Questions and Answers from AIM

Source: http://www.aim.ac.yu/qa/qa.asp#2
Accessed 27 April 1999

Faced with NATO aggression against our country, we members of Yugoslav academic community, have decided to start up an Internet-based information service.

The basic AIM of our service is to help to honest and patriotic people all over the world to better understand the events that affect our country.

Do you believe all NATO countries control their media? (Jeff Smith)

Most people around the world probably think that war and media are separate. In the conditions of war the objective of media is to tell us about it as objectively as they can under the often-difficult circumstances. In the information society communication is a weapon. There are important interests that determine what is told and what isn't told. Conspicuously lacking from Western media coverage is the suffering of Serbs, Gorans, Turks, Montenegrins and Gypsies, the roughly 15% of Kosovo citizens who are not Albanians. In the war against Yugoslavia the media is playing a role which is just as lethal as the bombs being dropped by the warplanes. Their emotive stories are contributing to the stream of refugees as well as justify the bombing campaign on Yugoslavia. The media is systematically demonizing "the enemy" even though NATO has not declared war. The biggest misinformation is that the Serbs are undertaking "ethnic cleansing" whereas the conflict was and is a struggle against the attempted-armed take over of the Yugoslav province of Kosovo by the terrorist and drug running KLA. There was no mass exodus from Kosovo until the NATO bombing commenced. It is the bombing that is the main factor creating the stream of refugees of Serbs and ethnic Albanians alike.

NATO countries' media is dominated by big business interests and they follow the same pattern of reporting about Kosovo crisis. General Electric, one of the US largest military contractors that supplies engines for NATO jet fighters, owns NBC and co-owns MS/NBC.

More information on this subject you can find at Christiane Amanpour and the State Department`s James Rubin cover the same "breaking news" story

What are the sources reporting on genocide over Kosovo Albanians?

Media public in the world has been daily treated with stories of Serbian "genocide" being perpetrated against the Kosovo Albanians. The most celebrated evidence of "genocide" by the Serbs, shown in Western media in January 1999, was the discovery of 45 Albanian corpses at Racak. The American press announced this discovery as proof that the Kosovo Albanians were being systematically exterminated. Yet subsequent forensic analysis of the site revealed that these were not bodies of Albanian civilians as had been reported, but instead were the remains of KLA terrorists.

During the first days of NATO air strikes the report circulated that the Yugoslav forces had murdered a large number of Albanian leaders in Kosovo. Some of these "murder victims" showed up a few days later to state that they had heard about their own deaths on the radio.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM) has issued a report describing alleged Serbian atrocities in Kosovo as "beyond belief". A KVM spokesman acknowledged that the allegations could not be independently verified, but said the weight of evidence gave the allegations a "high credibility factor". The sources of information concerning alleged Serb atrocities come from NATO countries' organizations or journalists, which largely undermines their credibility. A careful examination of the facts reveals what actually provoked the refugee crisis: if NATO had not launched air strikes, this sort of exodus would be hardly taking place.

How were humanitarian crises in ex Yugoslavia treated by NATO member countries?

According to UNHCR during the dissolution of ex Yugoslavia there were 650.000 mostly Serb refugees who have fled from Croatia and Bosnia. In August of 1995 300.000 Serbs were "ethnically cleansed" from Krajina (Croatia). This large refugee crisis went largely unnoticed by NATO member countries as well as their humanitarian workers. The question of Serb refugees returning to their homes was never put into serious consideration. Presently, when the local Kosovo conflict became a crisis, innocent people are again suffering throughout Yugoslavia. Western humanitarian agencies greet the Albanian refugees as they make their way out of Kosovo. Those refugees need humanitarian aid and they are getting all attention NATO countries can offer. But the question of discrepancy in NATO countries humanitarian treatment towards different ethnic groups stays open.

Are we witnessing new tactics in media war?

Recently NATO issued the warning that unless Serb television stations allow Western broadcast during two to three hour periods every day, they would be bombed. This warning was illustrated with the comment that Serb TV stations are used as propaganda. NATO request to Radio Television of Serbia suggested that Yugoslav public is being deprived of an impartial information from the independent Western media. By this suggestion NATO omitted that Western media are already largely accessible to Yugoslav viewers due to the simple fact that their households are equipped with satellite dishes. By extending the bombing campaign to the transmitters and the building of Radio Television of Serbia (as well as the Usce building that was housing Kosava radio, TV Pink and BKTV transmitters) NATO put their warning into action. By doing so, instead of disrupting the work of RTS, NATO attack on television building resulted in serious civilian casualties.

It was on RTS that American public first saw the bombed refugee convoy and the destruction of civilian apartment houses, schools and monasteries. After the bombing of RTS building, the question of depriving the American public of the information from the crisis area imposes.

Is there any pattern in NATO member countries towards the crisis in ex Yugoslavia?

What is actually being done by international community in regard to Kosovo resembles very much what was done in the first stages of the wars of Slovenian and Croatian secession. At first, the United States took the position that it opposed the breakup of the existing nation of Yugoslavia, but rapidly added the provision that it would oppose any use of force by that nation's armed forces to prevent the breakup. These contradictory signals both gave the green light to Belgrade to reject secession and encouraged the secessionists to go ahead with their plans. The US-led international community is officially opposed to independence for Kosovo, but is also opposed to use of force by Yugoslav forces to disarm increasingly violent secessionists. While ostensibly accepting the sovereignty of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, this ambiguous position has encouraged secessionists to provoke armed encounters, which are promptly and vehemently blamed on the Serbs.

