Collapse (09/00-10/00)
Source: Inside China Today - October 31st
Beijing Deflects Calls for Apology over Khmer Rouge Role "The question of the Khmer Rouge is purely the internal affair of Cambodia," foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said at the ministry's regular briefing.
The Khmer Rouge is blamed for the deaths of some 1.7 million people between 1975 and 1979, when it was ousted following a Vietnamese invasion.
Historians have pinpointed China as the main backer of the Khmer Rouge in terms of aid and weapons during the 1970s and their rebel activities in the 1980s. The Khmer Rouge insurgency did not end until 1998.
Happy Halloween to Chinese government. Full story here.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - October 31st
Most Montenegrins Would Back Independence PODGORICA, Oct 31, 2000 -- (Reuters) A majority in the Yugoslav republic of Montenegro would vote for independence if a referendum on breaking centuries-old links with Serbia was called now, an independent pollster said on
Monday.Projecting referendum results on a likely turnout of 80 percent, the pollsters said their findings meant 55 percent of voters would choose independence.
Full story here.
Source: BBC - October 30th
Kosovo Moderate Wins Landslide Victory Preliminary figures released on Monday after nearly all the votes had been counted gave Mr Rugova's Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) 58% of the vote.
His main rival, the harder-line Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) led by the former rebel commander Hashim Thaci, polled only 27%.
Full story here.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - October 29th
Kosovo Elections Seemed Free, Fair - Euro Observers PRISTINA, Oct 29, 2000 -- (Reuters) Kosovo's first post-war elections were apparently conducted according to international standards of democracy with very few incidents of intimidation, European observers said on Sunday.
Full story here.
Source: Russia Today - October 29th
Writers, Politicians and Actors Denounce Putin MOSCOW, Oct 29, 2000 -- (Reuters) Almost 250 intellectuals, politicians and actors published a petition on Saturday condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin and the "dirty, cruel" war in Chechnya.
"No colonial wars, no civilian massacres, no racist cleansing. Mr Putin, it is time to make clear to you that this applies to everyone, small and large (countries) alike."
"Crimes against humanity cannot be forgotten. Silence kills," it added. The petition called on people to demonstrate in central Paris on Monday evening against Putin and the war.
Full story here.
Source: Russia Today - October 28th
Rights Groups Condemn Journalists' Lot in Russia Paris-based Reporters sans Frontiers and New York-based Human Rights Watch, in a joint letter to French President Jacques Chirac, said six journalists working in Russia or republics of the former Soviet Union had been killed this year.
Full story here.
Source: Inside China Today - October 27th
China Tiptoes Around U.S. Elections, But Leans Toward Gore BEIJING, Oct 27, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) China would prefer Al Gore to win next month's presidential elections in the United States because of fears George W. Bush will take a harder line on Taiwan and a U.S. National Missile Defense (NMD), analysts say.
They need someone who will weaken U.S. defense and sell out democracy. Full story here.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - October 27th
Kostunica Extols Ties Between Yugoslavia and Russia Kostunica confessed that he felt a lot of affinity with the Russian faith, culture, literature, especially the 19th century classics, and with Russian folk art, "in fact, everything that comprises the Slavonic view of the world".
He singled out Alexander Solzhenitsyn as one of the most influential modern thinkers, saying he agreed with the writer's disillusionment with the Soviet and American totalitarian systems of the 20th century and admired his continual search
for new systems of organizing society.Full story here.
Editor's commentary: Like a good whore from Red square in Moscow, Kostunica wants to offer himself to Russian imperialists. You probably thought that you have heard everything but this just goes over the edge of insanity. This reminds us of Lukashenko's glorification of Putin and mother Russia after recent elections in Belarus. "Slavonic view of the world", "American totalitarian system", "search for new systems", what a load of garbage. Where is Dick? Maybe Dick and his fellows from Washington administration have some "new system of organizing society" that we don't know and that's the reason for their support to Kostunica or they are just desperate and have no idea what the hell are they doing in Balkan.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - October 26th
Holbrooke Gives Seal of Approval to Kostunica SKOPJE, Oct 26, 2000 -- (Reuters) Richard Holbrooke, chief architect of Washington's Balkans policy, gave a full seal of approval on Wednesday to Yugoslavia's new president, Vojislav Kostunica.
"Mr. President, I cannot thank you enough for the admiration for your achievement is absolutely limitless," Holbrooke, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told Kostunica.
Full story here.
Editor's commentary: We remember Holbrooke glorifying Milosevic couple of years ago presenting him as a guarantor of peace in Balkan. After Holbrooke's statement, Milosevic ordered another genocide, this time in Kosovo. So much about Holbrooke and Washington Balkans policy.
And what are achievements of Kostunica except his grab of power by force? Four hours of electricity per day in Serbia, lines for food and toilet paper, coalition government with Milosevic's Montenegrins, refusal of cooperation with Hague tribunal, blaming West for everything as Milosevic did. Please enlighten us Dick and tell us of what achievements you were talking about. People in Serbia live worse than before. Remember Ceausescu's fall Dick? After that Romanians got food, heating, peace and freedom. And BTW Dick, we heard some rumors about lifting all sanctions against FRY. Does that include weapons embargo as well?
Source: Yugoslavia Today - October 26th
Belgrade Hostile Towards "Untimely" Kosovo Elections BELGRADE, Oct 26, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) Despite the recent changeover of power in Belgrade, senior political figures in Serbia have expressed open hostility towards Saturday's municipal elections in the UN-administered
province of Kosovo.Yugoslavia's new pro-reform President Vojislav Kostunica described the vote as "inopportune and wrong" in a recent interview, insisting the elections would "legalize ethnic cleansing against the Serbs" living in the province.
He suggested at the Balkan summit in Skopje on Wednesay that "it would be preferable if the elections were postponed.
