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ZORAN LILIC TESTIFIES AT
THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL
www.slobodan-milosevic.org June 19, 2003
Written By: Andy Wilcoxson
On Tuesday, June 17, 2003 Zoran Lilic began to give his testimony
at the so-called "trial" of Slobodan Milosevic.
Zoran Lilic has held the highest offices in Serbia and Yugoslavia.
Mr. Lilic was the President of the Serbian National Assembly,
the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and the
Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The testimony of Zoran Lilic is certainly the most important
testimony that the Milosevic "trial" has seen.
Two things were apparent from watching Lilic. The first obvious
fact is that Slobodan Milosevic is not a war criminal. The 2nd
obvious fact, contrary to media reports, is that Mr. Lilic was
not and is not "in the hip pocket" of President Milosevic.
Indeed, Mr. Lilic was critical of Milosevic on some matters.
First of all, Lilic believed that Milosevic, as the SPS President,
allowed the JUL to have too much influence during the time that
the SPS-JUL-ND coalition was formed.
Lilic was also critical of the Kumanovo Agreement. Mr. Lilic
favored a different plan that had been put forward by Helmut
Kohl.
It is therefore incorrect that the media should portray Mr. Lilic
as "Milosevic's puppet." Zoran Lilic is his own man,
with his own opinions, which as we see above do not always coincide
Slobodan Milosevic's views.
When it comes to the subject of war crimes it was apparent that
the prosecution had made a mistake in bringing Lilic to testify.
Lilic proved to be a much better witness for the defense than
for the prosecution.
From the outset of his examination-in-chief it could be seen
that Preident Lilic's statements were not what the prosecutor
was looking for. For example, Mr. Nice was trying to get Lilic
to explain the phrase "all Serbs in one state." Mr.
Nice obviously wanted Lilic to say that this referred to some
"greater Serbia plan," instead Lilic explained that
the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) allowed
all Serbs to live in one state and that the statement, "all
Serbs in one state" meant that the SFRY should be preserved
at all costs.
Mr. Nice also unsuccessfully attempted to get Lilic to say that
Milosevic "controlled" the leadership and the military
forces of the SAO Krajina and Republika Srpska. Lilic explained
that Milosevic did not control anybody over there, and when he
did try to exercise influence over them it was always to try
and get them to accept peace agreements.
At this point, in spite of efforts by Mr. Nice to change the
topic, Lilic went into the events in Srebrenica. Lilic explained
that nobody from the authorities of either Serbia or the FRY
could have had anything to do with what happened there.
Lilic explained that Milosevic's reaction to Srebrenica was that
of shock and extreme anger when he heard what had happened there.
Lilic said that it was obvious that there was no possibility
that Milosevic could have had anything at all to do with Srebrenica,
or any other wartime event in Bosnia and Croatia.
On the subject of Srebrenica, it should be noted that it is the
"sweetest plum" in the prosecution's false indictment.
Srebrenica is where the genocide charge emanates from.
When Milosevic cross-examined Lilic on the subject of Srebrenica,
Lilic further explained that when the FRY authorities inquired
about Srebrenica the Republika Srpska leadership was just as
surprised as anybody to hear about what had happened there. Lilic
explained that this meant that individual criminals, and not
any government controlled forces, had perpetrated the crimes
that occurred in Srebrenica. Not only does this testimony jive
with the claims that Milosevic made in his opening statement,
but it also jives with the report of the Dutch Government.
When Milosevic opened the cross-examination he began by asking
Lilic about Kosovo. Zoran Lilic is probably the best suited person
to talk about Kosovo and the position of the FRY government there.
As the Deputy Prime Minister of the time Lilic took numerous
fact finding missions to Kosovo. As a high official in the Government
of Yugoslavia Mr. Lilic was privy to all manner of intelligence
reports.
During cross-examination Lilic explained that the Yugoslav and
Serbian authorities took exceptional care to protect Kosovo's
civilian population. In fact so much care was taken that the
Albanian terrorists knew that by mingling themselves with civilians
that they would be able to flee from the authorities without
being touched, because the authorities were under orders never
to fire on the terrorists if doing so would endanger civilians.
Mr. Lilic explained Slobodan Milosevic's position was that all
citizens and ethnic groups should be equal. Lilic stated that
it was President Milosevic's firm conviction that nobody in Yugoslavia
should live as a second class citizen because of their ethnicity.
Mr. Lilic went on to explain that the Serbian and Yugoslav authorities
always differentiated between Albanian terrorists, and regular
Albanian civilians. He explained that orders were issued that
human rights need to be respected, and that all soldiers and
police were given copies of the Geneva Conventions to ensure
that this happened.
Mr. Lilic explained that the V.J. and MUP protected Albanian
civilians precisely from the Albanian terrorists who were seeking
to break Kosovo away from Serbia. Lilic explained how both Albanians,
and non-Albanians were under threat from the KLA terrorists.
Lilic stated that normal Albanian civilians who wished to live
as peaceful law abiding citizens of Yugoslavia were under the
greatest danger from the KLA terrorists.
