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An Bulgarian Orthodox priest prepares his identity papers to pass the security gate installed at Sofia's Alexander Nevski square May 23, 2002 as part of preparations for the visit of Pope John Paul II to Bulgaria. The country is hoping that this week's visit of the Pontiff will finally put an end to years of speculations about a "Bulgarian connection" in the plot to assassinate him 21 years ago. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh
Pope John Paul II blesses children during a welcome ceremony at the airport in Sofia, Bulgaria, Thursday, May 23, 2002. The Pope began a four-day visit to Bulgaria. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Pope John Paul II waves to Bulgarians during a welcoming ceremony downtown Sofia, Bulgaria, Thursday May 23, 2002. The Pope starts a four day visit to Bulgaria. (AP Photo/Dimitar Deinov)
Bulgarians welcome Pope John Paul II in front of St. Alexander Nevsky orthodox church in Sofia, Bulgaria, Thursday May 23, 2002. The Pope arrived in Bulgaria Thursday for a four-day visit. (AP PHOTO/Srdjan Ilic)
Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov welcomes Pope John Paul II in Sofia, Bulgaria, Thursday May 23 2002. Closing another chapter of the Cold War, the pontiff began a visit in this former communist country once implicated in an attempt to kill him, and assured Bulgarians of his long-standing affection and esteem. John Paul is in Bulgaria for a four-day visit. (AP Photo/Massimo Sambucetti, Pool)
Bulgarian guard of honor marches past Pope John Paul II and Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov in front of St. Alexander Nevsky orthodox church in Sofia, Bulgaria, Thursday May 23 2002. The Pope arrived in this former communist country for a four days visit. (AP Photo/ Srdjan Ilic)
A Bulgarian guard of honour marches past the Pope John Paul II in front of St. Alexander Nevsky orthodox church in Sofia, Bulgaria, Thursday May 23 2002. The Pope arrived in this former communist country for a four day visit. (AP PHOTO / Srdjan Ilic)
An officer of the Bulgarian guard of honor salutes in front of Pope John Paul II and Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov in front of St. Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Church in Sofia, Bulgaria, Thursday May 23, 2002. The pope arrived in this former communist country for a four day visit. (AP Photo/Srdjan Ilic)
Bulgarian Orthodox Patriarch Maxim, left, welcomes Pope John Paul II, right, during a welcoming ceremony in downtown Sofia, Bulgaria, Thursday May 23, 2002. The Pope is on a four day visit to Bulgaria. (AP Photo/Dimitar Deinov)
Elina Georgieva, Miss Bulgaria 2002, poses with her national gift of two national dolls representing 'Koukeries,' an ancient Bulgarian tradition marking the coming of spring, at the Miss Universe 2002 National Gift Auction at the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico on May 23, 2002. She will compete for the title of Miss Universe 2002 during the LIVE CBS Television Network broadcast of the 51st annual Miss Universe competition on May 29 at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum. REUTERS/HO/Miss Universe Organization
Serb legislators walk out of a session of the Kosovo Assembly Presidency in protest after the assembly voted for a resolution concerning a recent border agreement between Yugoslavia and Macedonia, in Pristina, on Thursday, May 23, 2002. Top UN administrator Michael Steiner overruled the resolution minutes later, rejecting the effort by legislators to define Kosovo's boundaries. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)
Members of the Macedonian 'Wolves' special army unit, practice self-defense in an army barracks in Macedonia's capital Skopje, Thursday, May 23, 2002. Macedonia expects to join NATO at a summit in Prague scheduled later this year. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
The 102-year-old former teacher Stoyanka Kurdjilova of Dragoevo receives a diploma, plaquette and a book from Education Minister Vladimir Atanassov a day ahead of the Day of Slav Letters and Bulgarian Culture. BTA photo by Tihomir Penov
India's Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee addresses a news conference at the end of his three-day visit to Jammu-Kashmir state, in Srinagar Thursday, May 23, 2002. Vajpayee said that India would not tolerate Pakistan's support to Islamic militants fighting Indian security forces in Kashmir, and that New Delhi was preparing for a decisive victory against the enemy.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Indian (L) and Pakistani soldiers lower their country flags at the daily border closing ceremony at Wagah, 18 km (11 miles) from Lahore on May 23, 2002. Indian and Pakistani troops, locked in a five-month standoff, continued trading heavy fire on Thursday, after New Delhi expelled Pakistan's envoy to India following an attack it blamed on Pakistan-based guerrillas. REUTERS/Mohsin Raza
SITUATION IN CRISIS REGIONS.
