>"eager to help Americans" make money. (17) > >Western leaders yearn to install a puppet government in Belgrade, and place >their hopes in the fragmented right-wing opposition parties in Serbia. In >1999, American officials encouraged these parties to organize mass >demonstrations to overthrow the government, but these rallies quickly >fizzled due to lack of popular support. When Yugoslav Federal and local >elections were announced for July 24, 2000, American and Western European >officials met with leaders of the Serbian opposition parties, urging them >to unite behind one presidential candidate. Despite U.S. efforts, three >candidates emerged in opposition to President Milosevic. > >At the beginning of August 2000, the U.S. opened an office in Budapest >specifically tasked to assist opposition parties in Yugoslavia. Among the >staff are 24 psychological warfare specialists who engaged in psychological >operations during NATO's war against Yugoslavia and earlier against Iraq in >the Gulf War. During those operations, the team also fabricated news items >in an effort to sway Western public opinion. > >If President Milosevic is re-elected, then U.S. Secretary of State >Madeleine Albright expects street demonstrations to overturn the election >results and topple the government. In meetings held in Banja Luka in spring >2000, Albright expressed disappointment with the failure of past efforts to >overthrow the legally elected Yugoslav government. Albright said that she >had hoped sanctions would lead people to "blame Milosevic for this >suffering." An exasperated Albright wondered, "What was stopping the people >from taking to the streets?" Indicating that the U.S. was casting about for >a pretext for intervention, she added, "Something needs to happen in Serbia >that the West can support." (18) > >The paths of Yugoslavia's two republics are sharply diverging, and >Montenegro has embarked on a program to place its entire economy at the >service of the West. November 1999 saw the introduction in Montenegro of >the German mark as an official currency and the passage of legislation >eliminating socially owned property. One month later, several large firms >were publicly offered for sale, including the Electric Power Company, the >13th July Agricultural Complex, the Hotel-Tourist firm Boka and many >others. (19) The republic's privatization program for 2000 calls for the >privatization of most state-owned industries, and includes measures to >"protect domestic and foreign investors." Three hundred firms will be >privatized in the initial stage of the plan. In early 2000, the U.S. signed >an agreement to provide Montenegro $62 million, including $44 million from >the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). According to the >agency, it will also undertake "assistance programs to support economic >reform and restructuring the economy..to advance Montenegro toward a free >market economy." U.S. policy advisor on the Balkans James Dobbins indicated >that the U.S. viewed the "market-oriented reforms of the Djukanovic regime >as a model and stimulus for similar reforms throughout the former >Yugoslavia." The U.S. is also offering guarantees for private investors in >the republic. Additional aid is provided by the European Union, which has >approved $36 million for Montenegro. "From the first day," admitted >Djukanovic, "we have had British and European consultants." (20) > >The Center for International Private Enterprise, an affiliate of the U.S. >Chamber of Commerce, is providing support to the Center for >Entrepreneurship (CEP) in Montenegro. According to the center's executive >director, Petar Ivanovic, the organization "focuses on elementary and high >schools," establishing entrepreneurship as a new subject to be taught in >schools. As Ivanovic explains it, "Introducing young people to the concept >of entrepreneurship will make them less resistant to the private sector." >The CEP also intends to "educate government officials about the potential >rewards of the private sector," and to help them "understand the benefits >of economic reform and privatization." (21) According to Djukanovic, when >he met with President Clinton on June 21, 1999, the U.S. president gave the >privatization process a push by telling Djukanovic that the U.S. planned to >"stimulate the economy" by "encouraging US corporations and banks to invest >capital in Montenegro." (22) > >Djukanovic has moved steadily toward secession from Yugoslavia, indicating >that he will push for separation if the right-wing opposition loses the >September 24 election. In a phone call to Djukanovic in July 2000, >Madeleine Albright promised that the U.S would provide him with an >additional $16.5 million. That same week, Djukanovic blurted out that >Montenegro "is no longer part of Yugoslavia." He also made the astonishing >claim that he considered it a "priority" for Montenegro to join NATO, the >organization that had bombed his country only the year before. The next >month, Albright announced that she and Djukanovic "try and