[www.ANTIC.org] WHO NEEDS THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL?

[Miroslav Antic]

Title: Message

by                                                 www.artel.co.yu  [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 02 October 2002 Warning: If you have received this message by error or you don`t want to receive our e-mails anymore, please click on [EMAIL PROTECTED] and write "unsubscribe" in the subject column.  WHO NEEDS THE HAGUE TRIBUNAL? By Professor Vladimir Volkov, director of the Institute of the Slavic Studies under the Russian Academy of Sciences Moscow, 01 October 2002 RIA Novosti Court hearings have been resumed in the International Hague Tribunal, once again showing that this process is in a deadlock. The latter is meant to justify NATO's aggressive actions in the Balkans which destabilised the situation in the region, and to put all the blame on former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. It is not the first time that those following the Tribunal's activities ask a logical question "Is it necessary? Is there a point in its formation?" Indeed, the legitimacy of the Hague Tribunal looks very doubtful. The idea of creating the International Hague Tribunal appeared in 1993 and belonged to former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who represented her country in the UN then. By that time, the military conflict between Serbs and Muslims had reached its peak in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the West which held an openly anti-Serb position was interested in setting up such a propaganda body as the International Hague Tribunal. Formally, it was to probe into war crimes in the former Yugoslavia (only Serbs were blamed for these crimes). However, in truth, it turned into an instrument of the North-Atlantic Alliance, which followed its instructions. This became particularly clear after NATO and the Hague Tribunal concluded an agreement on co-operation in 1996. NATO used the Tribunal to interfere in the affairs of the Balkan countries and restrict their sovereignty. Regretfully, Russia did not try to prevent the UN Security Council from setting up the Hague Tribunal. Then Russian President Boris Yeltsin was too busy fighting for power with the Supreme Council (parliament) in 1993, which he eventually managed to liquidate by force. Yeltsin's Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev known for his pro-Western views naturally did not have the nerve to oppose Washington. The then Russian leadership did not think about what the Tribunal would turn into in the final count and what purposes it would serve, but it should have. The propagandist anti-Serb machine of the Tribunal was gathering steam and became particularly active before NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia, putting down the Alliance's aggression to the allegedly committed crimes against Kosovo Albanians. Well, after the aggression when its catastrophic consequences became obvious, the Tribunal stepped up its activities even further, demanding the extradition of Milosevic who it was going to make a scapegoat for all the aftermaths of NATO's military action. Hence, the unprecedented Western pressure on Yugoslavia. Economic assistance to the country devastated by NATO's bombing was made conditional on Milosevic's extradition. Trial of Milosevic was planned as an effort to justify the Alliance's aggression against Yugoslavia, which caused innumerable damage to the people of this country, sparked off a dangerous eruption of Albanian extremism and finally brought the Kosovo problem to a deadlock. That is the reason why Chief Prosecutor of the Hague Tribunal Carla del Ponte is busy looking for a compromising material against Milosevic but not for the truth. She is coming out of her way to find it, and Milosevic is actually doomed to be convicted. Del Ponte has no other option. NATO will be dissatisfied if she does not lead the process to its logical end - put all the blame for the Balkan catastrophe on Milosevic's shoulders and proclaim a complete alibi of the North-Atlantic Alliance. But do we need such a tribunal which tries only Milosevic but refuses, for instance, to try the leader of the Albanian terrorists, Hashim Taci, and the like who should be accused of evicting 400,000 Serbs, Jewish and gypsies, of murders and trashing? The Hague Tribunal is not necessary but is even harmful, considering its apparent subjectivity and unilateral decisions. Many prominent political figures have voiced their concern about this. Thus, according to President of Serbia and Montenegro Vojislav Kostunica, the Hague Tribunal is a politicised organisation which can hardly be described as "unbiased". Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov shares this opinion, saying that the Tribunal is not helping stabilise the situation in the Balkans, is obsolete and should be dissolved. Many believe that the Tribunal should be transformed into an international criminal court based in the Hague. This initiative has been backed by 40 countries, with the exception of the US and England. They say they would not have their servicemen tried by foreign justice. To listen to them, only Serbs can stand trial. As to the fate of the Hague Tribunal, the West will close it with time but only after it fulfills its purely political mission - convicts Milosevic. Having accomplished the task, "the Moor" can go, leaving unpleasant memories behind. ARTEL GEOPOLITIKA is a private, independent and non-profit web site provided by the volunteer work of a small group of enthousiasts. If you enjoy the information that ARTEL GEOPOLITIKA is publishing , we would be greatefull for any financial contribution from your part or advertising on our web site. 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