Is there any pattern in NATO member countries towards the crisis in ex Yugoslavia?

KLA: "freedom fighters" or drug related terrorist organization?

In Western media KLA is upheld as a self-respecting nationalist movement struggling for the rights of ethnic Albanians. Following a pattern set during the War in Bosnia, public opinion has been carefully misled. The multibillion-dollar Balkan narcotics trade has played a crucial role in "financing the conflict" in Kosovo. Amply documented by European police files, acknowledged by numerous studies, the links of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army to criminal syndicates in Albania, Turkey and the European Union have been known to western governments and intelligence agencies since the mid 1990s. America's special envoy to Bosnia, Robert Gelbard, had described the KLA last year as "terrorists". Christopher Hill, US chief negotiator at Rambouillet has also been a strong critic of the KLA for its alleged dealings in drugs. The proceeds of the narcotics trade have enabled the KLA to rapidly develop a force of some 30.000 men. According to the US Observer mission reports the role of the KLA in terrorizing and uprooting ethnic Albanians was immense: "...KLA representatives had threatened to kill villagers and burn their homes if they did not join the KLA." This process has continued since the NATO bombings started. The financing of the Kosovo guerilla war poses the critical question should NATO back a terrorist organization that appears to be financed by organized crime. While backing a "freedom movement" NATO seems also intent in bypassing the civilian Kosovo Democratic League and its moderate leader Ibrahim Rugova who has called for an end to the bombings and expressed his desire to negotiate a peaceful settlement with the Yugoslav authorities.

What is the difference between the military and the civilian target?

During NATO press conferences and briefings spokesman shows photos and videos of targets that have been bombed saying that some target is a tank or ammunition storage. The distinction between the military and civilian targets is repeatedly made, but the question can the two be distinguished remains unanswered. It is certain that oil depots, airfields, bridges or telecommunication facilities are objects that the military needs. However, civilians need them too. The undermining of a military force at the same time leads to unavoidable destruction of infrastructure that is needed by entire society. The tower that was hit on 21 of April is claimed to be the headquarters of Milosevic's Party. However, private-owned companies without any connection with Milosevic and his Party use two-third of this building. Following this logic every residential building that is inhabited by an officer of Yugoslav Army becomes a military target.

If you believe in diplomacy, why failed Rambouillet? (Christoph Bathelt)

In Rambouillet Yugoslavia insisted on Kosovo being an integral part of its territory and the Albanians insisted that it is their independent state. US ambassador Christopher Hill offered a compromise that is "self-government", but it was clear that, according to Rambouillet Plan, the Albanian side was to achieve their independence from Yugoslavia. Presumably, 15-20% of the people in Kosovo are not Albanians. The Kosovo Serbs have not been given an opportunity to voice their independent opinion. The US then issued ultimatums and put NATO's prestige at stake: "Come to Rambouillet, sign our document, or face air-strikes." The scenario that include air strikes was exactly what terrorist organization KLA wanted to see happen, because KLA does not have the kind of installations (depots, airfields, ammunition factories, air-defense systems, etc) so it can't be bombed. The threat targets the Serb side only.

The Contact Group and NATO then agreed that any agreement in Rambouillet would require around 30.000 NATO ground troops on the territory of the sovereign state of Yugoslavia which all the Group's member states recognized as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, FRY, with Kosovo inside it ? just a few years ago. The message to Belgrade from the Contact Group and NATO was: "If you sign, you'll get NATO ground troops. If you don't sign you'll get air strikes and NATO ground troops!" One could hardly expect that this sort of an ultimatum could lead to trust, cooperation and compliance.

No legal, sovereign government anywhere with secessionist movements on its territory would accept to be bombed for adhering to its status as recognized state ? least of all the West. The issue is not whether nasty wars and conflicts must be stopped. The issue is how it can be done.

Where would the money US government requested go?

The military request includes: $3.3 billion to cover the costs of deploying US forces to the Balkans (including more than 600 aircraft and 25 warships), $700 million to replenish supplies of bombs, missiles and other munitions and $850 million in a reserve fund for military readiness and emergency munitions.

The humanitarian request includes: $721 million for the refugee crisis ($335 million through Pentagon and $386 million through State Department)

The US government also requested $150 million in new aid to help Albania, Macedonia and other line states deal with Kosovo crisis.

If the amount of military and humanitarian requests are compared it is more than evident that the continuing of military operations highly outnumbers US government's humanitarian concern.

What is the reason of NATO bombing if not to save the Albanians?

The concern for the ethnic Albanians was not the primary reason for crisis development in Kosovo, nor was it the desire to punish a rogue nation or the pursuit of resources. Just as killings by the junta in Haiti did not concern US policymakers until large numbers of refugees started fleeing to the United States, so too the conflict in Kosovo did not concern US policymakers as long as it didn't threaten their interests. There was a growing danger that the Kosovo conflict would spread and affect important relations and assets in surrounding Europe as well as the strong sentiment that US are obligated to intervene. The legitimacy of US as an enforcer had become ever more threatened as well. At that point, one can imagine the UN Security Council unanimously agreeing on the need to respond both to contain the local conflict and to fulfill their role to control what are for them untoward world events. Consequently, they consider their options and decide that the only tactic for interceding that they have which is consonant with the US' broader aims and orientation is bombing. Diplomacy, UN involvement and international law are ignored as means of intervention while bombing is clutched as a favored option to be employed.

Isn't it better to bomb than to do nothing?