Djindjic said that, instead of the vote, the international community should have first strengthened the police force, secured the region, organized a proper registration in the province and the "return of those who want to come back and live in Kosovo."
The Socialist Party of former president Slobodan Milosevic and the ultranationalist Serbian Radical Party have both decried the Kosovo elections as an attempt to achieve the "Albanisation" of Kosovo.
Full story here.
Editor's commentary: So much about Kostunica and "democratic" opposition in Serbia. Their comments are exact replica of Milosevic's propaganda lies and policy of terror. Kostunica allegedly apologized for war crimes in Kosovo on CBS 60 minutes but what actually meant was that both sides were responsible for war crimes. Sounds familiar? That's what Milosevic is telling us for the past ten years. Kostunica says that he never endorsed ethnic cleansing in Bosnia. Neither do Milosevic who didn't even acknowledged participation of former YPA in Bosnian civil war and huge support from Belgrade. What we know is that authors of horror fairy tales Milosevic and Kostunica are telling us live in Moscow. Nothing changes, who ever becomes new leader of Yugoslavia repeats the same propaganda garbage written in Kremlin.
You should also know that Serbs in Kosovo rejected participation in upcoming elections and that Milosevic's agents from Belgrade are mostly responsible for violence in Kosovo. There is absolutely no reason why elections should be postponed.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - October 26th
Don't Attack Milosevic, Serb Officials Tell Media BELGRADE, Oct 26, 2000 -- (Reuters) Two senior officials in the Serbian state urged the media on Wednesday not to carry out what they termed indecent attacks on political opponents including former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic
and his family.Serbian President Milan Milutinovic and new Prime Minister Milomir Minic, both prominent members of Milosevic's Socialist Party, said a new openness in the media following the former leader's downfall should not be misused.
"It's difficult to understand these really rude and indecent attacks on Milosevic and his family. Those attacks are beyond any morality and dignity," Milutinovic told reporters after he had dissolved parliament, paving the way for early elections.
Others don't understand why he is not behind bars. Full story here.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - October 25th
Yugoslav Army Should Return To Kosovo SKOPJE, Oct 25, 2000 -- (Reuters) Yugoslavia's new President Vojislav Kostunica said on Tuesday that the Yugoslav army should return to Kosovo when the situation allows, even as a symbolic presence.
Kostunica said the United Nations resolution 1244 of 1999 provided for a presence of Serb forces in Kosovo, but there are none at present. The Yugoslav troops were forced out of the province by the 1999 NATO bombing campaign.
The new Yugoslav leader reiterated that he believed the future of the federation formed from Serbia and its reluctant smaller partner Montenegro should be decided through a referendum.
Full story here.
Editor's commentary: It is out of the question to allow any armed forces from Serbia to return to Kosovo because all of them committed war crimes. FBI has clearly established presence of military ammunition used to exterminate Albanians. Special police forces and army (VJ) committed war crimes without restrictions. Resolution 1244 says:
3. Demands in particular that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia put an immediate and verifiable end to violence and repression in Kosovo, and begin and complete verifiable phased withdrawal from Kosovo of all military, police and paramilitary forces according to a rapid timetable, with which the deployment of the international security presence in Kosovo will be synchronized;
All troops not just some of them.
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;
Annex 2
6. After withdrawal, an agreed number of Yugoslav and Serbian personnel will be permitted to return to perform the following functions:
- Liaison with the international civil mission and the international security presence;
- Marking/clearing minefields;
- Maintaining a presence at Serb patrimonial sites;
- Maintaining a presence at key border crossings.
I guess that Kostunica has no intention to clear minefields, all liaisons with international organizations in Kosovo are intentionally broken by Serb community in Kosovo and Milosevic himself, Milosevic's agents are distributed around Serbian enclaves in Kosovo and all Kostunica can ask is to allow him to send some customs personnel to be present at border but can't perform any customs. Their role would be similar to OSCE observers. They can observe but can't do anything. Milosevic wanted to send his own border guards, customs and to return police and army to Kosovo.
Someone disregards all resolutions and complies only when it is military defeated and then demands something. We are going to wage wars, murder people, loot their homes, rape women and then after we are defeated we will withdraw and pretend like nothing happened. It is like robbing a bank and then returning the money back and expecting no jail time. What about all those who were murdered? Can Kostunica and Yugoslav government resurrect them or make women who had been raped to forget what happened to them? Certainly not and that is the reason why anyone with mediocre IQ understands why there is no place for return of armed troops from Serbia to Kosovo. They can return only after political settlement with Albanian and Serbian representatives if both sides decide that this is really what they want. Troops can't be returned by the decision of one party but both. Kostunica continues to treat Albanians as citizens of second class which only confirms his racist and fascist believes.
Source: BBC - October 25th
Lukashenko for Libya The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, is to go to Libya next week for a meeting with Colonel Gadaffi.
Full story here.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - October 24thKostunica to Seek Russian Support over Kosovo MOSCOW, Oct 24, 2000 -- (Reuters) Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica will visit Moscow this week, his first trip to a foreign capital outside ex-Yugoslavia, in what is seen here as a bid to obtain Russia's support over Kosovo.
Russian experts Monday were unanimous about the main objective of Kostunica's visit: to ensure Moscow's backing against the West over the issue of the UN-administered province of Kosovo, where Belgrade wants to re-establish its sovereignty.
Kostunica has notably said he wants to redeploy Yugoslav troops in the majority ethnic Albanian province by the end of this year.
Full story here.
