Red Army raising the Soviet flag over Berlin Reichstag, May 2, 1945, photographer Yevgeny Khaldei

Free World Marks the Anniversary of Decisive Battle Against Nazi Germany

The bloodiest and longest standoff of WWII – the Battle of Stalingrad – lasted 200 days and claimed 2 million lives. Russia and the rest of the free world are marking the 70th anniversary of this epic struggle, which became the turning point leading to overthrow of Nazi Germany.

The anniversary of the Soviet victory in what was the biggest land battle of WWII will be widely celebrated throughout Russia on Saturday. About 1,000 guests have arrived in Volgograd – formerly Stalingrad – to participate in the celebrations, including a military parade, battle reconstructions, fireworks and more.

In honor of the celebrations, the city is changing back to its old name of Stalingrad. In 1961, following the Soviet policy of deconstructing the cult of personality around Stalin, the city was renamed Volgograd.

On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted a reception at the Kremlin to honor some 200 WWII veterans. “We have to do everything so the memory of the Battle of Stalingrad, the truth about it, will never fade away,” Putin said. “From this point – from the unbowed city – our forces began their march to Berlin.”

The sixth Kustendorf International Film and Music Festival was, indeed, star-studded. It was also an event marked by a flurry of requests by hundreds of media outlets around the world, interested in covering the prestigious manifestation. Festival organizers found themselves in trouble, since the accommodation capacities in Drvengrad are rather limited.

A Far More Objective Picture of Serbia

- The last time such a large number of foreign reporters was “in the region” was before the start of NATO aggression, and before that, during the civil war and disintegration of former Yugoslavia, – Kusturica reminded.

- This time around, a far more objective and truthful picture will be sent from Serbia into the world, – Festival founder and host said.

Strikingly Gorgeous Bellucci to Play a Serbian Woman

Hosted by the famous Serbian director Emir Kusturica in Drvengrad, his ethnic village in the heart of Serbia, Kustendorf Festival has wrapped up its sixth successful season. But Emir and this year Festival’s strikingly gorgeous star are just beginning the work on their joint new project.

Italian actress and international film star Monica Bellucci, according to many the world’s most beautiful woman, has accepted a leading role in Kusturica’s new film. She will play a Serbian woman caught in the whirlwind of the last bloody civil war which tore former Yugoslavia apart.

- It is a love story which takes place here, during the war. There will be a lot of violence, but also a lot of love, shown in a poetic way. I’m very excited by the prospects of playing a Serbian woman and in Serbian language, – Bellucci, who became famous worldwide for her roles in Gibson’s Passion of the Christ, Wachowski’s Matrix and Coppola’s Dracula, said.

Already fluent in English, French and Spanish, beside her native Italian, the famous actress doesn’t think learning Serbian will present a difficulty.

- I have seen all of Emir’s films, I follow his work, and Time of the Gypsies is one of the most important films in the world cinematography. There was no need for more references, – Bellucci said when asked what led her to accept a rather demanding role.

Subjugating the Entire Serb Male Population

The gorgeous actress, elected the most beautiful woman in the world by French viewers on a TV show “La Plus belle femme du monde” and ranked #1 in Askmen’s ‘Most Desirable Woman’, first arrived to Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska (Bosnia-Herzegovina), where she was greeted by Kusturica and Republic of Srpska Prime Minister Milorad Dodik. She toured Andrićgrad (Andrić Town), Kusturica’s latest ingenious architectural and cultural project, dedicated to Bosnian Serb Nobel Prize laureate, writer Ivo Andrić.

From the moment she stepped on the Serb soil, Bellucci unwittingly achieved what NATO armada could only dream of – bringing the entire Serb male population, from heads of state, through reporters to ordinary folks, to stand in attention, entranced and blushing like schoolboys. Her unintended entourage was visibly growing every step of the way. By the time she arrived to Drvengrad in Serbia, Bellucci seemed to have all of Republic of Srpska, Premier included, arrive with her.

Serbia’s Prime Minister Ivica Dačić hastily gathered gifts for the enchanting actress and charged from Belgrade to Drvengrad to present them to Bellucci in person, fumbling, blushing and suddenly breaking into incoherent verses. Among other, a valuable reproduction of a famous Serbian White Angel fresco was presented as “an angel to an angel”.