MIA
Media Activity Center to the Government Coordinate Body of Crisis Management reported Friday, that group of ethnic Albanians gun fired Thursday night around midnight at the police vehicle patrolling in Mala Recica,.
Fortunately, there are not any repercussions from the shooting. The policemen fired back and drove away.
In Tetovo and Kumanovo-Lipkovo crisis regions, occasional gunfire occurred Thursday night, reads the announcement.
According to police sources, gunfire from different kind of infantry weapons occurred from direction of the villages Palatica, Orozmiste, Neraste, Odri, Dobroste, Slatino, Dzepciste, Neprosteno and Orman locality near Trebos.
Series of burst of fire and occasional shootings have also been registered from the direction of locality Rasadiste, the SEE University area, Textile High school "Goce Stojcevski", elementary school "SS Cyril & Methodius" and from direction of the State Reformatory.
There were no exact targets and gunfire was less intensive than Wednesday night.
No violations of the public order and peace have been registered during Thursday night in Kumanovo - Lipkovo region besides several shootouts from the villages of Vaksince and Vistica, MIA's correspondent reports.
Patrolling of ethnically mixed police patrols continues in seven Lipkovo villages.
US Vetoes Kosovar 'Declaration of War'
U.S.A. Embassy in Skopje
STATEMENT BY PHILIP T. REEKER, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN
May 23, 2002
Endorsement of UN Decision in Kosovo.
The United States fully endorses the action taken by Michael Steiner, Special Representative of the Secretary General, declaring null and void today's Kosovo Assembly resolution on the border agreement between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Macedonia.
On March 7, 2001, the United Nations Security Council issued a Presidential Statement noting the agreement reached between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Macedonia concerning the delineation and demarcation of their common border. The Security Council emphasized then that the agreement "must be respected by all." This was reaffirmed by the UN Secretary General, and by the United States, in February 2002. The United States is, therefore, deeply concerned by the resolution adopted today by the Kosovo Provisional Assembly in which that body rejected the border agreement.
The border agreement stands. There is no legal basis for its "rejection" by the Kosovo Assembly. The United States calls upon all parties to move to the agreement's fair and full implementation, including the accommodation of affected persons in the border area.
DM POPOVSKI: INCIDENT ON "STRAZA" WATCHTOWER IS AGAINST MACEDONIA'S SOVEREIGNTY.
MIA
I do not assess it as common incident, but as a planed attack as part of one extremist policy regarding the issue of the northern border, on Kosovo part which stimulates the paramilitaries to undertake operations similar to yesterday's one, Macedonian Defense Minister Vlado Popovski said regarding Wednesday's incident when watchtower "Straza" was attacked twice with mortars and automatic weaponry by the Albanian terrorists.
He emphasized that "in its essence it means disputing of Macedonia's sovereignty and opposing to the international law, the policy of the international community and the principle of good neighborly relations."
According to Popovski, "the political leaders of Kosovo are responsible for stimulating the extremism, but also the international community because "it is the legitimate political entity and the legitimate authority on Kosovo."
The paramilitaries are not supported by the local residents and "practically we have no problems with the local residents, Popovski said. He informed that he has received Wednesday morning a delegation from Tanusevci, Malino and Brest villages, and they talked about the problems and the conditions for their return in the villages. "There were no disputed issues," Popovski said.
