SERBIA

I wrote this letter in response to an article in Liberal Democrat News on Montenegro by Paddy Ashdown MP. It reflects my concerns over the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the sympathetic portrayal of the Serbian 'opposition' in the media.

 

Liberal Democrat News No.627

1 September 2000

 

Paddy Ashdown is rightly concerned over our lack of resolve regarding Milosovic over Montenegro (Liberal Democrat News, 18 August). I would go further; there appears to be an appeasement policy to Serbs via The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in order to oust Milosovic. In Serbia, the sinister Serb 'opposition' appears to have de facto immunity from investigation by the ICTY. Leading 'opposition' figure Vuk Draskovic was instrumental in stirring up Serbian nationalism, even setting up the 'Serbian Guard' which committed atrocities in Croatia and Bosnia.

As Western governments hope he and his colleagues will oust Milosovic, ICTY investigations would be inconvenient.

Indicted Serbian war criminals roam freely in Bosnia, and the idea has been floated of allowing Milosovic safe exile. In contrast, the Croats and Bosnians have handed over indicted suspects.

The ICTY has convicted no-one for crimes during the Serb occupation of Croatia, not even for Vukovar or Dubrovnik.

In Croatia, the focus currently appears to be on Croat war crimes - incomparably less than Serb ones - apparently to show how 'fair' the ICTY are to Serbs.

Most Serb war criminals appear to have got away with it; all to get rid of Milosovic and replacing him with people who could be worse.

 

Yours sincerely

Brian Gallagher

London