Serbian national television rushed to announce that the “goddess has arrived!”, and it seemed like every Serb felt he should personally greet an Italian beauty, even if everyone kept stuttering in her presence, turning all goofy and dizzy. A few male interviewers who managed to stay lucid long enough to pose an intelligible question were sliding off their chairs during the responses, in daze.

Equally charmed by their prominent guest, who regards herself as a “mother first and foremost”, Serbian women claim to be honored by having such a resplendent beauty representing them on the silver screen.

Kusturica, brimming with pride and joy, awarded Bellucci “for future films”, stressing that her dignified life, character and immense beauty prove Dostoevsky was right when he said that beauty will save the world.

China’s Master Cinematographer Grew up with Yugoslav Films

Kustendorf 2013 Retrospective of Greatness featured the world renowned Chinese director Zhang Yimou and a retrospective of fifteen of his masterpieces, including Raise the Red Lantern, The Hero and The Flowers of War.

On a tour through Drvengrad the great director, who arrived to Serbia with his daughter, was most impressed with Kusturica’s town prison, albeit a fictitious one, where his Serbian colleague holds George Bush and Javier Solana (former NATO Secretary General) imprisoned for years, so that “it won’t be forgotten”.

- Emir has told me that, as a student, he was highly influenced by the immediate contact with great cinematic authors, and that is what he wants this festival to make possible for young generation of film authors, – Yimou, author and director of the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, said.

- I believe it is my obligation and responsibility, as well as of all the other authors, to encourage and support the young. We have a saying in China: all that flies as a beautiful little bird is flying to your home too. Meaning, the art is meant for everyone, not only for the privileged. Purpose of this Festival is to show that film belongs to youth, to inspire them to dedicate to cinematography and to work hard, – Yimao said, commenting his impressions of Kustendorf Festival. He also mentioned the possibility of making a movie together with Kusturica.

- I have seen Kusturica’s films and recognized realism, romance and beauty in them. In a way, that quite resembles the Chinese tradition. There is a possibility of us making a movie together, and being that our two countries have exceptional relations, I could come up with an idea and tell Kusturica: Let’s do this together. That would be the fulfillment of my childhood dream, which I had while watching Walter Defends Sarajevo, – Yimao said.

Chinese master cinematographer said he “adored Walter” (played by the popular Serbian actor Velimir Bata Živojinović), and liked the story about the heroic war against fascists. He believes this film marked an epoch.

- At that time there were almost no foreign movies in China, and Yugoslav films were very popular. I remember I knew every word from that movie by heart, we knew all the songs from Yugoslav films. It is an indelible mark on my growing up, which followed me for many years, – said Yimao.

He described Kustendorf as special and unique, predicting it will become the world’s most famous film manifestation in 10-15 years.

- Film festivals are generally highly commercialized and everyone worries only about the commercial aspects. Here, it is quite the opposite. You are surrounded by beautiful nature, at an isolated spot, and everyone here is like a part of a big family. People are relaxed and enjoying themselves, it really is very different, – Yimao said.

…Speaking of Charm

Another special and especially charming guest of this year’s Kustendorf Festival was French actress, famous for her roles in Amélie, The Da Vinci Code and Coco avant Chanel, Audrey Tautou.

- Tautou has shown she is a great actress, – Kusturica said. – She is now entering the stage when a large number of movies she played in is behind her and she has established herself.

It was probably both Tautou’s acting skills, her charisma and playful personality that had drawn unexpectedly large number of people to her workshop. In addition to students and Festival guests, a number of tourists and Mećavnik residents gathered to hear the impressions and suggestions to students by the young French star.

She said she prefers to play strong characters which she considers more interesting.

- Those people are often also vulnerable and I love multi-dimensional characters which contain contrast. A story centered around such individuals usually represents a long journey, – Tautou said.

According to her, everything is bigger in Hollywood and so is the pressure.

- I like the fact that French and European films in general can travel around the world. To me, that is a window opened for a new culture and I believe that is very important for the audience around the world. I love to travel with European films, – said Tautou.

The young actress who delighted everyone with her modesty and magnetic smile, said she was very happy to be in Drvengrad.

- It is a beautiful place, sweet and charming, with lovely landscapes and very nice people, – she said, adding that the Festival represents a unique opportunity for young cinematographers.

