Exclusive: "Milosevic calling Karadzic"

The reliable sources of VREME discovered that RAM is not a figment of imagination. Bosnia learned of it this spring. To get to the point: RAM argues for the creation of western borders of Serbia, the creation of a new format for a differently shaped Yugoslavia, with all Serbs living in one state.

The president of SDS (Serbian Democratic Party) Karadzic voiced a personal opinion on plan RAM: "I have first heard of plan RAM at the press conference of HDZ (Croatian Democratic Party) and through personal contacts with their officials. I realized from these contacts that they think there exists a Serbian plan for the creation of a frame, i.e. the framework for a different new state, whose western border would follow the London Agreement, that is Virovitica-Karlovac-Karlobag.

So RAM here means 'a frame' and is not an abbreviation ("ram" in Serbo-Croat means "a frame"). What they later did with that 'frame', I don't know. But I know that it is all nonsensical false propaganda. I haven't been in contact with the generals they claim I am collaborating with. Our relationship with the Army ends with our recommendations to the Serbian people and our members to respond to Army calls." The sources, however, claim something very different: that Karadzic is regularly contacting the generals. For example, it is claimed that the direct command for the launch of aviation in Croatia and the fringe parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina were given by general Simic from Belgrade at the request of the leading men in SDS, who allegedly received instructions from "their command"; it is also claimed that the leaders of Bosanska and Kninska kraina are in close contact with the Army leadership, which is submitting to their wishes; that even the observers from BH who were sent from the Ministry of Internal Affairs got the impression, when visiting the war-consumed regions, that the Army sided totally with the Serbs, and that the officials are being told what is to be conquered; that the Army reservists have infiltrated themselves with the soldiers and that they are keeping an eye on them.

The most interesting segment of this story concerns the recorded conversation between Milosevic and Karadzic, to which the prime minister Markovic referred at the session of the Federal Government behind closed doors. The fact that the mentioned segment was not published in "Politika" and "Politika ekspres" speaks for itself. Recordings of these talks came into our possession. Reportedly, there are more recorded cassettes of this kind.

Milosevic: Speak to Uzelac (Chief-of-Staff, Sarajevo Army Corps). If you have any problems, contact me.

Karadzic: I am having problems with Kupres (central Bosnia). A sizeable portion of the Serbian population there is rebellious.

Milosevic: Don't worry, we'll take care of it. Just call Uzelac (...) Don't worry, you'll have everything. We have the power.

Karadzic: Yes, yes. Milosevic: Don't worry. As long as the Army is there, no one can touch us. (...) Don't worry about Herzegovina. Momir (Bulatovic, president of Montenegro) said to the people: "The ones who are not prepared to put their lives on the line in Bosnia, step forward". Nobody did.

Karadzic: That is OK. But what about the bombing of ... Milosevic: Today it is not convenieant for the aviation to act, since the European Community is holding a session. It is expected that some newspapers in Sarajevo will soon publish the talks in full.