KK-Forum,
"
Aleksa Djilas, a Belgrade historian, told The New York Times: "We sold him
for money and we won't really get very much money for it. The US is the
natural leader of the world, but how [does it] lead? This just feeds the
worst American instincts, reinforcing this bullying mentality."
"
Bildt sa nettopp på P2 at det aldri hadde hendt før at et land hadde
utlevert en statsleder. Og iallefall USA vil aldri utlevere noen, se annet
innlegg.
Knut Rognes
*************
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/europe/story.jsp?story=81021
How America forced Yugoslavia to trade in its most lucrative asset
By Andrew Buncombe and Vesna Peric Zimonjic
30 June 2001 Internal links Serb backlash at Milosevic extradition
Tribunal's prized catch settles into a new home Angry supporters take to
streets over 'persecution' Hague now sets its sights on Karadzic and Mladic
Mirjana struggles to accept the end Profile: Carla Del Ponte -the avenging
angel Fergal Keane: Two arrests, one message to human rights abusers
Leading article: It is not only Mr Milosevic who must confront the truth
about Serbia's crimes
Justice, honesty, the rule of law and order and, of course, lots of money.
The decision to hand over Slobodan Milosevic to be tried for war crimes had
more to do with the prospect of massive aid payments than it did with an
overwhelming desire among his countrymen to deal with the former dictator.
That much became clear yesterday at a donors' conference in Brussels where
44 nations donated a total of $1.28bn (£0.9bn) to help to rebuild
Yugoslavia after 13 years of Mr Milosevic's rule.
"We did it. Now it's your turn," Yugoslavia's Deputy Prime Minister,
Miroljub Labus, told the conference in a clear reference to the handover of
Mr Milosevic. "We promised a clear cut-off from the past. We are on that way."
The European Commission pledged $445m (£315m) in addition to pledges from
member states and the United States' $182m (£129m). The World Bank promised
$150 (£106m) and Switzerland $22m (£16m).
At a meeting in Washington last month, the US Secretary of State, Colin
Powell, told the Yugoslav President, Vojislav Kostunica, that America would
boycott yesterday's conference if Mr Milosevic was not handed over. Mr
Powell spoke twice in the past week with the Serbian Prime Minister, Zoran
Djindjic, reiterating that message, and Mr Djindjic spoke with William
Montgomery, the US ambassador, on Tuesday.
The final decision to hand over Mr Milosevic to the international body was
not, however, made until late on Wednesday evening at a meeting of the DOS
– the government alliance. The only group to abstain was the Democratic
Party of Serbia, led by Mr Kostunica, who was opposed to the handover. Just
hours after the meeting, Mr Powell announced that America would attend the
donors' meeting.
Serbia had little option but to do whatever was needed to ensure the
promise of aid. After 13 years of Mr Milosevic's economic mismanagement,
Nato sanctions and the 78-day bombing campaign of 1999, the country
currently suffers from an inflation rate of 150 per cent. Unemployment
stands at about 50 per cent, while foreign debt is estimated to be $12bn
(£8.5bn). That Serbia was "economically blackmailed" was not lost on
observers.
Aleksa Djilas, a Belgrade historian, told The New York Times: "We sold him
for money and we won't really get very much money for it. The US is the
natural leader of the world, but how [does it] lead? This just feeds the
worst American instincts, reinforcing this bullying mentality."
Johannes Linn, the World Bank president, said the organisation would give
priority to helping Yugoslavia balance its budget, rebuild energy networks
and clear the Danube of wreckage left over by the Nato bombing, as well as
focusing on reconstruction and social programmes.
**************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 03-08-01 MET DST