"It is a fact that in the regions of northwestern Macedonia, in Kumanovo and Tetovo areas, there is no response to the stimulation of the paramilitaries that have come to Macedonia from Kosovo. There is no response to their ideas for restoring the military operations and the clashes, but on contrary there is a widespread tendency of stabilization of the situation, overcoming the crisis and normalizing the life," Popovski was decisive.
He thinks that this phenomenon would not destabilize Macedonia in terms of renewal of the military operations.
"This aspect is completely and unambiguously denounced by the international community, and therefore there is no ground for realistic crisis," Popovski reminded.
Popovski assessed that there was very clear and fundamental difference between the present and the last year's situation. In that respect, he pointed out to Ohrid Agreement, which is "the answer of several issues that were stated as reasons for the last year's crisis."
"Macedonia has capacity to respond effectively to all those that would jeopardize its checkpoints, its defense or its territory. That was done on Wednesday. The Law is precise, immediately and promptly would be responded to a similar attack or provocation," Popovski said.
He reminded on the support by the US Department of State regarding the Border Delineation Agreement between Macedonia and Yugoslavia.
According to him, "the interim political self-government on Kosovo is one illegitimate entity that cannot raise the border issue and even more important is the fact that the present borderline is not different from the borderlines in 1944, 1945 and 1946, so there cannot be any manipulations in that respect." "The attempt to start a crisis from there is like facing a wall, especially as we have sufficient capacities to eliminate that," he underlined.
To a question whether the international community should change something referring to the local self-government and the politicians on Kosovo, Popovski assessed that "the position of the international community and USA has been crystallized after the signing of Ohrid Agreement."
He concluded that the Macedonian border from Kosovo part is defended efficiently by KFOR, UNMIK also effectively performs its function as civil authority and there is excellent cooperation between Macedonian institutions and KFOR.
"So far there is no dissonance in the statements and the operations of the international community. We believe that both the policy and the activities of the international community are consistent regarding the issue of the border between Macedonia and Yugoslavia, on Kosovo part," Popovski thinks.
Popovski informed Greek Defense Minister Papantoniou, who pays an official visit to Macedonia, on the security situation in the country, the reforms in the defense sector and the efforts made by Macedonia and the defense sector for reconstruction of the country, restoring of the peace and confidence building among the citizens, regardless of their nationality.
Papantoniou was also informed on the Defense Ministry's program for implementation of Ohrid Agreement.
The ministers jointly stated that the cooperation between the two ministries is carried out "extremely well" and "the Greek policy in the region is a positive factor for the peace and the integration of the countries from the region in the Euro Atlantic institutions," Minister Popovski said.
During the meeting, Plan on cooperation was signed including the specific activities that would be realized in both countries. Popovski emphasized that one Macedonian officer would be appointed as liaison officer with Greek Army's Staff that would be responsible for the cooperation between the two armies. He informed that also Macedonia's initiative for including one Macedonian staff officer within Greek peacekeeping missions in the region was accepted.
Assessing the talks with Popovski as friendly, constructive and comprehensive, Papantoniou said that he has stated the basic principles of the Greek policy at the meeting.
Emphasizing the support that Greece grants to the Macedonia's territorial integrity and independence, Papantoniou spoke of the necessity for respecting the principle for inviolability of the borders on the Balkans and wider. He assessed that "the attempts for violation and changing of the borders have destabilizing effect on the development, peace and stability." In that respect, he reiterated the support that Greece grants to all Balkan countries in their efforts to integrate within the European Union and NATO.
"Greece believes that the resolution of name dispute would be a step towards the stability and the development of good neighborly relations," Papantoniou said.
"I cannot forecast, as the both parties should agree on this issue. I simply expressed my wish to find out positive solution," he explained.
