Issue 474 - January 19, 2001

By agreeing to testify and tell what they know about the assassinations of Arkan and his friends, Jekic, Draskovic, Kostadinovic and Djeric could easily point the court to a new direction and uncover thus far unmentioned people from various fields, especially the roles of some of the more eminent police officers and State Security officials, not only prior to but also at the time of the crime and all that later ensued. It seems as though, due to this, nervousness has seized a part of the State Security´s (DB) ruling structure

He, as the symbol of the former government for which arrogance was as natural as breathing, seems to have had to personally inquire whether Kostunica will keep his previously given word with regards to The Hague and whether he will be capable of preventing the formation of a new SRS (Serbian Revenge Party) which many want to join

Kostunica can think whatever he wishes about the Hague Tribunal – I myself am no great admirer of that institution – just as Milosevic’s culpability might appear to him considerably smaller than is believed in the rest of the world, but he has no right to gamble with his own international credibility, because he is no longer a private individual

“it is not accidental that prior to any significant political decision being made in Montenegro, Mr. del Turco surprises the Italian public with some sensational discovery of Montenegrin involvement in crime, clearly demonstrating in this way the intention and the objective his statements have set; although it is completely clear that they have always been synchronized, and I would even say identical with the allegations coming from Belgrade”

‘Talking about the shortening of the military service term, we must have understanding for the interests of young people. I am of the opinion that we can satisfy everyone’s interests at the same time – that of the people, the army and the defence’, says Minister Krapovic.

Having returned to the political scene of Serbia after a short break, and having revealed the problems her family is confronted with since October 5th, President of the Yugoslav Left’s (JUL) Head Office, Mirjana Markovic slipped out of the country by boarding an ‘Aeroflot’ plane for Moscow, on January 12th, at 11:30 am. From that moment onwards, nothing is known about her unexpected journey – it remains unclear where she left and when (whether) she will return (or not). Moreover, it also remains unclear who stands behind Markovic’s departure from the country, as well as behind the way in which she used to leave the country before her party was ousted from power – by skipping passport and customs controls together with her bodyguards.