- I like the fact that young directors have an opportunity to meet here and present their work. The simplicity and atmosphere of this Festival are quite unique, and I like its purpose and the idea behind it, – Tautou said.

As she was waving goodbye at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, Amélie star said she “loves Kustendorf”:

- I’m carrying the fondest memories from here and I can’t wait to come back, – Tautou said.

Neither can we.

Prof. Vasilije Krestić, historian and member of the Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences

Serbian historian Vasilije Krestić talks about relations between Serbs and Croats, Kosovo and Metohija province, EU, Vojvodina, Serbian Academy of Arts and Sciences (SANU), politicians… “Croatian goal is a large, ethnically clean, Roman Catholic Croatia. We have tied our ship to EU, which is taking Kosovo province away from us”, Krestić said.

“Croatia’s political goals for the last 150 years are: Croatia cleansed of Serbs, border on Drina river, and annexation of parts of Serbia’s northern province of Vojvodina. All of our politicians who are negotiating with Croats ought to be aware of these facts. This is a standard Croatian policy and it has not changed”, says Krestić.

Resetting Bad Relations Gets Bad Results

Academic Vasilije Krestić, who has been researching the history of Serbo-Croat relations for many years, points out that Serbian politicians ignore the Croatian political goals, and get uncritically involved in discussions about “improving relations”. Improved relations, Krestić claims, can only be built on the basis of reciprocity – one gets as much as he gives.

“Relations between Serbia and Croatia are at a very low level and one shouldn’t have illusions they can be changed quickly. They are very disrupted and they were being disrupted for such a long time that it is not easy, as our Premier [Ivica Dačić] said, to ‘reset’ them. Because, ‘resetting’ bad relations gives bad results”, Krestić said.

Q: Where do our politicians make mistakes?

A: Every decent person wishes for those relations to be normalized. But the misfortune of us Serbs is that those who endeavored to improve relations on our behalf did not know Croats as partners in politics. They had illusions about them, starting from themselves, from their own aspirations and beliefs, which they projected on to the other side. That is how it was before and during the creation of Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians, and that is how it has continued since, up to and including present days.

After the Biggest Ethnic Cleansing in Europe’s 200 Years, Croatia Moves Further

Q: What is the “standard Croatian politics”?

A: It is the set of policies towards us that was demonstrated during Franjo Tudjman and the 1990s. Ethnic cleansing [of Serbs from Croatia] was the result of decades-old politics, according to which Serbs are a “disruptive factor”. Genocide and ethnic cleansing [of Serbs in Croatia] are not a coincidence. Further goals involve annexation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and parts of Vojvodina, especially Srem region. Permanent goal of all Croat politicians in the last 150 years is to make Bosnia-Herzegovina an integral part of Croatian state.

Q: A recent Russian map of the trends projection of Europe in 2035 shows Bosnia and Herzegovina divided between Serbs and Croats?

A: Croat projection is the largest possible part of Bosnia-Herzegovina, but most certainly up to river Drina. Croats have solved the question of Serbs with ethnic cleansing, the scope of which has not been recorded in Europe in the past 200 years. They can now move forward. They regard Bosnia-Herzegovina as a belly which should fill Croatia up like a “croissant”, “crescent Moon” or “hollow bread”. All these are expressions their politicians are using. They believe they must create a rounded whole because, as it is, without a strategic depth, Croatia cannot survive.

Q: You also talked about their territorial pretensions to [Serbia's northern province] Vojvodina?

A: Croats are not hiding their old aspirations toward Srem [Vojvodina region], because up until 1918 Srem was part of Croatia and Slavonija. They don’t hide the fact that other parts of Vojvodina, Bačka first of all, are their goal too. Not so much because of geo-strategic issues, but because Vojvodina is a grain-rich land, and because Bunjevci and Šokci who live there [in Bačka] declare themselves as Croats. Geo-strategic goal, from the earliest times, through Franjo Tudjman and up to today is a large, ethnically clean, Roman Catholic Croatia.

These are the standard goals of Croatian politics and Serb politicians should get them cleared up while attempting to improve relations. Serb politicians need to understand this and have a way to parry them. If they don’t, all the talks about “improving relations” are absurd, because they boil down to us offering and ingratiating ourselves, crawling and apologizing.