talk to each >other and meet on a regular basis," and that the "United States is >supportive of the approach that President Djukanovic has taken in terms of >democratic development and his approach to the economic reforms also." (23) > >Western support for secession extends beyond Albright meeting and talking >with Djukanovic. More than half of the population of Montenegro opposes >secession, and any such move is likely to explode into violence. In >preparation for that rift, Djukanovic is building up a private army of over >20,000 soldiers, the Special Police, including special forces armed with >anti-tank weapons. Sources in Montenegro revealed that Western special >forces are training this private army. Djukanovic has requested that NATO >establish an "air shield over Montenegro" as he moves toward secession. One >member of the Special Police, named Velibor, confirmed that they were >receiving training from the British SAS. "If there is a situation where >weapons will decide the outcome, we are ready," he said. "We are training >for that." At a press conference on August 1, 2000, Minister Goran Matic >declared that the "British are carrying out part of the training of the >Montenegrin special units. It is also true," he added, that the Special >Police "are intensively obtaining various kinds and types of weapons, >starting with anti-aircraft and anti-helicopter weapons and so on, and they >are also being assisted by Croatia, as the weapons go through Dubrovnik and >other places." Furthermore, Matic pointed out that, "last year, before and >after the aggression, a group from within the Montenegrin MUP [Ministry of >Interior Affairs] structure left for training within the U.S. police >structure and the U.S. intelligence structures." In August, two armored >vehicles bound for Montenegro were discovered in the port of Ancona, Italy. >One of the vehicles was fitted with a turret suitable for mounting a >machine gun or anti-tank weapon. Italian customs officials, reports the >Italian news service ANSA, are "convinced" that arms trafficking to >Montenegro "is of far greater magnitude than this single episode might lead >one to believe." Revelling in anticipation of armed conflict, Djukanovic >bragged that "many will tuck their tails between their legs and will soon >have to flee Montenegro." (24) > >A violent conflict in Montenegro would provide NATO with its long-desired >pretext for intervention. As early as October 1999, General Wesley Clark >drew up plans for a NATO invasion of Montenegro. The plan envisions an >amphibious assault by more than 2,000 Marines storming the port of Bar and >securing the port as a beachhead for pushing inland. Troops ferried by >helicopters would seize the airport at Podgorica, while NATO warplanes >would bomb and strafe resisting Yugoslav forces. According to U.S. >officials, other Western countries have also developed invasion plans. (25) >Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Ambassador to the UN declared, "We are in constant >touch with the leadership of Montenegro," and warned that a conflict in >Montenegro "would be directly affecting NATO's vital interest." (26) NATO >General Secretary George Robertson was more explicit. "I say to Milosevic: >watch out, look what happened the last time you miscalculated." (27) > >President Milosevic and the ruling coalition enjoy considerable popular >support in Yugoslavia, and many Western analysts admit they are likely to >emerge victorious in the September 24 election. This will set in motion, >possibly within a few months, a NATO strike launched from Bulgaria intended >to overthrow the legally elected government of Yugoslavia. If the coup >fails, then Montenegro could declare independence, setting in motion a >chain of events that would lead to a second all out war by NATO against >Yugoslavia. The war in 1999 brought immense suffering to the Balkans. The >next war promises to be catastrophic. > >NOTES > >1) "Bulgaria - Press Review" BTA (Sofia), August 12, 2000 "Bulgaria - Us >CIA Director's Visit," BTA (Sofia), August 15, 2000 "CIA Did Not Tell Us >the Most Important Thing," Trud (Sofia), August 16, 2000 "Bulgaria - Press >Review," BTA (Sofia), August 14, 2000 "Bulgaria - Press Review," BTA >(Sofia), August 16, 2000 > >2) Mila Avramova, "Italians Lease Training Ground for 400,000 Leva," Trud >(Sofia), August 9, 2000 Michael Evans, "Balkans Watch for 'Invincible'," >The Times (London), August 26, 2000. > >3) Paul Beaver, "Clinton Tells CIA to Oust Milosevic," The Observer, >November 29, 2000. Fran Visnar, "Clinton and the CIA Have Created a >Scenario to Overthrow Milosevic," Vijesnik (Zagreb), November 30, 2000. > >4) Douglas Waller, "Tearing Down Milosevic," Time Magazine, July 12, 1999. > >5) Michael Moran, "A Threat to 'Snatch' Milosevic," MSNBC, July 8, 1999. > >6) "Yugoslav Police Say Killer of Local Leader Worked for Opposition," >Agence France-Presse, > >May 15, 2000. > >"Arrested Assassin Gutovic Member of Otpor and SPO," Tanjug (Belgrade), May >15, 2000. > >7) "Yugoslav Official