Milan Gvero

Major-General of the Army of Bosnian Serb Republic

Place and year of birth: Mrkonjic-Grad, 1937

Education: High school in Banja Luka, Military Academy in Belgrade, received M.A. degree with thesis on sociology of politics. No war strategy schooling.

The office he was dismissed from: Officially: assistant to Bosnian Serb Army commander for moral, religious and political issues. Unofficially: Mladic's spokesman and favorite chess partner.

What he did before the war in Bosnia: He was the spokesman of the Federal Defence Secretariat (colonel by rank). Every Thursday, he held news conferences at the Belgrade Press Center, interpreting in a specific way the role of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) in the outbreak of the war in the former Yugoslavia.

How he spoke then: "JNA units have completely fulfilled their task and enabled the Federal Customs and Interior Ministry officers to carry out their duties." (July 5, 1991 when JNA was already retreating from Slovenija). "Traitors are always treacherous." (Reply to a journalist's question on JNA's defeat in Slovenija a week later) "JNA has not shelled Dubrovnik, not even a particle of JNA dust has fallen on that city" (December 4, 1991). "Not a single lie has been uttered from this place. JNA members fight with truth only" (on the same occasion).

Whether he was member of League of Communists - Movement for Yugoslavia (SK-PJ): Yes, he had to be because of his office. He allegedly left the party after he went to the Bosnian Serb Army.

How he became Mladic's assistant: With the help of the Belgrade General Staff who could not wait to get rid of such a spokesman. The story goes that Gvero's resignation was celebrated all night.

How he is doing at the new office: He continued in his old manner: in April and May 1992 he was convincing journalists that the Bosnian Serb army was not shooting at Sarajevo and that he did not even know who was (he even started crying on one occasion); he claimed that UNPROFOR was smuggling ammunition and gunpowder for Muslims in sardine cans and oxygen bottles; he swore that Serbs in Bosnia were fighting a chivalrous war and that they observed International War Law ("I know no one admits it, but we know that's what we are doing."); he promised Bosnian Muslims nothing would happen to them if they recognized Serb authorities, etc. Altogether, he was Mladic's constant spokesman.

How he acted in the Karadzic-Mladic conflict: He was absolutely loyal to Mladic. When Karadzic tried to replace Mladic in August, he defended his commander more fiercely than Mladic did himself. He assessed Karadzic's decision as "unreasonable and unnecessary" said that he "chose the wrong time for the political persecution of successful army officers" and threatened with the "court of history and people." At one point, Mladic himself had to order Gvero to stop quarrelling with Karadzic in the name of national unity and to "withdraw from the propaganda war against the Bosnian Serb Army."

Why, in fact, was he dismissed: Not so much because of his confrontation with Karadzic or because of his influence in the army (which, to be quite honest, never was great), but rather to deprive Mladic of a chance to publish his stands in the media.

What he may expect: He will last as long as Mladic lasts; maybe he will even outlive or succeed him one day. The Hague Tribunal has shown no interest in Gvero. The worst that could happen to him would be a peaceful retirement in his family apartment in Belgrade.