During his visit to Serbia, Croat Premier kept using the expression “Serbian” instead of “Serb” [a subtle semantic distinction, imperceptible in other languages, but important in Serbian language: Srbijanski/Srbijanac refers solely to Serbia proper, while Srpski/Srbin has a wider meaning, denoting Serbs and Serb nationality, culture, lands, language etc. anywhere in the world, including Bosnian Serbs, Croatian Serbs et al]. By doing so, he is calling for the tearing of the Serbian state corpus. Tradition of the Croat politics is to exempt Serbs from Vojvodina: we’ll call these ones Serbians, and these are Vojvodina nationals ["Vojvodjani"], and then we can talk.

Q: Recent history has shown that Croatia has an outside support for such plans and designs. We recall Croatian hit “Danke Deutschland”…

A: It is true that, since the disintegration of Yugoslavia, Germany was an important factor in support for Croatia. But it shouldn’t be forgotten that Croatian politicians traditionally have good relations with Britons. Many influential British politicians were more inclined to support Croats than Serbs. Also, in the last civil war a number of retired US generals fought on the side of Croatia and against the Serbs.

However, Germans have no territorial pretensions, they only have big economy interests. Both Vojvodina and Slavonija fit very well in with their industry. Germans don’t have such agronomy region. Long time ago Bismark said that is the “honey and milk” region. It is one of those statements which could be interpreted as having an agenda behind.

Unexpected International Plots Could Blindside Serbia Once Again

Q: At the same time, Hungarians are openly complaining about the Treaty of Trianon, advocating its revision?

A: Hungarians are openly and constantly attempting to overturn that agreement, so the “64 Counties” movement is not created by chance [fascist, irredentist organization advocating unification of all Hungarians living outside of Hungary, overturn of the Trianon Treaty and creation of Greater Hungary; their leader is self-proclaimed fascist Laszlo Toroczkai]. Maps of Greater Hungary are being drawn, the so-called Szent István Hungary which pretends to the old Ugar territories, Banat and Bačka [Vojvodina region]. They are not hiding this. Right now, this is not growing to proportions it would get to if Serbia was even weaker.

Q: It sounds quite ominous, you are citing Croatia on Drina, Hungary in Vojvodina, Kosovo in Greater Albania…

A: At the moment those things can’t happen. But there is a question of what sort of international plots could take place, like they did at the time of disintegration of Yugoslavia. There are already various maps being publicized in media, geo-strategic plans and redrawing of borders.

Q: Do you think Balkan borders haven’t been drawn yet?

A: I’m afraid they haven’t, not definitively. I don’t think they will be redrawn soon, but in future that is quite possible.

Q: How do you see those borders?

A: I can’t draw them.

Q: As an old Vojvodina resident, where do you think the autonomy advocates could take us?

A: Because the autonomy advocates are being the way they are, Vojvodina can’t secede. But the question is who will step behind the autonomy movement. For one, the autonomy movement always suited Croats. Croatian policy is one of the components of Vojvodina politics. Until the end of the Second World War, Vojvodina autonomy movement was fostered from Zagreb. If Hungary stands behind the autonomy movement, if Germany does so, we will end up in a very precarious position, one for serous thought and fear.

Serbian Political Elite Not Up to Task

Q: Does Serbia have a way to withstand those threats?

A: It should find the ways. Nevertheless, I’m not sure our politicians are up to such serious political tasks. I’m afraid they are one sided and discordant, which was apparent yet again during discussions about Kosovo and Metohija platform and resolution. I also fear from their expertise and skills, at least the ones they are exhibiting. Politicians should surround themselves with people who do know. A politician doesn’t need to know everything, but should form a team of experienced and good interdisciplinary experts.

Q: Unfortunately, it is obvious they are kowtowing to immediate party interests…

A: That is the tragedy. Our political scene was always overly partisan and everything depends on whether and to which party one belongs. In addition, our society is not using the potentials freedom offers, our media outlets are often one-sided and run either by political parties or certain foreign tycoons. There is no public opinion which could be used to exert political pressure.

Q: Has the intellectual elite gone silent?