Editor's commentary: Kostunica wants to sell himself to Russians and to become successor stooge like Milosevic. Those who won dictate conditions not those who lost. It would be insane to reward those who ordered mass kilings in Kosovo. FRY can not dictate any conditions regarding Kosovo. FRY has no sovereignty at all in Kosovo although it is officialy still part of FRY. There will be 3 year transition period to determine future of Kosovo and what international status will have, province in Serbia, independent or something else. Three year transitional period will last until July 2002 and before that date no one has the right to determine Kosovo's status. It will remain under NATO control and status of Kosovo will not change. Russia wants to sabotage upcoming elections in Kosovo and prolong crisis indefinitely. That is the reason why Milosevic moved elections two months before the scheduled date in November. Milan Milutinovic, president of Serbia is the man who ordered police force and VJ to destriy Albanian population in Kosovo. He remains Serbian president until next elections in 2002.
Source: Adrenaline Vault - October 24th
Shipping: Red Alert 2 Westwood Studios' Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 has shipped in the U.S. and Canada. The real-time strategic title will begin appearing in stores on Oct. 25 and should be in full distribution on Oct. 28. Red Alert 2 features new units, tactics and strategies. As in the original, gamers can choose to lead Soviet or Allied forces: Soviet commanders will invade the U.S. to claim it for mother Russia, while Allied commanders will fight to repel the invaders.
Both sides are well armed with conventional weapons and experimental technologies. The Soviets can engage in telepathic warfare, wield nuclear weapons and use Tesla technologies to scorch opponents. Allied forces can teleport with chrono technologies, conduct covert operations with the help of gap generators, and rain down lightning bolts through weather control. Supporting these weapons are conventional forces, including armies, air power and navies.
Red Alert 2 also features local and Internet gaming. A worldwide domination mode lets users compete in an ongoing war for global control. More information about the game can be found in our in-depth hands-on feature.
Editor's commentary: Considering what has been done during Clinton's presidency this game looks very real, especially Russian cloned soldiers. Do you remember Russia signing anything regarding cloning of human beings? Recent statement of Hillary Clinton that US needs to send more troops for peacekeeping operations around the world leaves US without any troops left to defend it. Anyone planing invasion USA would have great success.
Source: CNN - October 22nd
Kostunica in Bosnia: 'New Page' in Relations but No Apology SARAJEVO, Bosnia -- Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica said a "new page" in bilateral relations with Bosnia had been marked with his visit but failed to apologise for wartime atrocities.
Sarajevans had hoped Kostunica would have made an apology during the informal visit on behalf of the 200,000 who died and those who suffered during the three year war between 1992 and 1995.
One Bosnian official, who did not wish to be named, said: "One would expect him to take a walk downtown and lay flowers in Ferhadija," referring to the Sarajevo street where dozens of residents were killed by shells and snipers during the siege.
Asked by a local journalist if he would apologise for the wrong doings of his predecessor, Kostunica said the past was complicated and multi-layered and required a full examination.
Full story here.
Editor's commentary: Kostunica is one of those who believe that Muslims are responsible for Markale shelling and that they were killing their own people in order to blame Serbs. He is probably expecting some kind of apology from Bosnian government and then he will think if he should honor victims. Once again we see that he is no different from those who ordered and committed crimes in Bosnia. BTW, he supported Milosevic and all his actions of support for Karadzic and Mladic by voting YES in Serbian parliament during period of 1990-1997. He strongly opposed Dayton accord and suggested union between RS and FRY in 1995. Find out more in this article:
Change of Scenery on the Political Scene of Serbia
Source: BBC - October 20thOutrage over Moscow Synagogue Raid The World Jewish Congress says Russian police have raided one of the main synagogues in Moscow.
Detectives are reported to have searched for accounts documents on the premises.
Full story here.
Source: Russia Today - October 19thPutin Distances Himself from Belarus Poll Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko was shown on NTV commercial television meeting Putin in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi and praising the Kremlin for backing him over last weekend's election.
But Putin interrupted him, saying tersely: "We do not interfere in other countries' affairs."
"No, you do not interfere," Lukashenko replied. "But you supported us greatly," he said, before reporters were asked to leave.
Putin was also quoted as casting doubt on how much money Russia was prepared to spend on joint institutions being set up by the two countries.
Full story here.
Source: BBC - October 17th
US Condemns Handling of Belarus Elections The United States has dismissed the outcome of elections in Belarus and says it will continue to recognise the parliament that President Lukashenko dissolved four years ago.
Full story here.
Source: CNN - October 16th
Milosevic Party Agrees Power-sharing Deal BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Slobodan Milosevic's party has signed an agreement to share power in Serbia with supporters of President Vojislav Kostunica until early elections are held in December.
Under the deal, reached after more than a week of negotiations, Milosevic's Socialist Party will keep the office of the prime minister.
The term of Milutinovic, a Milosevic crony, does not run out until 2002. It appeared he would be allowed to serve out his time in office.
Full story here.
Editor's commentary: War criminal remains president of Serbia until 2002, Serbian PM remains from Milosevic's party SPS, Milosevic remains president of his party and lives in luxury in elite Dedinje district. Another devastating defeat for Serbian people thanks to those who think that making deals and coalition with criminals can make Serbia better place.
Source: CNN - October 15th
Poll Boycott Likely to Invalidate Belarus Election MINSK, Belarus -- Officials say voters stayed away from polling stations in large numbers in a general election, invalidating many results and delivering a rebuke to President Alexander Lukashenko.
Ivan Likach, secretary of the Central Electoral Commission, said that only 38.8 percent of voters had cast ballots in Minsk by 1500 GMT, two hours before polls closed.
Full story here.
Editor's commentary: We congratulate people of Belarus and their democratic opposition leaders on their victory against Russian stooge Lukashenko. It is now clear that boycott of elections is very effective weapon against dictators who use elections to legitimize their tyranny. Where is that people's support Lukashenko was telling us about? Why more Belarusians didn't vote for him? Is he going to accuse West? Is he going to claim that NATO troops prevented citizens of Belarus to vote? With all election frauds and all fake election results Lukashenko can't count on more than one third of Belarus population and that certainly can't make him a leader of Belarus. It's time to step down and let democracy in Belarus, era of Russian colonialism is over.