Lilic dismissed as an absurdity that Serbia or Yugoslavia could
have had any plan to expel Albanians from Kosovo. Lilic explained
that the Serb and Yugoslav authorities had a great desire, and
made great efforts to try to engage the Kosovo Albanians so that
a peaceful political solution could be found.
Being Yugoslavia's Deputy Prime Minister at the time Mr. Lilic
had access to all manner of intelligence information regarding
the Albanian terrorists that were operating in Kosovo at the
time.
On the basis of the intelligence information that he had received
as the Deputy Prime Minster, Mr. Lilic explained that the United
States, and in particular the American ambassador Hill, prepared
the KLA terrorists for their "spring offensive" and
that this was done with a view to provoke a conflict that would
create a pretext for the illegal NATO aggression and the eventual
occupation of Kosovo and Metohija.
Lilic went on to explain how the Milosevic-Holbrooke agreement
had been abused. Lilic explained how the Kosovo Verification
Mission of the OSCE was being used as a cover to further arm
the Albanian terrorists. He explained that during that time the
Albanian terrorists had received East German weapons, and other
high-tech weaponry that could only come to them with the cooperation
of foreign governments.
Lilic began to explain about how the KLA would force Albanians
to flee from Kosovo to create the false illusion that Albanians
were being expelled by Serbs, but at this point the so-called
"Judge" May didn't want to hear anymore.
This same "Judge," who is so deeply interested in hearing
all about what some local yokel says he heard second hand, from
God only knows who, off in some village in Bosnia, refused to
hear what a high government official knew from the intelligence
documents that he was privy to. The so-called "Judge"
ruled the information as irrelevant since the Deputy PM didn't
go out into the battlefield and gather the information personally.
This so-called "Judge" must be smoking some good crack
to be able to say something as stupid as that. How could any
government function if the highest officials always have to gather
the intelligence in person? Does George W. Bush know that Osama
bin Laden blew up the World Trade Center because he was personally
hiding in the cave in Afghanistan listening to bin Laden make
the plans? Of course not, but he has the relevant intelligence
information, and so he is perfectly competent to say that bin
Laden did it.
At any rate, after Kosovo was discussed, Milosevic began to ask
Lilic about Bosnia and Croatia. Mr. Lilic explained in no uncertain
terms that neither Serbia, nor the FRY, nor any official from
Serbia or the FRY had any command or control over the Bosnian
Serbs or the Krajina Serbs, and Lilic in view of the positions
he held, is in a better position than anybody to know that.
Mr. Lilic proceeded to explain how the conflicts in Bosnia and
Croatia evolved and the manner in which the governments of Serbia
and the FRY were involved.
First of all Lilic, explained that all of the efforts of Serbia
and the FRY were directed towards humanitarian assistance and
negotiating an end to the armed conflicts.
Lilic explained that in Croatia the Serbian population was in
jeopardy from the Croatian government, and that the Krajina Serbs
did not launch aggression on Croatia, but simply defended their
own land that they had been living on for centuries.
Lilic explained how Serbia, the FRY, and Milosevic in particular
worked tirelessly to achieve the Vance Plan, and that all of
Milosevic's efforts in respect to the Krajina, and the war in
Croatia were directed exclusively towards achieving peace.
As for the civil war in Bosnia, Lilic explained in no ambiguous
terms that neither Serbia nor the FRY had anything to do with
that, and that it was in fact a civil war in Bosnia and, not
some sort of aggression by Serbia or Yugoslavia.
Lilic explained that Serbia, even under sanctions, extended humanitarian
assistance to the people in Bosnia and to all of the refugees
who came to Serbia, irrespective of their ethnicity.
In fact, Serbia even allowed Muslim soldiers from the Army of
B-H to come to Serbia as refugees as long as they didn't bring
their weapons. In this case both the R.S. and the Muslim authorities
wanted these soldiers handed over to them, but Milosevic steadfastly
refused their demands, and insisted that these soldiers be allowed
to control their own fate.
Lilic explained that the war in Bosnia broke out when independence
was declared on the basis of and illegal and unconstitutional
referendum. Lilic said that the first armed attacks of the Bosnian
war came from Muslim extremists who were attacking the Serb population
in Bosnia.
Lilic explained how prior to the all out warfare that tore through
Bosnia that a peace plan had been reached. He told about how
the Serbs, the Croats, and the Muslims all negotiated and signed
a peace agreement in Lisbon called the Cutilero Plan. Lilic explained
that after the agreement was signed that the Muslim President,
Alija Izetbegovic reneged on the agreement, withdrew his signature,
and the war began in earnest.
Lilic explained that after the war began the Muslim side began
to bring in Mujahideens and Islamic fundamentalists from the
Middle East to fight against the Serbs.
During the examination in chief, Fikret Abdic was mentioned,
because he had traveled to Belgrade and met with President
Milosevic. The prosecution had tried to present this like some
sort of secret meeting even though it was reported quite openly
in the Media, and Lilic confirmed in the cross-examination that
this meeting was no secret.