A: It has, and I’m willing to accuse it. There is a fear of responsibility, as well as the inheritance from an era of one-party system, when one was expected to think like the party in power… There are also intellectuals living off state funds who are avoiding public accusations and guarding their chairs. Our society is extremely impoverished, so we are in a checkmate position in regards to politicians.

Q: What is your assessment of the resolution of Kosovo-Metohija crisis?

A: As a historian, I shouldn’t speculate on what will happen. I can only fear from what could be. But keeping in mind our politics regarding Kosovo province, I believe it is a territory that is being taken away from us. The road we have taken is such that we are entirely losing jurisdiction in Kosovo and Metohija, step by step. Our politicians would have to have a far more efficient and long-term strategy. Instead, they sharply criticized their [political] opponents, but once they came to power they continued to do the same, perhaps even faster. Kosovo and Metohija cannot be defended with the kind of policies we are implementing.

Tying Our Destiny to EU Ship – A Self-Defeating Strategy

Q: But do small countries have a choice?

A: The big ones were always making decisions for the small ones. The question is to which ship will the small country tie its destiny, to sail between Scylla and Charybdis. It is up to the wisdom of politicians to find that way. If they are not successful, then they are inept and incapable of steering that ship. By tying ourselves to the EU, I’m afraid we have made ourselves dependent on those who can hardly lead us out of the crisis, but will push us into bigger and bigger problems. In any case, the powers we are tied to are taking Kosovo and Metohija away from us.

Because, what the “integrated border control” means? It is an expression used to find a way to recognize a state border [without issuing an official recognition]. We are giving in and accepting that as a state border. At the same time, formally and constitutionally, we mustn’t recognize Kosovo and Metohija as a separate state. How is it possible for our Premier to say he will give Kosovo a chair in the UN?! By the way, I don’t think it is advisable for any politician to show up in public day after day. A serious politician must think things through before saying them publicly.

Q: Kosovo issue is closely linked with the EU accession. Is EU really that appealing to Serbia?

A: The question is whether the EU is so indispensable for us to make such huge concessions, especially since it is unclear if we will get to join the EU at all.

Five SANU Members Deciding on Behalf of the Academy

Q: Should SANU be more involved in helping resolve the most important state problems?

A: President Nikolić’s speech in SANU was a terrific oration, such as has not been heard from a politician in the past 20 years. Everyone thought it was an invitation to help resolve Kosovo-Metohija issues. Then the Academy’s Executive Board, without asking anyone, without calling the Presidency, and especially not the SANU Assembly, sent a letter of support for the Platform and offered their services. This is the position of Executive Board only, which counts five members. The position of the SANU membership is unknown. In any case, those five members pushed the entire Academy into politics.

I’m very critical of the Executive Board’s behavior. For example, SANU President Nikola Hajdin says he won’t get enmeshed into politics, but then goes to attend Djindjić award ceremony – an award and ceremony of one political party. Isn’t that his political orientation then? I have nothing against Djindjić award, but SANU President should then also attend an award ceremony of a Radical or Serbian Progressive Party. We can’t play around: let’s not get into politics, except when it suits us personally.

UN New Year concert by the Viva Vox choir from Belgrade

Serbia Ushers Orthodox New Year in United Nations

Belgrade’s Viva Vox choir, performing a capella – without instruments, ushered the New 2013 Year with a concert in United Nations General Assembly in New York, on January 14, the first day of the New Year according to the Julian calendar.

An arrangement of traditional Serbian songs, mixed with world pop/rock and classical music was greeted with standing ovations. Among the best received was the famous Serbian First World War March to Drina.

The glorious March was composed by Stanislav Binički in 1914, in honor of the bravery of the Serbian Army, after winning a triumphal Battle of Cer, the first victory for the Allied forces in WWI.

Happy New Year!

Cover of Robin de Ruiter’s book, Serbian edition

Sudden suspicious death of former Yugoslav and Serbian President Slobodan Milošević in Hague Tribunal’s detention cell continues to raise questions among the researchers and independent media six years later.

Robin de Ruiter, Dutch publicist and historian raised in Spain, wrote a fascinating book (soon to be published in Serbia, but still not available in English), which doesn’t question whether former Serbia’s president was killed in The Hague, but focuses on the parties responsible for commissioning and committing this crime.