Source: BBC - October 14th
Belgrade Football Supporters Clash The match was between Partizan -- which has been identified with allies of former President Milosevic -- and Red Star Belgrade, some of whose supporters had been seen demonstrating in support of the new Yugoslav leadership.
Around forty people were injured.
It's time to disband military sport club Partizan that blocks development of democracy in Serbia. Full story here.
Source: Russia Today - October 13th
Chernomyrdin Says To Sue Bush Over IMF Funds Remark MOSCOW, Oct 13, 2000 -- (Reuters) Former Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin said on Thursday he would sue U.S. Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush over his accusation in a television debate that Chernomyrdin stole IMF funds.
Bush attacked Vice-President Al Gore over the Democratic administration's ties with Russia in Wednesday's second presidential campaign debate. He said a part of a 1998 USD 4.8 billion IMF loan to prop up the Russian rouble had "ended up in Viktor Chernomyrdin's pockets".
and other part into Clinton-Gore pockets. Full story here.
Source: CNN - October 13th
Serb Parties 'Agree on Election Date' BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Democratic parliamentary elections are to be held across Serbia on December 24, a leader of the new ruling coalition has said.
The decision comes after talks to set up the election process were resumed between Yugoslavia's new leadership and allies of the ousted president, Slobodan Milosevic.
Full story here.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - October 12th
Kosovo Albanians Threaten New War If Belgrade Troops Return PRISTINA, Oct 12, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) Kosovo Albanian guerrillas would take up arms to prevent Yugoslav forces returning to their breakaway province, political leaders said Wednesday.
"If they ever came back in uniform, we'd know how to react," Naim Maloku, head of the Central Liberal Party of Kosovo and a former fighter in the separatist Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), told AFP.
Full story here.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - October 11th
Ex-KLA Chief Wants Proof Kostunica is Democrat PRISTINA, Oct 11, 2000 -- (Reuters) The former political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) said on Tuesday that Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica should prove he is a democrat and release prisoners from the Kosovo war.
"If Mr Kostunica is a democrat as he claims, he should release all Albanian prisoners and the kidnapped," Hashim Thaci told Reuters in an interview.
He also said the new Yugoslav president, hailed by the West as a breath of democracy in Belgrade, should apologize to ethnic Albanians for atrocities committed by the Serb police and the Yugoslav army last year in Kosovo.
"Kostunica should cooperate with the Hague tribunal," he said, referring to the international war crimes body that has indicted Kostunica's predecessor Slobodan Milosevic.
Full story here.
Source: CNN - October 11th
Uprising in Serbia CNN special.
Source: CNN - October 11th
Milosevic Allies Refuse to Hand over Power BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Allies of ousted Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic have delivered a setback to new leader Vojislav Kostunica's hopes of consolidating power by declaring that they will not give up control of key areas in Serbia.
Mirko Marjanovic, the Serbian Prime Minister loyal to Milosevic, said he would continue to command the police by adopting the vacant Serbian Interior Ministry post.
Marjanovic also said he planned to re-assert control over Serbian radio and television, a focal point of last week's popular uprising in Belgrade.
And he said the Serb Government would see its time out, not transferring power to the newly elected president before elections planned for September 2001.
Full story here.
Source: Russia Today - October 10thBelarus Opposition To Step Up Election Protests MINSK, Oct 10, 2000 -- (Reuters) Belarus's opposition on Monday pledged to step up action to win popular support for a boycott of the October 15 parliamentary election.
Full story here.
Source: CNN - October 10th
Milosevic Allies Shun Reform Talks BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Allies of former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic have walked out of talks on reforming the Serbian government following last week's popular uprising.
Milosevic's Socialists and Radicals allies broke off talks over the transfer of what remaining authority they hold on Tuesday.
Full story here.
Source: BBC - October 10thJailed Serb Journalist Freed A Serbian journalist jailed for spying after writing about Serbian war crimes in Kosovo has been freed by Yugoslavia's supreme military court pending a new trial.
Full story here.
Source: BBC - October 9th
Yugoslav Sanctions: What's at Stake? The European Union's decision to lift its oil embargo and ban on commercial flights - already suspended in March - still leaves Serbia the target of a number of sanctions.
Full story here.
Source: BBC - October 9thEU Eases Yugoslav Sanctions The European Union has announced a partial lifting of sanctions against Yugoslavia in what is being seen as the first stage in the country's international rehabilitation.
EU foreign ministers agreed to lift their oil embargo and a ban on commercial flights.
Full story here.
Serbia's Bulldozer of Change Cacak's tough and outspoken mayor, Velimir 'Velja' Ilic, was given the task of spearheading the semi-spontaneous opposition protest.
''We established a team of young professionals, paratroopers from the Yugoslav Army and young policemen, and we coordinated this with the most elite units of the Interior Ministry Police in Belgrade. We even had plainclothes police coordinating with nearby towns," he said.
He has emerged as one of the most prominent figures in Serbia's uprising, and could yet become one of the most powerful men in the new Serbia.
Full story here.
Source: Russia Today - October 8thBelarus Leader Sees No Yugoslav Scenario in Vote DAVID GORODOK, Belarus, Oct 8, 2000 -- (Reuters) Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko vowed on Saturday there would be no Yugoslav-like events in his ex-Soviet state's election next week and said he would tolerate no Western interference.
Lukashenko is not running in the October 15 parliamentary poll, but says he will stand for re-election next year if asked. Next week's election is being boycotted by most opposition parties on the grounds that the assembly has no meaningful powers and they have no access to state media.
Full story here.
Clinton Reflects on Victories, Regrets over Nearly 8 Years WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Bill Clinton said he was politically naive when he took office nearly eight years ago, and that doomed grand proposals such as health care reform.
"We didn't know enough about how the system works," said Clinton, in an article published by The New Yorker magazine that was released Sunday.
Full story here.