Accuses CIA of Being Behind Montenegro Murder," >Agence France-Presse, June 6, 2000. Aleksandar Vasovic, "Serb Aide Says CIA >Behind Slaying," Associated Press, June 6, 2000 "Yugoslav Information >Minister Accuses CIA of Complicity in Zugic Murder," Borba (Belgrade), June >6, 2000 > >8) Statement by Richard Tomlinson, addressed to John Wadham, September 11, >1998. > >9) "Serb Consensus: Draskovic Crash Was No Accident," Seattle Times News >Services, October 13, 1999. > >10) "NATO: Milosevic Not Target," BBC News, April 22, 1999. > >11) "Serbs Allege Milosevic Assassination Plot," Reuters, November 25, >1999. "France Plots to Murder Milosevic," Agence France-Presse, November >26, 1999. "SFOR Units Involved in a Plot to Kill Milosevic," Agence >France-Presse, December 1, 1999. Gordana Igric, "Alleged 'Assassins' Were >No Stranger to France," IWPR Balkan Crisis Report (London), November 26, >1999. Milenko Vasovic, "Belgrade's French Connection," IWPR Balkan Crisis >Report (London), November 26, 1999. > >12) "Lt. Testifies at Milosevic Trial," Associated Press, April 26, 2000. > >13) Aleksandar Vasovic, "4 Accused of Milosevic Death Plot," Associated >Press, July 31, 2000. "Dutchmen Arrested, Accused of Plotting Against >Milosevic," Agence France-Presse, July 31, 2000. Email correspondence from >Herman de Tollenaere, quoting from NRC- Business Paper of August 1, 2000. >"Arrested Dutchmen Admitted Plans to Kill, Kidnap Milosevic," BETA >(Belgrade), August 17, 2000. "Dutch Espionage Terrorist Gang Arrested in >Yugoslavia - Minister," Tanjug (Belgrade), July 31, 2000. "Yugoslav >Information Minister Says U.S. Behind Dutch 'Mercenaries'," BBC Monitoring >Service, August 1, 2000. > >14) "West Sees Noose Tightening Around Milosevic," Reuters, June 9, 2000. > >15) "NDI Activities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia >(Serbia-Montenegro)," NDI Worldwide Activities, www.ndi.org > >16) "Britain Trains New Elite for Post-Milosevic Era," The Independent, May >3, 2000. The New Serbia Forum web page, >http://ds.dial.pipex.com/town/way/glj77/Serbia.htm > >17) "Final Text of Stability Pact for Southeast Europe," June 10, 1999. >U.S. Embassy, Skopje, Macedonia, "Southeast Europe Equity Fund Launched >July 26," July 27, 2000. White House Fact Sheet, "The Stability Pact for >Southeast Europe: One Year Later," July 27, 2000. > >18) Borislav Komad, "At Albright's Signal," Vecernje Novosti, May 18, 2000. >"US Anti-Yugoslav Office Opens in Budapest," Tanjug (Belgrade), August 21, >2000. > >19) Ljubinka Cagorovic, "Montenegro Assembly Scraps Socially-Owned >Property," Reuters, November 13, 1999. "Montenegrin Government Prepares to >Privatise Economy," Tanjug (Belgrade), December 25, 1999. > >20) Central and Eastern European Business Information Center, "Southeastern >Europe Business Brief," February 3, 2000. Central and Eastern European >Business Information Center, "Southeastern Europe Business Brief," April >27, 2000. Anne Swardson, "West Grows Close to Montenegro," Washington Post, >May 24, 2000. > >21) Petar Invanovic, "Montenegro: Laying the Foundation of >Entrepreneurship," Center for International Private Enterprise. > >22) Statement by Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, "Important Step in >Opening New Perspectives For Montenegrin State Policy," Pobjeda >(Podgorica), June 22, 1999. > >23) "Albright Renews Montenegro Support," Associated Press, July 13, 2000. >"Montenegro Wants to Join NATO and the EU," Agence France-Presse, July 10, >2000. Office of the Spokesman, U.S. Department of State, "Secretary of >State Madeleine K. Albright and Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic," >Press Stakeout at Excelsior Hotel, Rome, Italy, August 1, 2000. > >24) "Montenegro Ahead of Elections: Boycott and Threats," BETA (Belgrade), >August 9, 2000. "Montenegro and Elections - Boycott Becomes Official," BETA >(Belgrade), August 17, 2000. Phil Reese, "We Have the Heart for Battle, >Says Montenegrin Trained by SAS," The Independent, July 30, 2000. "Yugoslav >Information Minister Says U.S. Behind Dutch 'Mercenaries'", BBC Monitoring >Service, August 1, 2000. "Yugoslavia Says British SAS Trains Montenegrins," >Reuters, August 1, 2000. "Information Minister Sees Montenegrin Arms >Purchases, Croatian Assistance," BETA (Belgrade), July 31, 2000. "Foreign >'Dogs of War' Training Montenegrin Police to Attack Army," Tanjug >(Belgrade), August 9, 2000. "Montenegro: Camouflaged Military Vehicles >Seized in Ancona," ANSA (Rome), August 21, 2000. "Montenegro: Traffic in >Camouflaged Armored Vehicles: Investigation into Documentation," ANSA >(Rome), August 22, 2000. > >25) Richard J. Newman, "Balkan Brinkmanship," US News and World Report, >November 15, 1999. > >26) "Clinton Warns Milosevic 'Remains a Threat to Peace'," Agence >France-Presse, July 29, 2000. > >27) "NATO's Robertston Warns Milosevic on Montenegro," Reuters, July 27, 2000. > > > >Louis Proyect >Marxism mailing list: http://www.marxmail.org/ > _______________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________