For those of you who don't know who Fikret Abdic is I would encourage
you to research him. Fikret Abdic was the winner of the 1990
elections in Bosnia, but unfortunately Alija Izetbegovic (who
lost the elections) managed to take over power from him.
Fikret Abdic is a Muslim of the Croatian ethnicity. He has dual
Croat/Bosnian citizenship. Unlike Alija Izetbegovic, Mr. Abdic
got along splendidly with the Serbs, and for a time with the
Croats until they allied with Izetbegovic.
Fikret Abdic and his Muslim followers in western Bosnia declared
independence from Bosnia, signed peace agreements with the Serbs
and Croats, and were able to escape the war, until Alija Izetbegovic
sent in the 5th Corps of the Army of B-H to attack the Muslim
population there, killing them, looting their homes, and forcing
the survivors to flee to the Krajina where they lived with the
Serbs until the Croats committed genocide with Operation Storm
and Operation Flash eliminating nearly all of the Serb population
from the Krajina.
Lilic confirmed Milosevic's claim that Serbia and the FRY's policy
towards Bosnia was exclusively a policy of peace aimed at ending
the bloodshed.
Lilic explained that nobody worked harder to bring peace to Bosnia
than Slobodan Milosevic. The Government of Serbia, the Government
of the FRY, and Slobodan Milosevic personally endorsed the Vance-Owen
Plan, the Owen-Stoltenberg Plan, the Contact Group Plan, the
Action Plan of the European Union, and the Dayton Accords.
Lilic testified about how hard Milosevic worked to negotiate
the Vance-Owen plan, and how hard Milosevic tried to convince
the Republika Srpska Assembly to accept the plan. Slobodan Milosevic
addressed the R.S. Assembly on 2 occasions to try to convince
them to accept the plan.
When the R.S. assembly refused to adopt the Vance-Owen Plan Milosevic
was furious. President Milosevic insisted that the Serbia/FRY
delegation leave immediately, even though it was a great risk
to his own personal safety since it was late at night, and a
Muslim attack was feared.
It was precisely the refusal of the R.S. to adopt the Vance-Owen
plan that strained relations between Belgrade and Pale, and that
lead to the decision of Serbia and the FRY to blockade the Drina
River.
Lilic explained how, at Dayton, Slobodan Milosevic saved the
Republika Srpska from certain destruction. At the time NATO air
strikes were rapidly diminishing the R.S. territory and a failure
to reach an agreement at that point would have definitely meant
the end of the Republika Srpska.
Through the efforts of Slobodan Milosevic at Dayton the Republika
Srpska was recognized, and territory that had been lost over
the course of the NATO air strikes was even returned to Republika
Srpska.
As the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Zoran
Lilic served on the Supreme Defense Council together with Slobodan
Milosevic (while Milosevic was the President of Serbia). Therefore,
Mr. Lilic is in a unique position to be able to see how decisions
were taken.
The prosecution has tried to allege that Slobodan Milosevic behaved
like some sort of dictator in the Supreme Defense Council. But
the testimony of Lilic proves otherwise. Lilic testified that
the decisions of the SDC were reached by consensus and that Milosevic
didn't have any more power than any of the other members of the
SDC.
The prosecution also alleges that the Serbia and FRY authorities
formed and supported paramilitaries and sent them to Bosnia and
Croatia, and that Milosevic is responsible for this. Lilic's
testimony again proves otherwise. Lilic stated, and he produced
the documents to prove it that the SDC (which Milosevic served
on) took a decision that paramilitaries should be disarmed and
abolished.
Lilic explained that some opposition parties were forming units,
but that the SPS never had any sort of units, nor did the SPS
engage in any sort of cooperation with the SDS. Lilic not only
being the former head of state, but also being a former member
of the SPS himself, would certainly be in a position to know
about this.
Slobodan Milosevic asked Lilic point-blank if he knew of any
order or any de-facto policy emanating from the Government of
Serbia or Yugoslavia, or any officials of those governments that
the Army or Police personnel should commit any crimes against
anybody. Lilic said that there was absolutely not any such policy,
and that the Army and the police were under the strictest orders
to combat crime regardless of who the perpetrator was, even if
the perpetrator was a soldier or a police officer.
President Lilic's testimony is the most important testimony that
this farce of a "trial" has seen. Historians will be
able to read his testimony and see quite clearly that Slobodan
Milosevic is innocent. In spite of the best efforts of this illegal
tribunal, history will never be able to successfully record the
lie that Slobodan Milosevic is a war criminal.
Lilic's testimony is not yet complete. He will return at a later
date to complete his cross-examination, be cross-examined by
the Amicus, and be re-examined by the prosecution. No hearing
is scheduled on Friday. The next hearing will be on Monday, but
other witnesses have been scheduled.
Sequence of Events:
1. JUNE 17, 2003 Lilic is examined by the Prosecutor, Mr.
Nice.
2. JUNE 18, 2003 Mr. Nice concludes his examination of
Lilic.
3. JUNE 18, 2003 Slobodan Milosevic begins his cross-examination
of Lilic.
4. JUNE 19, 2003 Slobodan Milosevic continues his cross-examination
of Lilic.
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