Brutal Demonization Ending in Premeditated Murder

De Ruiter uses verifiable facts to dismantle Western mainstream myth about the “butcher of Balkans”, and examines reasons behind the brutal propaganda demonization aimed at turning former Serbian president into a monster, along with the entire Serbian nation.

Using a simple method of piecing together the portrait of an actual person and historical facts behind the grotesque caricatures created in the West, the author presents strong evidence for the main reason why NATO and Washington-led Western powers wanted Milošević silenced for good.

Contrary to the common mainstream claims and the basic premises of Hague prosecution’s indictment, “Milošević’s political goal was to preserve Kosovo within Serbia’s borders and to prevent Albanian majority to drive Serbian minority out of Kosovo. There was no incitement of nationalist hatred, nor has the ethnic cleansing been carried out. On the contrary, Milošević and Socialist Party members always stressed the advantages of multiethnicity for Serbia”, Robin de Ruiter writes.

The author, who felt obligated to write this book “for the sake of truth”, cites a number of legal experts, historians and independent investigative reporters who have helped him in a thorough research while piecing together presented material.

An Aspirin a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

On March 11, 2006, at 10 AM, 65-year-old Milošević was found dead in his detention cell located in the Scheveningen section of The Hague, Netherlands, while his trial for the alleged war crimes was in full swing, with Defense presenting evidence. According to the Dutch forensics, the cause of death was cardiac arrest. In addition to the autopsy, a toxicology analysis was requested.

According to the Hague officials, Milošević’s health which started to deteriorate abruptly and progressively when the trial began, was under constant supervision of the “highly qualified medical personnel”. The author points, however, that no one mentioned the fact only a single GP and one nurse were the whole team that comprised Hague detention center’s ‘highly qualified medical personnel’.

De Ruiter also reveals that the entire ‘therapy’ Milošević has been receiving during the first year of detention consisted of a single aspirin a day, despite the fact he was known to suffer from heart problems and high blood pressure.

Milošević’s lawyer Zdenko Tomanović claimed back then his client’s health is being systematically eroded.

When President Milošević died, Russian specialist Dr. Leo Bokeria, of the famous Bakulev Institute revealed to the media:

“During the past three years we have constantly insisted, without success, that Milošević needs to be sent to a hospital to be properly diagnosed. If Milošević was allowed access to any specialist clinic, he would have been given a proper treatment and would have lived many more years.”

Early on, in May 2003, group of thirteen German doctors addressed tribunal in writing, expressing their concern for Milošević’s health and lack of proper treatment. But all suggestions by medical specialists were discarded and the adequate therapy remained unavailable. Moreover, there was no response to this and further written protests by the same group of doctors.

Unknown Medications in Milošević’s Blood

A year after a miraculous aspirin-a-day treatment for a range of cardiovascular ailments, a group of medical doctors hand-picked by the tribunal bureaucrats issued the following diagnosis: secondary damage to various organs and extremely high blood pressure which, under certain conditions, could lead to stroke, coronary or cardiac arrest and premature death.

In contradiction to this finding, Hague Chief Prosecutor Carla del Ponte seemed to have known better and claimed Milošević “feels exceptionally well”.

Medical analysis in 2005 showed the presence of “unknown” chemical substances in Milošević’s bloodstream which are nullifying effects of medications for high blood pressure. Because of this finding, Milošević requested to be treated by the Russian specialists.

Even though the Russian Government on 18 January 2006 offered guarantees Milošević will be placed at tribunal’s disposal after the treatment, Milošević’s request was denied in February. Few weeks after it was already too late – Milošević suffered announced and expected fatal heart attack.

Among others, De Ruiter cites the conclusion of Dutch magazine Targets: “The very fact that judges [Robinson, Kwon and Bonomy] refused to comply with his request for treatment at this instance is sufficient cause to bring charges against the Tribunal for premeditated murder.”

Additional suspicions were raised by the fact that Milošević family’s repeated requests for an independent autopsy outside of Netherlands were denied and ignored.

Robin de Ruiter also cites statement by Hikeline Verine Stewart (sp?) of Amnesty International, who stressed Milošević’s untimely death was a direct consequence of the contraindicated medications found in his blood. “We are certain that is the cause of death. Death by natural causes is absolutely out of the question”, she said.

Potatoes Mashed with Rifampicin

The author examines a number of speculations about the prolonged poisoning of the former president in Scheveningen detention center and concludes they are far from being unfounded.