Most world problems, including most humanitarian crises, don't call for military solutions, but non-pacifists believe that there are some situations where the force is the only option. NATO did not have the military operation as the only solution to the problem in Kosovo, but also diplomatic and other interventionary options that could have been pursued (such as a UN peacekeeping force). Those options were ruled out as contrary to its geopolitical interests despite their potential to end the violence without violent means. The primary NATO goal became maintaining its credibility. There is predisposition in Washington to favor military solutions. A diplomatic approach would have strengthened the UN and international law, both of which would interfere with US freedom of action.

What are the sources of the information NATO disseminates?

Some Western leaders, including NATO's spokesman, repeatedly refer to "information on the ground" gathered from KLA sources, as well as the number of refugees in Kosovo that has been told by KLA's Jakub Krasniqi. At the same time, Western media rarely publish complete information coming from Yugoslav government (for instance the very detailed list of civilian destruction) assuming it is non-reliable or serving particular political purposes. The possibility that the same applies to KLA-based information and NATO's public relation is rarely considered. Approximately 90% of all information come from NATO sources. Pictures from Aviano base and interviews with pilots are more frequent than coverage of civil destruction. Unfortunately, journalists make extensive use of non-confirmed news and even though we are told that this is not confirmed, audiences are manipulated to think "there is no smoke without a fire" and they may notice if, much later, the "story" or "the report" are proved to have been false. The experts that interpret the events for the public are predominantly military expertise, statesmen, ministers and diplomats from NATO countries. There are fewer political experts, Balkan experts, and virtually no psychologists, peace and conflict researchers, professional mediators and rarely independent intellectuals.

What is the economic cost of NATO campaign on Yugoslavia?

American investment bank, Lehman Brothers, calculates that one-month bombing costs to 3 US bn $. Financial Times quotes sources that estimate 20 bn US $ to be closer to reality. That is the sheer military cost. The price of the destruction in human and material terms, later reconstruction of the region, care for refugees, compensating neighboring states is to be added to the military costs.

What did the ethnic Albanians do to Serbs during their fight to have their own country? (Sharon Griffin)

The Albanian Kosovars fought Serb control by "electing" their own leaders, refusing to cooperate with the Serb authorities and to educate their children in public schools that are completely sponsored by state. In 1996 an obscure organization appeared on the scene, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA, or UCK in Albanian) committed to armed struggle. They undertook attacks on police stations and Serb civilians, including Serb refugees from the Yugoslav wars whom KLA viewed as colonizers intended to shift the demographic balance. Human rights groups have accused them of serious human rights violations, including compelling Serb villagers to leave their homes. Although KLA claims not to target civilians, from January 1st 1998 to August 30 1998 there were 1126 KLA attacks, among them police targets in 616 cases and civilian targets in 510 cases. In those fights 30 Serb and Montenegrin civilians were killed, 47 Albanians unloyal to KLA, 3 Gypsies, 1 unidentified person and 95 civilians wounded. During this period 208 civilians were kidnapped (157 Serbs and Montenegrins, 42 Albanians unloyal to KLA, 6 Gypsies, 1 Macedonian). Out of these 29 were women and 9 were children, 39 were released, 7 escaped, 16 were murdered and the fate of 146 civilians still remains unknown, as well as the fate of 10 kidnapped policemen. In these numbers are not included 22 kidnapped Serbian civilians found murdered and buried in a mass grave near the village of Klecka. Besides civilian casualties, there were many representatives of police and army forces that were killed in KLA attacks.

How it can be expected that people will be able to return to their homes without peacekeepers? (Sharon Griffin)

The necessity of safe returning refugees to their homes becomes more significant every day. The most talked-about solution to this crucial problem is sending a sort of peacekeeping force in the area. However, it is very difficult to expect that the presence of troops that provoked refugee crisis in the first place (by launching the bombing campaign) could motivate displaced people to come back. The credibility of involving the NATO troops in the safe return of refugees completely disappeared the moment NATO planes attacked refugee convoys.

Do people in Yugoslavia have more than one source of information?

Besides regular TV and radio programs of state-owned stations, Yugoslav audience has the opportunity to use the services of numerous private broadcasters that are active all around Yugoslavia. In addition, this country has a considerable number of Internet users, especially in urban areas. In the last several years satellite channels have become one of the main information sources. In almost every village in Yugoslavia one can find at least a few houses equipped with satellite dishes. That is the reason that CNN, BBC, SKY and other important world broadcasters are accessible to a large number of Yugoslavs. English speaking population is rapidly growing in Yugoslavia, even if we exclude young and educated people which are almost all fluent in that language.

Why don't Yugoslavs understand truth that stares in their face? (Rodney McBride)

Human beings can be easily subjected to propaganda. Intellectuals, being human as well, can also be fooled by propaganda techniques. The difference is in intellectuals being more than capable of reconsidering their opinion when presented the necessary facts. The truth that should be staring in Yugoslav people's face is presented in western media as endless flows of refugees, crying and freezing to death. This way of reporting about refugee crisis is quite unacceptable from a free press point of view, but it is, however, quite convenient from NATO governments' point of view.

Pictures: there are few pictures showing huge mass of refugees. Typically, on most of the pictures you can find between 2 and 15 kids, women or men. There are pictures with huge mass of people, but they are usually unclear. Examples of such photo can be found on http://www.aim.ac.yu/ld/ld.asp under "Different views of refugees" link. On the contrary, text illustrated by these pictures, talks about hundreds of thousands of refugees. Also, there is a lot of horrifying stories from refugees. But, all of them know that chance for good treatment is much higher if they had some terrifying experiences.

