tribunal is a reality. Prejudice against Serbs is another reality and the blaming of Serbs for almost every ill which has happened in this region is recent years is also a reality, however unjust this may be," said Kostunica. "Unfortunately, this evening's tragic event is also a reality, painful and regrettable as it is," he added. It was unfortunate that the law on cooperation with the Hague Tribunal should have been passed under duress, said the president, because this had robbed the state of a chance to pass legislation which would protect the interests of the individual and the state and help shed light on past wars and crimes. "We are also all to blame for not beginning war crimes proceedings in our own courts much sooner," he added. Kostunica called for a middle course to be steered between total defiance of Western attitudes and uncritical acceptance of any demands made from abroad. "It is in all our best interests and especially the best interests of the state for International Criminal Tribunal indictees to receive the highest level of legal protection and assistance that we can offer as long as the tribunal continues to exist," said the president. He also called for Stojiljkovic's suicide attempt to be seen as the closing of a circle of endless mutual recriminations "so that we are not swamped by another wave of tragedy". Socialists to march on Belgrade "to finish off the traitors" Socialist Party supporters are to rally in all major regional towns of Serbia this evening before heading for Belgrade, the party's secretary-general told protesters in front of the Federal Parliament today. Zoran Andjelkovic, speaking to party faithful who had gathered to demonstrate over the attempted suicide of Milosevic hatchet man Vlajko Stojiljkovic, said that protests would be held in between 7.00 and 8.00 p.m. today in all towns except Belgrade. Party official Dejan Backovic added that the assembled branch members would come to Belgrade "to finish off these traitors here". "Then we'll go all the way and there'll be no stopping us," he added. New Mass Grave Discovered in Bosnia In a related development Thirty-seven bodies have been exhumed from a mass grave discovered yesterday about a hundred kilometres northwest of Sarajevo. The head of the Bosnian Committee for Missing Persons, Amor Masovic, said the bodies were believed to be Bosnian Muslims killed by Serb forces during the Bosnian war. "According to eye-witnesses, these people were killed in June, 1992, by Serb forces," said Masovic. C Radio B92, 2002. Distributed in partnership with Globalvision News Network (www.gvnews.net). All rights reserved. --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