In 2002 it turned out Milošević was being given wrong medications which were raising his already high blood pressure. De Ruiter cites Dutch newspaper NRC Hadelsblad from 23 November 2002:

“Slobodan Milošević was being given wrong medications in Scheveningen detention, which raised his blood pressure. This was the reason the trial to a former Yugoslav president had to be paused at the start of November. One of Tribunal’s commentators claimed this was not an error. He refused all further comments.”

One piece of evidence showing that Milošević was probably being poisoned during his trial was an incident from the end of August 2004, when Scheveningen staff got very alarmed after discovering another detainee received Milošević’s supper.

In September 2004, during the trial, Milošević mentioned this incident:

“For three years doctors here regard me as healthy and capable of conducting my own defense. And then something really strange took place: all of a sudden some ‘independent’ doctor showed up from Belgium, country where NATO Headquarters is situated, announcing my health isn’t good enough for me to continue my own defense. And all the doctors here are suddenly in unanimous agreement over this [...]

“Feel free to reach your own conclusions, but please keep in mind I’m using medications your doctors have prescribed. I’m not quite sure what is going on here, but I could call on the entire detention staff to testify what took place when I was given a meal prepared for a person on the opposite side of the corridor. There was a major uproar to get me the food which was prepared for me in particular, even though all the meals appear exactly the same. I didn’t make a problem out of this, I had no idea what is happening. But I do have certain hypothesis which may be justified or not, but there is clear evidence…”

At that point, Judge Robinson silenced Milošević by turning his microphone off. This alarming incident was never discussed or investigated.

Meanwhile, Milošević’s health continued to rapidly deteriorate on a daily basis. He reported suffering daily from terrible pressure behind the eyes and in the ears.

Former Canadian Ambassador James Bissett testified after visiting Serbian president in Scheveningen that Milošević suddenly went horribly red in the face and grabbed his head in his hands. Milošević said his head echoed as if he spoke into a metal pan.

In March 2006, Milošević expressed his concerns for the umpteenth time:

“During five years in prison I didn’t take a single antibiotic, I didn’t have any infections except for one flu, and still, medical report from January 12, 2006 [which he received two months later] states there are medications in my blood that are used to treat tuberculosis and leprosy – Rifampicin.”

Commenting on these test results which discovered highly toxic Rifampicin in Milošević’s blood, Verine Stewart said:

- It is an inexplicable mystery why Milošević and his lawyers were given results of his January 12 medical tests the entire two months later, on March 7.

Another question that has also remained unanswered is why was Milošević’s death discovered so late, in this most secure, technologically advanced detention unit with cameras in every cell and round-the-clock half-an-hour checkups.

At the ensuing press conference Carla del Ponte claimed there were no controls every half an hour during the night when Milošević died. Furthermore, for some reason all the video cameras were turned off that night.

When asked why would that be, Del Ponte simply replied she’s “not responsible for things that happen in prison”.

German Ambassador: Milošević’s Indictment Not Worth the Paper it was Written On

In the meantime, according to De Ruiter, a number of official statements by the world-class international law and war crime experts surfaced, stressing that Milošević’s trial, at first advertised as the ‘trial of the century’ has turned into a secret trial.

According to the former German Ambassador Ralph Hartmann, “already in his opening speech, Milošević revealed sensational facts and water-tight evidence of the active role United States, Germany and other NATO countries played in dismemberment and wars in former Yugoslavia. One may ignore the truth, but one cannot defeat it”.

As the trial progressed it became evident the Hague indictment was hardly worth the paper it was written on.

…Better if He Dies in the Docket

Many legal experts worldwide quickly caught on the Hague charade, publicly pointing out Hague’s prosecution clearly has no real evidence against Milošević and that the indictment against him is unceremoniously falling apart.

A number of commentators, some of whom De Ruiter cites, actually stressed the only way The Hague can get out of its predicament is if Milošević dies.

- It would be better if Milošević dies while he is still in the docket, – James Gaw, war crimes expert and Hague tribunal advisor said.

- Because, if the process is carried through to the end, the only thing he can possibly be convicted of is a minor violation of law, – said Gaw.

The author concludes that tribunal can undoubtedly be charged for the manslaughter, and possibly even for the premeditated murder for which, as some media reports claimed, the charges will be brought.