He also expressed the satisfaction of the Greek Government regarding Macedonia's efforts to implement Ohrid Agreement and expressed his assurance "that the integration of the Albanian population in the political and economic life would contribute towards the stabilization of the country and the region." He congratulated to the Government and Prime Minister Ljubcho Georgievski for the efforts made in that respect.
Papantoniou underlined that they also talked about enhancing the cooperation between the Army's Staffs.
He proposed Greek assistance for the reorganization of the Macedonian Army in compliance with NATO systems. "Greece could grant assistance regarding the technical preconditions of the reorganization," Papantoniou said.
Macedonian Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski and Greek Defense Minister Yiannos Papanoniou at a meeting Thursday expressed satisfaction with the good relations between both countries, which contributes to stability of the region.
In that respect, Georgievski welcomed the new Greek Government program for reconstruction of the Balkans, saying that the Macedonian Government is ready to take active part in this project.
Papantoniou delivered a message of support by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Macedonia.
Macedonia respected the Ohrid document, but unfortunately the process of its territorial reintegration and returning of displaced persons has not been completed yet, Georgievski said.
Both officials agreed that Macedonia's integration with the Euro-Atlantic institutions, which is strongly supported by Greece, would be the fastest way for surpassing of the crisis and reestablishing of the security.
PRESS CONFERENCE WITH MINISTER SLOBODAN CASULE.
MIA
The Macedonian government is concerned due to the announcements for adoption of a resolution by the Kosovo local authorities for non-recognition of ther border agreement made between the Republic of Macedonia and the FR Yugoslavia, Macedonian foreign minister Slobodan Casule said on a press conference held on Thursday.
"The resolution is not binding, but it represents expression of political will that could be used for making pressure in the future," Casule pointed out.
In his opinion, the signals from this act do not have positive connotation and do not contribute to the stability in the region.
He pointed out that the initiative for this resolution coincides with the adoption of the laws from the Framework Agreement which is in final stage.
Casule stressed that the Macedonian government offered solution for overcoming of the problem that the citizens who own property on both sides of the border face with. According to the proposal, control checkpoints would be opened on the border line where these persons would receive licenses to prove that they own property across the border. This agreement would have a temporary character, Casule said, adding that it would be valid until the demarcation of the border line, stating that the rights of these people were regulated in the demarcation agreement made between Macedonia and Yugoslavia.
"We are surprised, because to our offer the answer is political pressure," he said.
Minister Casule said that the Ministry of foreign affairs have developed an analysis that showed that the adoption of the obligations from the Framework Agreement would initiate new forms of instability and tension in the region.
"The next crisis will be caused with a request for redefining of the three states - Macedonia, Albania and the Yugoslav federation," Casule said, adding that such a request would be unacceptable for the international community and do not correspond with the provisions of the Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council.
In his opinion, the extreme elements in this manner oppose battle between two concepts - one for creation of "Great Kosovo" or "Great Albania" and the second one for respect of the borders according to the international community principles.
"The denial of the borders also represents denial of the state," Casule said.
He stressed that the entire political energy in the region should be used for respect for the human rights and for securing of economic development and political stability, pointing out that after the integration of the region in Europe these problems with the borders will remain as part of the past and will look ridiculous.
According to Casule, the Kosovo prime minister was explicitly told in Washington that the Kosovo parliament can debate on whatever it wants, but that it cannot pass resolutions for which it has no authorization.
Casule denied that there are misunderstandings between the Ministry of foreign affairs and President Boris Trajkovski.
He also reported that Pakistan requested from Macedonia to surrender the bodies of the terrorists killed at Rastanski Lozja locality and said that Islamabad fully supported the continuation of the investigation focused on this case.
Macedonian Army Says Attacked by Albanian Gunmen.
Reuters
SKOPJE (Reuters) - The Macedonian army said on Thursday ethnic Albanian gunmen attacked an army post by the Kosovo border, describing it as one of the most serious incidents directed at its forces since last year's conflict.
An army spokesman said "Albanian terrorists" using machineguns and hand-held rocket launchers fired late on Wednesday at an army watchtower in northwestern Macedonia near the border with U.N.-administered Kosovo.