World media desperately need stories full of blood and raping, so do NATO. Yugoslav TV is state-owned and it is highly unlikely that it could be completely impartial, but the impartiality of US, British and the rest of western media is equally questionable because they are doing the same job for their governments.

How it happened that NATO bombed the convoys of refugees instead of military convoy?

During three weeks of bombing campaign on Yugoslavia almost all targets NATO claimed to be damaged were fixed (army barracks, headquarters, airports, refineries, bridges, etc.). Before the refugees convoys were hit, only on one occasion NATO claimed the attack on mobile objects (convoy of 8 to 12 vehicles) that was estimated a "major break-through". As the most important NATO aim is to diminish the military strength of FRY, after three weeks, tracing and damaging the mobile targets have become desperately needed. It is probable that pilots' orders are adjusted to those needs. Unfortunately, the next convoy that NATO planes traced (after the "major break-through") was the convoy of refugees. It is highly likely that the pilot acted according to general orders, not realizing that the noticed convoy consisted of helpless refugees.

What is the Yugoslav citizens' opinion on joining the Slav union?

Before the bombing campaign on Yugoslavia started only a small percentage of public opinion was in favor of such an idea. When the bombardment started, most of the Yugoslavs came to like the idea of joining the Slav brothers as the only solution to keep the Yugoslav nation protected. That is the reason the idea of Slav union has a huge support, and as long as NATO attacks on Yugoslavia continue, the public opinion on this matter is hardly going to change.

I haven?t heard any country denying that the Serb army committed huge crimes in Kosovo? (Armelle Godener )

Governments supporting NATO campaign consider humanitarian catastrophe as the main reason for action, although it happened only after the bombing started. On the other hand, states that are opposing NATO, although their opinion is rarely mentioned in world media, consider humanitarian crisis in Kosovo only as a consequence of NATO bombing campaign. During last several years huge crimes have happened in Kosovo. In the period from January 1st 1998 to August 30 1998 as a result of intensified KLA terrorist activities 74 policemen were killed and 282 were wounded. Unfortunately, a considerable number of Albanian civilians were casualties during these clashes. Terrorists used Albanian households and villages as fortress-like barricades for their actions (all Albanian houses in Kosovo are encircled with high stone or concrete walls, which can be seen in Pristina and especially in villages). When NATO bombardment started it was much more difficult for Yugoslav army forces to prevent collateral damage under constant NATO air raids.

There is a number of pictures showing refugees leaving Kosovo to Macedonia and Albania. Unfortunately, the main source of information concerning their number is NATO, which is not impartial and tries to justify its actions through these numbers. If we compare these pictures with pictures of 250.000 Serbian refugees leaving Krajina (Croatia) in 1995, it is obvious that NATO figures are highly exaggerated. It is interesting to mention that even when the flow of refugees to Macedonia and Albania stopped, Yugoslav army forces were still to blame for the lack of refugees.

For me, it appears that NATO is ready to start discussions. What about Yugoslavia? (Armelle Godener)

Up to now, the only way NATO agreed to stop bombing is the unconditional acceptance of all demands that were made before the bombing campaign started. On the other hand, it is highly unlikely that Yugoslavs will accept those conditions, especially now when the whole nation is united in defense. Yugoslav government offered negotiations on numerous occasions and it even proclaimed one-sided cease-fire. Now when the anti-terrorist operations are over, it is probable that Yugoslav army could withdraw good part of its forces from Kosovo. Negotiations that started between moderate Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova and President of FRY were rejected by NATO governments with explanation that Ibrahim Rugova would never willingly ask for the end of bombardment.

Why AIM doesn?t have some links to Albanian history pages? (Joshua R. Keough)

Unfortunately, most of the major news sites usually have only a few official Yugoslav links and a lot of Albanian links backing Albanian secession from Yugoslavia. Because it is so easy to find Albanian point of view on this matter on major news sites, we are trying to compensate this inequality. However, we will put links to any pro Albanian site that has the content appropriate for academic community.

Why don?t Serbian civilians stay away from military sites to save their lives? (Joshua R. Keough)

Most of military buildings attacked by NATO forces are placed highly populated urban areas (police and army headquarters, etc.). All bridges that were destroyed until now are also in the middle of cities. Civil human casualties mostly occurred after NATO missed what they said were military targets. It is strange that NATO did not attack any bridge far away from cities. The only similar attack was in Grdelica canyon, which seems more like an attack on passenger train.

Washington Post: Questions and Answers

Who is fighting in Kosovo?

WP: Yugoslav government forces ? army and special police ? are fighting against ethnic Albanian rebels who want to create a new, independent country in Kosovo. The rebels, called the Kosovo Liberation Army, are supported by many of Kosovo`s 2 million people, 90 percent of whom are ethnic Albanians. The Yugoslav government forces are mostly ethnic Serbs. They don?t want Kosovo to become independent because it is the site of history and religious monuments that many Serbs hold dear.

AIM: Yugoslav government forces ? army and special police ? are fighting against ethnic Albanian rebels who want to create a new, independent country in Kosovo. The rebels, called the Kosovo Liberation Army, are supported by many of Kosovo`s 2 million people, 90 percent of whom are ethnic Albanians. The Yugoslav government forces are mostly ethnic Serbs. They don?t want Kosovo to become independent because it is the site of history and religious monuments that many Serbs hold dear, and as in any independent country, they don?t want just to give up 1/5 of their territory.