Source: BBC - October 8th
Analysis: Kostunica's Crown of Thorns As a result, the powers of the federal Yugoslav president - or, indeed, those of the federal government - are relatively limited.
The president is commander-in-chief of the army but control over the police is in the hands of the Serbian and Montenegrin governments respectively.
Given the election results, the only way his bloc, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia, can form a government is by persuading the Montenegrin Socialist People's Party (SNP) - hitherto Mr Milosevic's close allies - to switch sides.
Barely 5% of the electorate - and virtually none of the majority ethnic Albanians - cast their ballots there.
Full story here.
Source: BBC - October 7thYugoslav Army's Crucial Role Emerges Western diplomats and opposition sources in Belgrade told the BBC that top army officers visited him on Friday night, told him he was now the ex-president, and forced him at gunpoint to meet Mr Kostunica.
Full story here.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - October 6thBelgrade Constitutes New City Parliament, Elects Mayor BELGRADE, Oct 6, 2000 -- (Reuters) Belgrade got a new city parliament on Friday dominated by members of the main Serbian opposition bloc, and the new mayor promised no revenge would be taken against political opponents.
"We have never been prepared for revenge, to use violence. We have fought democratically against a non-democratic regime," said the newly elected mayor, historian Milan Protic.
The Democratic Opposition of Serbia won 105 of 110 seats in the city hall in September 24 local election in Serbia. Its main opponents, President Slobodan Milosevic's leftist bloc, have four and the ultra-nationalist Radical party one seat.
Full story here.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - October 6th
Sporadic Revenge after Yugoslavia's Popular Revolt BELGRADE, Oct 6, 2000 -- (Reuters) Sporadic acts of revenge were carried out against supporters of Slobodan Milosevic after a popular revolution on the streets of Belgrade.
Eyewitnesses said RTS director Dragoljub Milanovic and news editor Spomenka Jovic were both beaten.
Full story here.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - October 6th
Yugoslavia Nothing to Do with Us PRISTINA, Oct 6, 2000 -- (Reuters) Ethnic Kosovo Albanians watched the uprising against Slobodan Milosevic in neighboring Serbia on television in their homes and bars on Thursday, but deemed it none of their concern.
Some said replacing Milosevic with opposition leader Vojislav Kostunica would do nothing to ease what they saw as Serb antagonism to ethnic Albanians.
Kostunica was seen as a Serb nationalist who opposed Kosovo autonomy and would want to bring the province back into the fold.
Full story here.
Source: Russia Today - October 6th
Russian Deputies Lash Out at Kostunica's "Coup" MOSCOW, Oct 6, 2000 -- (Reuters) Russia's Lower House speaker lashed out at Yugoslav opposition leader Vojislav Kostunica on Friday for organizing "a coup" and a Communist party chief said events in Belgrade smelled of "marijuana, vodka and dollars".
The State Duma, the Lower House of parliament, also refused to send greetings to Kostunica as the new Yugoslav leader.
"Today, Yugoslav society is split as a result of a coup. Kostunica has declared himself the president of Yugoslavia," Duma speaker Gennady Seleznyov said in televised comments.
Full story here.
Source: CNN - October 6th
Milosevic Admits Defeat Speaking on Serb television, the Yugoslav leader congratulated opposition leader Vojislav Kostunica on his victory, seemingly accepting that a massive popular uprising by opposition supporters has swept him from power.
Russian Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said the revolt smelt of "marijuana, vodka and dollars."
Milosevic has said he intends to remain in politics in Serbia.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said the decision by Russia to recognise Kostunica was "great news."
If Milosevic is truly out of power, she said, there is no need for the sanctions to continue.
There were already signs of change in the approach of Yugoslavia on Friday with two British policemen detained in Belgrade on suspected terrorism charges being set free.
Full story here.
Editor's commentary: We and the rest of sane and intelligent world congratulate Milosevic to another blazing victory and we are truly sorry that US administration and EU leadership is made out of complete idiots. Facts are:
1. Milosevic is not president of FRY
2. Milosevic's party has majority in federal parliament
3. Milosevic will continue to be president of his party SPS
4. New president of FRY is Milosevic's clone.
5. War criminals will not be extradited to Hague tribunal
6. Montengro can't become independent without bloodshed
7. Kosovo will not be reintegrated with Serbia because Kosovo Albanians overwhelmingly are against Kostunica
8. Sanctions will be lifted although against US State Department initial demands
9. Sellout of Serbia will continue as well as armament for new wars
10. Democracy will still have to wait for some better times to finally come to Serbia
11. Serbian parliament stays the same with SPS-JUL-SRS holding 4/5 of all seats
Why Milosevic changed constitution and participated in elections?
1. His party SPS would lose big time without his support
2. He was able to control elections and make them look like democracy has won
3. This outcome will result in lifting sanctions that damaged Milosevic and his party badly
One Nazi was replaced with another one. Stalinist hardliners and Nazis in Serbia will prolong their power in Serbia. There is no democracy in Serbia today or anytime soon.
Source: BBC - October 5th
Milosevic Power Crumbles Half a million people laid siege to Belgrade on Thursday, setting the parliament building on fire, and taking state television off the air.
In a speech to vast crowds on Thursday evening, Mr Kostunica declared himself the new president of Yugoslavia.
Serbian state TV went blank for several hours during the day, after demonstrators took over the building.
US President Bill Clinton offered his support to the demonstrators who are "trying to get their country back".
Full story here.
Source: CNN - October 5thPolice Fire Tear Gas at Belgrade Protesters BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Police have used tear gas to disperse demonstrators at the Yugoslav Parliament building, hours after Yugoslavia's Constitutional Court ruled that presidential elections will have to be held again.
Full story here.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - October 4th
Kostunica More Dangerous Leader than Milosevic PRISTINA, Oct 4, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) Vojislav Kostunica -- championed by the West as Yugoslavia's new leader -- has greater nationalist ambitions and is "more dangerous" than incumbent President Slobodan Milosevic himself, according to Kosovo's budding new political classes.