There is no doubt that the Hague Tribunal and Washington bear full responsibility for Milošević’s death, de Ruiter writes.

The Boomerang Effect

On August 25, 2005 Hague Prosecutor Geoffrey Nice announced Milošević is no longer being accused of an attempt to create the mythological ‘Greater Serbia’.

Removal of such a major building block of an indictment against Serbian president has radically shaken the entire construction. Indeed, the whole foundation on which all parts of the Hague indictment against Slobodan Milošević rested and which tied them all together was the premise that everything Milošević allegedly did had a single underlying motive – to create ‘Greater Serbia’.

Painfully, Tribunal realized its chances of reaching a nominally credible conviction were getting progressively slimmer.

Dutch lawyer N.M.P. Steijnen said:

“The chaos was getting more and more obvious. Accusations started to turn against the prosecutors, like a boomerang.

“Tribunal feared Milošević and his witnesses will reveal the role West played in dismemberment of Yugoslavia, how the West was systematically spreading lies about the alleged Serb drive for ‘Greater Serbia’, and the crimes committed by NATO in the war of aggression against Yugoslavia and Serbia – and, thus, that Milošević and his witnesses will conclusively demonstrate who it is that must be brought before the judges.

“Milošević presented over and over again, and with the help of witnesses from the Western countries, powerful evidence that Kosovo was not facing a ‘humanitarian catastrophe’ on the eve of NATO bombardment of Yugoslavia in 1999.

“It was not Milošević who was losing the trial, but the Tribunal.”

In one article Mr. Steijnen wrote:

“During years-long trial, in 466 sessions, prosecutors brought hundreds of witnesses against Milošević, they heaped over five thousand documents on him, and they proved nothing.

“This lack of actual evidence, this friendly haggling of prosecution with suspects who refused to testify against Milošević to get shorter sentences in return, all that was only damaging Tribunal’s case.

“Tribunal Worshipers in the role of reporters were carefully protecting public from knowing that Milošević, with his witnesses, struck fatal blows to the remnants of the indictment.”

Considerable Motives for Coldblooded Murder

De Ruiter notes the Hague was already in serious trouble, but things got much worse when it was finally Milošević’s turn to start his defense.

Witnesses who testified in Milošević’s defense were, without exception, eminent, authoritative and credible, and they were creating major headaches for the Tribunal, especially when one keeps in mind the fact most of the prosecution witness’ testimonies were debunked and exposed as falsehoods, sometimes to the point of becoming ludicrous and idiotic.

Situation became extremely tense when, at the end of February 2006, Milošević announced he will call Wesley Clark and Bill Clinton to the stand. He aimed to prove beyond any doubt that United States led an illegal war against Yugoslavia, and consciously and purposely bombed civilian targets – thus presenting the actual crime against humanity.

According to De Ruiter, Milošević’s intention wasn’t only unacceptable for NATO, but also for the tribunal, which would have been completely destroyed if such evidence was presented.

James Bissett, Canadian Ambassador for former Yugoslavia from 1990-1992, said:

“I have always been skeptical towards Tribunal, because I am convinced it is an instrument used by United States and its allies to mask their own blunders in the Balkan tragedy. Tribunal serves to present Milošević and Serbian nation as the party responsible for all the ills which befell that unfortunate country.”

Russian General Leonid Ivashov said:

“Slobodan Milošević was the only one who could give crystal clear testimony about the role United States played in the bloody dismemberment of Yugoslavia during the nineties, and who could do so completely and down to tiniest details. That is precisely what he fought for while he was being tried.”

According to General Ivashov, if Milošević was declared innocent, such ruling would have far-reaching consequences both for the Tribunal and NATO. General Ivashov believes that is why Milošević was killed.

- It is a political assassination by a proxy, – Ivashov said.

“Slobodan Milošević died in his detention cell precisely at the time his defense was in full swing. He was worried over his health, but he burned with a desire to expose the truth about what really took place in the Balkans. He had no motive for suicide. On the other hand, Hague Tribunal had an obvious and considerable motive for murder.

“NATO, Tribunal’s initiator and financier, was losing control over Milošević case. Was Milošević silenced before he could exercise his right to speak up?”, Ruiter asks.