Why did the US and NATO attack?

WP: They want Serbs and Kosovo Albanians to accept a peace deal that was negotiated in France last month. The Kosovo rebels have signed the agreement. But the Yugoslav government ? led by President Slobodan Milosevic, a hard-line Serb nationalist ? has refused to go along, objecting to foreign peacekeepers who would be sent into Kosovo under the accord. NATO told Milosevic that if he didn?t accept the peace deal, his forces would be bombed.

AIM: They want Serbs and Kosovo Albanians to accept a peace deal that was put on the table by USA in ?take it or leave it? manner in France last month. The Kosovo rebels have signed the agreement, but they also signed a letter in which they insist on the independence of Kosovo. But the Yugoslav government ? led by President Slobodan Milosevic, a hard-line Serb nationalist ? has refused to go along, objecting to NATO peacekeepers who would be sent into Kosovo under the accord. NATO told Milosevic that if he didn?t accept the peace deal, his forces would be bombed.

Why do the US and NATO care about Kosovo?

WP: The United States has long been concerned that violence in Yugoslavia would spill across borders, possibly leading to war between two NATO allies, Greece and Turkey. World War I had roots in Balkan violence; World War II was inflamed by ethnic slaughter there. In recent months, the United States and its European allies have said forcefully that they want Serbian atrocities against Kosovo`s civilian population to stop.

AIM: The United States has long been concerned that violence in Yugoslavia would spill across borders, possibly leading to war between two NATO allies, Greece and Turkey. World War I had roots in Balkan violence; World War II was inflamed by ethnic slaughter there. In recent months, the United States and its European allies have said forcefully that they want Serbian atrocities against Kosovo`s civilian population to stop. Unfortunately, recent NATO action provoked a lot of atrocities all over Yugoslavia. It is not clear if it is a mistake made by NATO analysts or NATO?s concealed aim.

How is the Kosovo conflict related to Bosnia?

WP: Bosnia was part of Yugoslavia until 1992 when it declared independence. But ethnic Serbs in Bosnia wanted to remain part of Yugoslavia. The Milosevic government in Belgrade encouraged the ethnic Serbs in Bosnia to fight Muslims and Croats. The war claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, many the result of ?ethnic cleansing? carried out by ethnic Serbian paramilitary forces loyal to Milosevic. US officials say they do not want what happened in Bosnia to occur again in Kosovo. Meanwhile, about 20.000 NATO troops are keeping the peace in Bosnia under the 1995 Dayton accords. Some fear those NATO troops could be dragged into the Kosovo conflict.

AIM: Bosnia was part of Yugoslavia until 1992 when it declared independence. But ethnic Serbs in Bosnia wanted to remain part of Yugoslavia. The Milosevic government in Belgrade encouraged the ethnic Serbs in Bosnia to fight Muslims and Croats and US encouraged Muslims and Croats to fight Serbs. The war claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, many the result of ?ethnic cleansing? carried out by ethnic Serbian paramilitary forces loyal to Milosevic and by Croats and Muslims loyal to US. US officials say they do not want what happened in Bosnia to occur again in Kosovo. Meanwhile, about 20.000 United Nations troops are keeping the peace in Bosnia under the 1995 Dayton accords. Some fear that NATO part of UN troops could be dragged into the Kosovo conflict.

Do England, France and Germany have any interest in destroying Yugoslav property or gaining Yugoslav territory? (Peter Kanzow))

For some time now the old colonial powers (Great Britain, France, Spain, etc) do not directly govern their colonies in Africa and Asia, but they still have an immense influence on newly founded independent countries. In the similar way Yugoslavia represents the only crack in the chain of NATO members between the ex USSR countries and the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, main European communication lines run through Yugoslavia for purely geographic reasons.

Peacekeeping forces that are placed in Bosnia have the mandate and the flag of United Nations, although they mainly consist of soldiers from NATO countries. Besides such experience, NATO insisted on occupying Kosovo in order to keep peace. It seems rather obvious that Yugoslav territory is extremely significant for accomplishing the NATO strategic unity.

How the customs of Albanians and Serbs living in Kosovo differ?

The most of Albanians in Kosovo are Moslems, although there is a certain number of Catholics. On the other hand, practically all Serbs are Christian Orthodox. There is, however, much bigger similarity between Christian Catholics and Moslems which both are Albanians, than the Orthodox Christians and Catholic Christians that are of different nationalities. The considerable part of Albanian everyday life is regulated according to ?kanun? ? an ancient law that was, according to history, imposed by Albanian leader Leka Dukadjini in XV century. The rules proclamated by kanun seem quite unusual from the viewpoint of contemporary civilization. There are some of the most striking differences: a) Women do not have the right to inherit the land. If the land proprietor dies without leaving any sons, his land is inherited by his neighbors, not his daughters. b) As a punishment for committing adultery, wounding or murder, this law predicts the blood feud or the compensation in money, depending on the level of the crime. The wounding or murder of a man is more severely judged than the crimes committed towards women. c) In the case their father dies, children are not to go with their mother, but they are to stay in the father?s family. This law was entirely respected until 1912 when Serbia liberated Kosovo from the Turks. From that time till today Serbian authorities made many efforts to enforce the laws that are similar to civilized European laws. However, the blood feud stays alive among Albanians, even during Tito`s reign. Albanian refusal to live in political and legislative life of Serbia in the nineties only reduced already insufficient application of European laws.