"If Kostunica arrives in power, he will trick the international community for a while. Independence for Kosovo will be delayed and we will get impatient. With him, there is a risk of another war," said the secretary general of the PDK, led by the former political leader of the KLA Hashim Thaci.
"Yugoslav elections are foreign to us," the ethnic Albanian politcians say. For them, Kosovo, which has been run by the UN since June 1999, is no longer part of Yugoslavia.
Full story here.
Source: BBC - October 2nd
Yugoslav General Strike Boost A general strike in Yugoslavia has received an unexpected early boost as opponents of President Slobodan Milosevic seek to force him from power.
Hours before the strike's scheduled start on Monday, police, who had sealed off the country's biggest coal mining complex, allowed several thousand supporters through their lines to join protesting miners.
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Source: BBC - September 30thYugoslav Election Complaints Rejected Yugoslavia's Federal Electoral Commission has rejected as "baseless" all complaints by the opposition of voting irregularities in last Sunday's presidential election.
The commission said in a statement that Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) candidate Vojislav Kostunica would have to go into a second-round run-off vote against President Slobodan Milosevic on 8 October.
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Source: BBC - September 29thThousands Rally to Oust Milosevic Tens of thousands of opposition supporters have been protesting in Belgrade and other cities across Yugoslavia to try to force President Slobodan Milosevic from office.
The Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) has called for a general strike from Monday, unless the government concedes that the DOS candidate, Vojislav Kostunica, won last Sunday's presidential elections outright.
Full story here.
Editor's commentary: All that Djindjic and DOS can do is to complain to Federal Elections Commission. If they decide not to change their final and official results then Djindjic must accept their decision no matter what. Protests in 1996 were based on annulment of official results under pressure of Milosevic and his party. Although official results by Federal Elections Commission clearly indicated win of coalition "Together", Milosevic and his party forced Federal Elections Commission to change its decision although their complaints were not based on legal and valid arguments. Coalition "Together" was also not allowed to complain on that reversal, decision was final, and that was the reason for protests that lasted 100 days ending with full acceptance of original and only valid election results. It seems that Djindjic and DOS now try to do the same thing Milosevic did in 1996, to put a pressure on Federal Elections Commission and change outcome of elections.Source: NY Times - September 29th
A July 1998 photo of Mr. Kostunica awkwardly carrying a Kalashnikov, taken in Zubin Potok, in northern Kosovo, and published in the Belgrade daily Blic at the time, surfaced again during the election campaign.
Some of his allies now in the democratic opposition regarded Mr. Kostunica as a strange mixture of constitutional legalist, democrat and "urban fascist" for his fervent talk of Serbian national interests. Even now, the leader of his campaign, Zoran Djindjic of the Democratic Party, regards Mr. Kostunica's politics as traditionalist and even primitive...
Among those he criticizes for accommodation are Montenegro's president, Milo Djukanovic, the Bosnian Serb acting prime minister, Milorad Dodik, and Croatia's new president, Stjepan Mesic.
Excerpts from "The Yugoslav Who Could Be Leader Sketches the Nation He Envisions" by Steven Erlanger.
Source: BBC - September 26th
Yugoslav Sanctions Remain EU sanctions against Yugoslavia will remain in force after the announcement of a run-off in the presidential elections.
Full story here.
Source: BBC - September 26th
Draskovic Offers to Resign Vojislav Draskovic, the charismatic head of the Serbian Renewal Party (SPO), has offered to resign as leader following his party's poor showing in Sunday's presidential elections.
"As far as my party is concerned, it was the wrong decision to participate separately in the election." he said.
Full story here.
Source: BBC - September 26th
Yugoslav Opposition Rejects Run-off The opposition have rejected as electoral "fraud" the decision by the Federal Electoral Commission to hold a second round in the country's presidential elections.
Vojislav Kostunica: 48.22% or 2,428,714 votes
Slobodan Milosevic: 40.23% or 2,026,478 votes
Tomislav Nikolic: 5.1% or 256,876 votes
Other candidates and invalid votes: 6.83%
7,848,818 registered voters
64.16 % of voters cast ballotsFull story here.
Source: CNN - September 25th
U.S. House Votes to Fund Yugoslavia's Opposition Movement WASHINGTON (CNN) -- With both sides claiming victory and no official results announced yet in Yugoslavia's presidential election, the House of Representatives passed a bill Monday evening to help fund the opposition movement there.
It authorizes $105 million for pro-democracy activities in Serbia and Montenegro by non-governmental organizations, the media, political parties,labor unions and other groups.
Full story here.
Source: BBC - September 24th
Boycott The vote itself, which ended at 1900 BST, was marred by allegations that the authorities and pro-government officials had been involved in polling irregularities, including improper supervision and a lack of privacy at some polling stations.
Turnout in Serbia was reported to be about 50%, but in Montenegro, the junior partner in the Yugoslav federation, only 19% of people came out to vote.
Editor's commentary: Serbian turnout is hard to know. Although ruling party SPS stated that 70% of voters showed up at polling places on last Serbian referendum on Kosovo, one month later, independent NGO for observing election process announced only 40%. Areas free of Milosevic's control overwhelmingly boycotted elections saying NO to Milosevic's Fascist Republic of Yugoslavia. Future of FRY is obviously doomed and sealed. We only hope that Milosevic will get clear message this time and finally disband artificially created FRY.
Full story here.
Source: BETA - September 24th
Electoral headquarters of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) in charge of monitoring the elections in Montenegro, tonight, stated that the voter turnout in this republic amounted to 22.37 pre cent of citizens on the basis of 68.83 per cent of the data processed so far.
DOS representative for Montenegro Dragoslav Bozovic told the press that major changes in the turnout might not be expected and that it could not exceed 25 per cent.