Are Albanian refugees fleeing Kosovo lying when they talk about Serb atrocities? (Teri Campbell)

Albanians that are leaving Kosovo undoubtedly flee from the danger. They cross the border where they feel safe, and on the other side there are people who are the enemies of the Serbs. Every one of them can be let in or turned back, depending on the decision of customs official on the spot. They know that their chances to be let in are considerably bigger if they describe the sufferings they have been through. In addition to that, the most of them communicate with foreign journalists with the help of interpreters hired by NATO, local Albanians or journalists themselves. The use of English language among Albanian population is very rare, all the more so the most of them don?t speak the language of the state they live in ? Serbian. The Albanians that speak English in front of TV cameras show extremely inappropriate knowledge of that language for an average inhabitant of Kosovo, but quite appropriate for an average TV viewer.

It is highly likely that there was collateral damage during the bombing campaign, because the army and police forces couldn?t completely handle civilian casualties under the constant danger from NATO attacks. In addition, in destroyed and deserted cities like Priština, it is very hard for the police to prevent the people, who feel that they were attacked with no reason, to vent their pain on innocent neighbors.

Why Yugoslavs don?t realize that NATO has given Saddam serious beating and is even more capable of giving the same treatment to Milosevic? (Jeroen Franssen, member of the Belgian army)

There is a big difference in the conditions for war operations between Kuwait and Yugoslavia. The terrain in Yugoslavia is mountainous and woody with unstable climate throughout the year. Those conditions considerably diminish the advantages that technological superiority can bring.

From the troop moral viewpoint, the Iraqis fought on foreign soil and the Yugoslavs are fighting on their own territory. In its military preparations Iraq considered becoming a regional power while Yugoslavia prepared for 50 years for a long lasting war with the enemy that is far more powerful.

The purpose of the war with mighty enemy is not to conquer the enemy territory, but to make that war for the enemy unacceptably expensive, both in human lives and money. In the case of ground troop?s attack, the knowledge that was handed down through generations during 500 years will lead to completely unbearable human casualties for the aggressor. This manner of war conducting will be backed with infrastructure that was built during 40 years of Tito`s reign (bunkers, tunnels, underground depots, etc.) More detailed information can be found on:

http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/news/pages/tim/99/03/26/timfgneur01010.html

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_excomm/19990326_xex_serbia_lesso.shtml

How come in the last 5 years there was a small number of Albanian students in Serbian schools and universities?

In Serbia the public education in Albanian language began in 1945 in elementary and secondary schools. At the beginning of seventies public University in Albanian language was founded and at the end of that decade it had more students than all Albanian universities put together. From its foundation till nowadays the education at that University was free of charge. At the end of eighties Albanian students stopped attending public schools in Serbia because they didn't agree with the change of teaching curriculums that Republic of Serbia demanded from all its universities. Up to six months ago the most of Albanians attended private schools that weren't at the level of public ones both by the quality of teaching staff as well as their equipment. For example, those schools didn't have Serbian language in their curriculums even though that is the official language of the state Albanians live in. More than a year ago the state agreed to renounce some of its owns school and university facilities to private Albanian schools on the basis of the agreement between Slobodan Miloševic and Ibrahim Rugova. Still, the number of students who attend public schools in Albanian language is far bellow the number of students who attend Albanian private schools. Diplomas of the Albanian private schools were up to now validated only in Albania. Albanians attempted to found their private university in Tetovo, Macedonia. The Macedonian government placed a ban on the project and the Macedonian court sentenced the man who presented himself as the rector to one year of imprisonment.

How are health services organized for the Albanians in Kosovo?

Healthcare system in Yugoslavia is very similar to the medical care policy of Great Britain. Health services, including the most expensive medical treatments, are free for all. Healthcare system is financed from the taxes collected by the state. Up to the present day Albanians are using the public health system that includes medical treatments in clinical hospitals in Belgrade and Niš. Healthcare in medical institutions in Kosovo is also financed from the national budget and its purpose is to serve the whole population of Kosovo including the Albanians.

In what way the media of NATO member states keep the distance from their governments?

The American government is legally deprived of owning the media that are active within the USA borders. On the other hand the media represent big business interests. TV audience rates are rapidly increased with the coverage of dramatic events: wars, rebellions and natural disasters. It has been acknowledged that some of those dramatic events, on which the governments have considerable influence (launching war operations being one of them), are surprisingly coincided with TV prime time hours. On the other way, the connection between official government policy and the choice of headline news can be observed. Some of the news that fit government policy are later confirmed false. Unfortunately, the news that are primarily launched have more publicity than the actual news. Although the role of free press is highly regarded in the American legal system, there was public questioning of the fact that certain leading reporter from war zones is married to State Secretary's closest cooperator and neither of them considered the change of profession. In Great Britain the most of the media is in the public service which efficiently enables the close connection between official government policy and corresponding information policy. The coordination mechanism between the private media and the government in UK is similar to the situation in USA.

Have the attacks on military targets in Yugoslavia diminished the combat readiness of Yugoslav Army?

Since Tito came to power in Yugoslavia in 1945, the leading doctrine was to prepare the country for a long lasting war against the more powerful enemy using the interior unity. Military assets that are built during Tito`s reign consist mostly of underground bunkers and tunnels capable of enduring a medium nuclear attack. The plans made by Tito`s generals anticipate the relocation of soldiers, material and military industry under ground, while the assets on the ground are to be evacuated. If we exclude the civilian victims in the near-by buildings, considerable influence on combat readiness wasn't achieved by hitting empty army barracks and depots. The capacity of fuel tanks in the underground facilities can endure a long lasting war, while the reserves placed on the ground mainly cover the civilian use of fuel. Pontoon bridge can be formed within 6 to 12 hours and it satisfies the transport of troops, while the civilian transport is to be conducted when it doesn't interfere with the military operations. Generally speaking, NATO destruction of military targets may seriously make difficult the life of civilians in Yugoslavia, but it hardly essentially diminishes the combat readiness of Yugoslav Army.

How the occurrence of refugees affects the NATO operations?

There was a considerable wave of refugees before the NATO attack was initiated. On the other hand, numerous governments, the British government being one of them, stated that they couldn't predict the amount of the refugee crisis. If we exclude the possibility of criminal negligence, it is very hard to believe that the NATO analysts could have overseen such a scenario. However, if such a development of the situation was expected, one can question the purpose of provoking the ground conflicts in Kosovo considering the terrible consequences they inevitably bring. Since the present NATO alliance position is to support the refugees return to their homes, the connection between initiation of the bombing campaign and the arrival of NATO ground forces in order to bring the refugees back strongly imposes. The advantage of such an operation lies in the fact that the presence of civilians during the operation of involving the ground troops on Yugoslavian territory represents the perfect human shield for NATO. Unavoidable civilian victims could be easily imputed to Yugoslavian Army.

Why did Macedonia close its borders to refugees?

The population of Macedonia, with the Albanian minority making one third of the whole population, doesn't largely exceed the population of Kosovo. Despite the presence of UN and NATO troops there have been serious tensions between the two population for several years. Although the western media reports on the demonstrations in Macedonia claim the protests are organized by Serbs from Macedonia, their attendance considerably outnumbers the whole Serbian community in Macedonia. It is natural that Macedonian government has a reasonable concern that extremists who left Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will attempt to apply their methods on Macedonian soil.

Why don't the intellectuals continue their struggle against the regime in Serbia, as they did in many occasions before?

Unity of the Serbian political body was very rarely achieved during Serbian history. Protests and civil disobedience in the United States of America during the Vietnam War made a powerful impression on Yugoslavian citizens and in following years they fiercely fought for civil rights using similar methods as anti war protesters in the USA. But, present situation would have happened in the USA if USSR have bombarded the American cities with the justification of preventing the genocide over Vietnamese people. In that case, one can be certain that the students of Berkley and other liberal universities would have supported London B. Johnson.

Why are the acts of Yugoslav government compared to the Nazi Germany Policy?

Germany under Hitler was a major industrial country, an imperialist power that invaded its neighbors. As an excuse for starting the WWII, Germany pointed out its concern about their minority in Czechoslovakia, Austria and Poland. Problem of German ethnic minority was to justify what they called "march towards the East". One of the main resources of the German policy of that time was a powerful propaganda that hugely enlarged the suffering of their minority and demonized its position in mentioned countries. German suffering was a perfect excuse for their atrocities during the war. It is very difficult to detect any similarity between the policy of Yugoslavian government and the Nazi Germany policy in the eve of WWII.

What are the results of the US involvement in solving the humanitarian crisis up to now?

During humanitarian mission Somalia in 1993 US troops were forced out by an enraged populace after they assaulted the population and killed 500 Somali civilians. Humanitarian mission of rescuing medical students in little Grenada transformed into complete invasion of that country. There are, however, many places in the world where rebellions weren't supported by US government: the Kurdish fight for independence from Turkey, the Palestinian fight for self-determination, the Tamil fight for liberation in Sri Lanka, etc. The brutal oppression in those conflicts was not condemned by US. The only country on the way from Turkey to the Atlantic Ocean which is not the member of "Partnership for peace" or NATO is Yugoslavia. The presence of NATO forces on Yugoslav soil would strengthen the NATO position towards its eastern neighbors.

How can Yugoslavs sing on their squares during the humanitarian catastrophe in Kosovo?

All across Yugoslavia the air attacks are everyday fact. Yugoslav urban population hears the air danger sirens at least once a day and sees an explosion every other day. Street concerts are a sort of psychotherapy for people under extreme stress. The tradition of defying the foreign attacks, as well as the tradition of peaceful fights for civil rights are clearly expressed through those events. During last two centuries Yugoslavians impressed the world by both traditions.

Are we getting the whole story on Kosovo crisis?

What we see today is a gross distortion of the facts. The media is dominated by big business interests and functions as a Pentagon propaganda machine. For political purposes, the suffering of only one group, the refugees leaving Kosovo, is shown, while the other Yugoslav victims of the NATO bombing are virtually ignored. The New York Times, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, The Chronicle Examiner, and others have given a very slanted view of events in Yugoslavia, to justify the massive bombing. General Electric, one of the US largest military contractors that supplies engines for NATO jet fighters, owns NBC co-owns MS/NBC. This war will cost many billions of dollars, money stolen from housing, health care, education and other social problems. Each cruise missile costs 1 million dollars. The only ones who will benefit from this war will be the military ? industrial complex and big business.

What is the extent of NATO concern about ?ethnic cleansing? and human suffering?

In the civil wars, which followed the break-up of Yugoslavia there was much bloodshed and human rights violations. The biggest single act of ?ethnic cleansing? was the forced removal of 250.000 Serbs from the Krajina region of Croatia in the beginning of August of 1995. Many of these Serbs, who were resettled in Kosovo, are among the people made refugees by NATO bombing and the Kosovo conflict. The US concern about removal of people from their homeland is very selective. This is not surprising. Virtually the entire continent of North America was ?ethnically cleansed? of Native people to make way for the US and Canada, two of the NATO powers. US policy has supported, with arms and money, the removal of the Kurdish people in Turkey, Palestinians, East Timorese, Guatemalan indigenous people, and the list goes on.