"The Socialist Popular Party has experienced an electoral fiasco," he said.
Boycott was more than successfull in Montenegro. Our campaign goal was less than 30% of voters going to polls.
Source: Media Center - September 24th
ALBANIANS DID NOT GO TO THE POLLS "Around 44,169 voters cast their ballots by 4:00 p.m. in Kosovo, when polling places were closed," said Marko Blagojevic from the CeSID this evening.
Two thousand and 700 hundred voters crossed the border with Serbia to cast their ballots, which, according to Blagojevic, indicates that almost 47,000 people out of total registered voters from the territory of Kosovo voted in the elections. Blagojevic also said that the turnout in places dominated by Albanians was zero percent.
"At polling places specially set up in Belgrade for displaced persons voter turnout was under 10 percent," said Blagojevic.
Blagojevic also said that the exact voter turnout in Kosovo was still unknown, while almost 1,500,000 voters cast their ballots in polling places in Vranje and Prokuplje.
FS Net camapign goal was less than 30% of voters going to polls.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - September 22nd
Yugoslav Prime Minister Deals Blow to Serb Opposition Hopes Yugoslav Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic, a Montenegrin ally of the Serbian strongman, said the current presidential mandate would run until it expires in the middle of next year.
"Under the constitutional law, the mandate of the president cannot be shortened. It will last until its expiry, which will be until mid-2001," he told the private television station TV Elmag in Yugoslavia's smaller republic Montenegro on Thursday.
Why vote when Milosevic remains in power regardless of election results? Boycott! Full story here.
Source: BBC - September 22nd
Milosevic's Yugoslavia BBC special dedicated to Milosevic's legacy of lunacy, crime, terror and butchery. From Stalinist Fascist Republic of Yugoslavia to Fascist Republic of Yugoslavia to Hague tribunal.
Source: BBC - September 22nd
Yugoslav Companies Sued over 'Negative' Polls A pro-government organisation in Yugoslavia is suing market research firms for conducting public opinion polls which suggest the opposition could win this Sunday's elections.
The organisation the Patriotic Union of Yugoslavia accused the companies of falsifying the results of the surveys, which it said were paid for by the West.
Full story here.
Source: BBC - September 22nd
Radio Liberty Journalist Killed in Moscow A journalist working for the United States-funded Radio Liberty in Moscow has been found dead.
Full story here.
Source: BBC - September 22nd
Montenegrin Policeman Shot Dead An off-duty policeman in Montenegro has been shot and killed by a Yugoslav military policeman, in an incident expected to heighten tension ahead of Sunday's elections.
Full story here.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - September 21st
Serb Opposition Leader Slams Milosevic Indictment BELGRADE, Sep 21, 2000 -- (Reuters) The main Serb opposition candidate in the September 24 presidential election on Wednesday criticized last year's indictment by a UN court of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic for war crimes.
Kostunica said it had put Serbia "between Milosevic's policy which was undemocratic and authoritarian, and the policy of the West, mainly Washington, which is also undemocratic and authoritarian."
He has also earlier during the election campaign criticized the United States and the war crimes court, and was quoted earlier this month as saying that, if elected, he would not let Milosevic be sent to The Hague.
Full story here.
Source: Russia Today - September 21st
Bush Aide Says Next Administration Should Bypass Kremlin CHICAGO, Sep 21, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) Washington should bypass the Kremlin when dealing with Russia and forge links with businesses, George W. Bush's foreign policy advisory said Wednesday.
The administration had helped to "retard the Russian economy," by recognizing so-called reformers who were "stealing the country blind," she added.
Full story here.
Source: Russia Today - September 21st
Belarusian Journalist Fined for Urging Election Boycott MOSCOW, Sep 21, 2000 -- (RFE/RL) A Minsk district court on 19 September fined Viktar Ivashkevich, chief editor of the opposition newspaper "Rabochy," and Dzmitry Kastsyukevich, the newspaper's lawyer, for urging a boycott of the 15 October legislative elections in a special issue of their newspaper, Belapan reported.
Full story here.
Source: Russia Today - September 20th
Belarus Opposition Asks Poll Observers to Stay Away VILNIUS, Sep 20, 2000 -- (Reuters) Belarus' opposition on Tuesday asked international observers to stay away from the country's October 15 election and avoid giving credibility to a process they say is a travesty of democracy.
"Sending a technical mission is being presented to Belarussians as the sending of international observers. That is presented as giving legitimacy to the election," Seymon Sharestsky, speaker of the Belarussian parliament disbanded in 1996, told a news conference in Vilnius.
Full story here.
Source: CNN - September 19th
Election Attack Foiled in Yugoslavia Two suspected undercover members of the Yugoslav Army's special forces were caught in central Kosovo on what NATO peacekeepers said on Tuesday was a terrorist mission.
A cache of weapons and explosives was also seized in the Serb enclave of Gracanica, south of the capital Pristina, as Kosovo braced for Yugoslav elections on Sunday and its own local election in a month's time.
Full story here.
Source: BBC - September 19thKostunica: Man of Conviction Milosevic: Serbia's Strongman Fights on BBC profiles of Milosevic and Kostunica.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - September 18th
EU Chides Belarus Over Missing Opposition Figure PARIS, Sep 18, 2000 -- (Reuters) The European Union on Monday criticized the Belarus government for failing to track down opposition politician Viktor Gonchar, who vanished a year ago.
Gonchar, an opponent of President Alexander Lukashenko, disappeared on a Minsk street along with businessman Anatoly Krasovsky on September 16, 1999. Police investigations have so far revealed nothing.
So this event inspired certain people with white van in Serbia to kidnap Stambolic. More here.
Source: Russia Today - September 15th
Chechen Fighters Place Two-Million-Dollar Bounty on Putin's Head MOSCOW, Sep 15, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) A Chechen rebel website published a price-list Friday for the documented capture or murder of Russian leaders including President Vladimir Putin, whose bounty was set at two million dollars.