Is there any NATO strategic interest in the Balkans?

The real US/NATO goal is to break Yugoslavia into ever-smaller pieces and bomb its people into submission. The Balkans is a strategic region, a crossroads between Western Europe and the oil rich Middle East and Caspian Basin. The US has established, in only 5 years, military domination of the former Yugoslav republics of Croatia, Bosnia and Macedonia, as well as Hungary and Albania. The only holdout has been what is today the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. This is the real reason why Yugoslavia has become the target in the Balkans, just as it is the real reason that Iraq has become the target in the Persian/Arabian Gulf region.

Why NATO forces bombed government buildings in the center of Belgrade?

Attack in the night between Friday, 2nd and Saturday, 3rd April on Serbian Internal Ministry building and National Ministry of Interior Affairs was not so successful as the NATO officials intended. Although the target was quite risky since the biggest maternity hospital is in the close neighborhood (approximately 20 meters away) there was no human casualties. One can only conclude that the attack was one in the row of media presentations for American public. It is interesting that the time of the bombing campaign on Belgrade was accorded to Easter (Good Friday) prime time of American TV networks. Since it was a holiday, most of the American population was at home, watching live broadcast of the destruction of a European city. Maybe the real intention was to make TV audience quickly forget the capture of three American soldiers.

Why are the foreign TV crews expelled from Yugoslavia?

During the War in the Persian Gulf in 1991 we witnessed the lack of visual information on operation Desert Storm due to the strict orders that came from US military officials. Israeli army has the standard procedure of checking all recorded footage during military operations. Experience from the recent crisis in ex Yugoslavia showed many examples of media manipulation. It is understandable that Yugoslav army authorities should not allow the presence of TV crews from countries that are NATO members.

Where are safe places for ethnic Albanians?

Under the attacks of NATO bombs Albanians are leaving to Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania being the nearest places for them to flee. Many of them have their relatives and friends to welcome them. Those pictures can be daily seen on major electronic media ? CNN, Sky News, BBC, etc.

However, frightened by NATO daily operations in Kosovo a large number of Kosovars come to Belgrade who is also constantly endangered by air raids. They truly believe they will reach safety in spite of common belief that there is no life for them amongst Serbs. But, well-known fact is that respectable percentage of Belgrade population consists of Albanians, who are sharing equal human and civil rights as the rest of Belgrade inhabitants. They fear the bombs and stay in the same shelters with their Serbian neighbors.

How are people of Belgrade affected by NATO aggression?

The possibility of living a normal life in Belgrade does no longer exist. University is closed, as well as elementary and high schools, businesses are slow, public transport is restricted. Above all the difficulties NATO forces have chosen to hit the target that is placed in the nearest neighborhood of the biggest maternity hospital in Yugoslavia. The lives of newborn children were greatly endangered by this attack. Citizens of Belgrade are deeply offended by the fact that probably if this continues their children will be born in the shelters. In spite of numerous problems of everyday life, Belgrade people are still organizing themselves, cherishing their spirit and following their feelings to defend their right to live normally.

Why are refugees leaving Kosovo?

In the last ten days Kosovo has been the most exposed region to the NATO bombardment. It is logical to expect people to leave the areas which are heavily bombed. Before the bombing started the Kosovo Verification Mission didn?t report refugees fleeing the region.

Also, as the NATO bombardment started KLA intensified attacks on the Yugoslav Army (VJ), police forces and the rest of the Serbs in Kosovo. These fights and the fright of collateral damage in conjunction with numerous air raids contribute to uncertainty of the whole Kosovo population. Although the Albanian population in Kosovo is much larger than Serbian, the number of Serbian refugees leaving Kosovo is large.

A great deal of information on the number of refugees is given by NATO, which is trying to justify its actions through a humanitarian catastrophe. TV pictures of the Albanian refugees presented up to now do not confirm the numbers of people they are talking about.

Why the US sponsored agreement on Kosovo was not signed?

US sponsored agreement foresees the placing of NATO forces on the sovereign state territory. According to this agreement NATO soldiers are not responsible for any criminal act committed on the Yugoslavian territory. Further more, according to this agreement the laws of Yugoslavia will not be valid on Kosovo territory, neither will the Yugoslavian courts decisions be respected. However, the decisions of the courts in Kosovo will be valid in the entire Yugoslavian territory. Independent analysis of this agreement can be found at the?

Rock concerts in Belgrade. Why?

Urban Serbia, especially Belgrade, has the long tradition of expressing its disagreement with everything that opposes the basic values of civil society. Normal reaction to NATO bombing campaign was a rock concert, similar to all protests that have occurred in recent Belgrade history. Same people with same ideas that once fiercely defended the values of civil society defend those ideas today while their lives are at stake and in danger from NATO air raids.

Can NATO change Belgrade official policy?

The only result that NATO accomplished during 9 days of bombing campaign is the unity of Yugoslavian citizens in the country and abroad. Since the beginning of Balkan wars in 1912 such uniformity in common opinion on current events was not recorded. Although the people of Yugoslavia have the tradition of internal political struggles for 200 years back, NATO succeeded in erasing that tradition in only few days. Once the bombing campaign is over, probably the only political result NATO can achieve is to restore the political issues on which Yugoslavians disagree.