"The mujahideen military command has decided to issue financial rewards for the punishment of the highest degree of criminals in the leadership of the Russian Federation," the statement read.
Full story here.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - September 15th
Russia Surprised with NATO Planned Military Action in Montenegro MOSCOW, Sep 15, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) Russia was deeply concerned with NATO's threat of sending ground troops to Montenegro in the case of Belgrade using force in Podgorica, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement Thursday.
"Recent comments made by US Air Force Commander in Europe, General Gregory Martin, about NATO having already conceived several variants of military action against Montenegro, including the use of ground troops, are shocking," said the ministry.
Full story here.
Source: FONET - September 13th
Podgorica - President of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic said today that he believes that citizens of Montenegro will boycott federal elections and that way show their determination in defending statehood, freedom and right of Montenegro on democratic and economic development.
Source: BBC - September 13th
Media Law Increases Kremlin Powers A new information law has come into effect in Russia, which critics say could threaten journalists' freedom to criticise the state.
Supporters of the new law, which took six years to draw up, say it will help ensure the publication of accurate information about Russia.
Full story here.
Source: Russia Today - September 11th
Vodka War Shakes, Stirs Russia MOSCOW, Sep 11, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) A vodka war is raging in Russia, with competitors being slain by hitmen, hundreds of thousands of bottles seized by police and more than 20,000 people dead since January after drinking bootleg liquor.
The "kings of vodka" are locked in a pitiless struggle to conquer a market worth some USD 12 billion split equally between the legal and the black markets, according to experts quoted by the daily Kommersant and the weekly Profil.
Full story here.
To become familiar with criminal enterprise in Russia we recommend to you these games from Eidos:
Gangsters - Organized Crime, Gangsters 2 - Vendetta and Hitman
Source: BBC - September 11th
Yugo Opposition Rally in Milosevic Home-town The Yugoslav opposition alliance DOS has held an election campaign rally in the home town of the federal president, Slobodan Milosevic.
A crowd of about three hundred people heard speeches from several opposition leaders in what correspondents say is a stronghold of Mr Milosevic's ruling Socialist Party. A former ally of Mr Milosevic, Dobrica Cosic, regarded as the spiritual father of modern Serbian nationalism, has meanwhile given his support to the opposition presidential candidate, Vojislav Kostunica.
Full story here.
Editor's commentary: This says all! Dobrica Cosic, hardcore Stalinist, member of UDBA and SDB, supporter of greater Serbia, ethnic cleansing, genocide in Kosovo, man who helped Milosevic to grab power has formed coalition with national socialist Kostunica. Dobrica Cosic acted on behalf of Khrushchev in 1956 and helped convince Tito to give full support for Soviet military intervention in Hungary. Imre Nagy*, premier of Hungary, was later captured by KGB outside Yugoslav embassy in Budapest where he was seeking asylum that was denied by Yugoslav authorities. Hungarian government should seriously consider charging Cosic with murder of Imre Nagy and massacre of Hungarian people in 1956. Cosic is a true criminal who betrayed humanity, Serbs and Serbia for his deviant Stalinist ideas. It is a tremendous insult to all Serbs by calling this Stalinist and now Nazi gangster "the spiritual father of Serbs". It is not surprising that only 300, mostly those from Kostunica's election team, gathered in Pozarevac. Serbs know who Cosic is and know that Kostunica is Nazi. For all of you who can read Serbian I recommend two parts from Cosic's political biography. First part covers his visit to concentration camp Goli Otok and second part is about his participation in Soviet military intervention in Hungary. Take a note that Nicolae Ceausescu was leading interrogator of Nagy who was later sentenced to death and executed.
Dobrica Cosic na Golom otoku Dobrica Cosic u Madjarskoj *Treacherously deported to Romania after leaving his sanctuary in the Yugoslav embassy, he was returned to Hungary, tried, and put to death. Nagy was posthumously rehabilitated by Hungary's Supreme Court in 1989.
Copyright © 1994-2000 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Source: CNN - September 10th
West Blocked from Observing Yugoslav Elections BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (AP) -- The Yugoslav Government will not allow observers from Western countries considered hostile to President Slobodan Milosevic to monitor elections here.
The rejection, which comes amid fears of possible vote-rigging in the September 24 election, is meant "to protect Yugoslavia's sovereignty and integrity," Information Minister Goran Matic said on Saturday.
Full story here.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - September 7th
Moderate Kosovo Serb Leaders Say Won't Take Part In Yugoslav Poll PRISTINA, Sep 7, 2000 -- (Agence France Presse) Kosovo's moderate Serb leadership will play no part in Yugoslavia's federal elections this month, just as they will play no part in a rival UN-organized poll a month later, a leading Serb figure said Wednesday.
Full story here.
Source: Yugoslavia Today - September 6th
Opposition Leader Opposes Milosevic Extradition BELGRADE, Sep 6, 2000 -- (Reuters) The main opposition candidate in Yugoslavia's presidential election has said that, if elected, he will not let current president Slobodan Milosevic be sent to the UN war crimes tribunal, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
Editor's commentary: Both candidates advocated ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and genocide in Kosovo. That's why this statement is not a surprise but what we all wonder is why the hell US supports national socialist Kostunica? North Korea calls itself Democratic and Eastern Germany was once German Democratic Republic. Is it enough to call yourself a democrat to really be a democrat? Can someone be called a democrat who supports ethnic cleansing and genocide, someone who disrespects international laws and international organizations? What if Saddam starts calling himself a democrat? Is he going to get support from Clinton's administration then?
Full story here.
Source: BBC - September 4th
Serb Police Raid Otpor Premises Serbian police have raided the Belgrade premises of the student movement, Otpor, which is a key part of the opposition to President Slobodan Milosevic.
More here.