The soldiers returned fire and after a one-hour gun battle the attackers fled toward nearby mountains, he told Reuters, adding that no one on the government side was hurt.
"This is absolutely the most serious incident in some time, because if they had hit the tower with the rockets we would have suffered great damage," the spokesman said.
The incident reflected the fragility of peace in Macedonia, nine months after ethnic Albanian guerrillas agreed to disband under a Western-brokered deal in return for measures to boost rights for their minority community.
The NATO mission could not immediately confirm the incident, saying none of its 700 peacekeeping troops in the country had been in the remote area at the time. "We are still gathering information on what happened," a NATO official said.
STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER GEORGIEVSKI.
MIA
Macedonian Minister of Interior Ljube Boskovski made a mistake and he publicly apologized. However Boskovski did much more important things for Macedonia and they cannot be compared with this unwanted incident, Macedonian Prime Minister Ljubcho Georgievski said Thursday.
He added that Boskovski already bore his responsibility through the apologies and because the incident was not caused consciously the Government has no intention of requesting his resignation.
To a question why the commander of the exercise Boban Utkovski accepted the mistake, and Boskovski did not, Georgievski said that those are internal matters within the Ministry and they should be resolved legally.
Georgievski emphasized that the real problem of the country at this moment was the dispute referring to the border with Kosovo, because there is debate underway in Kosovo Parliament for adopting declaration for non-recognition of the border with Macedonia.
"I still do not know the results, but I assume the international community pressurize them not to adopt such document. However I believe if such document is adopted, then we should not have a meeting with Kosovo leaders in order to discuss this problem once again," Georgievski said.
He said that he wanted to face the Macedonian public with the reality, as the non-recognition of the border of one state or region is a situation of cold or even real war, pointing out the current situation between India and Pakistan as an example.
Georgievski assessed that "the non-recognition of the border is realistic and continuous danger, as the new attack such as the yesterday's one might happen tomorrow, or in three years time, when the final status of Kosovo would be defined." "This opens new problems to our country and I think that we should face these issues more realistically and more united," he said.
According to Georgievski, the Government constantly requests increase of NATO forces from Kosovo part of the border ever since the crisis emerged.
"We had an idea on creating a buffer zone of 5-km in Kosovo, but out of unexplainable reasons we did not receive satisfactory response from the other part," Georgievski said.
He emphasized that "the closure of the borders as one possible solution, does not mean that the incidents would stop as all provocations indicate that this border is a bridge of various armed and smuggling groups."
"We cannot close that part hermetically, but the international factor on both parts of the border should deal with this problem," Georgievski said.
Regarding the draft-law on passports, Georgievski said that several discussions were held on this topic in the past few months. "Unless this issue is solved as one of the 16 legal projects arising from Framework Agreement, I do not see a problem this issue to be resolved by the future parliamentary composition," he said.
Georgievski also answered some questions regarding the strike of the Macedonian Trade Unions Federation (SSM) and the negotiations with SSM leader Vanco Muratovski.
"I told to the Trade Unions leader that the Macedonian Government prepares a package for the entire administration. I gave him an offer to present this package mutually in ten days or to continue the strike. Obviously they chose the other way and I cannot say anything else as this is pure politics," Georgievski said and pointed out that the Government cannot announce anything until the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund are in progress.
"The package on minimal salary along with the increase of the salaries in the state administration will be announced right after the negotiations with IMF are completed," Georgievski said.
According to him, the problem lies in the fact that IMF did not want to open this issue and it is the first time when this problem is discussed openly and specific figures are taken into consideration.
"The problem of increasing the salaries in the state administration is not because Macedonia does not have money. In the past three years I was saying that the state has finances to increase the salaries, but the pressure is imposed by the international organizations that insist on 'frozen salaries'," Georgievski said.
To a question referring to SDSM accusations that the Government submitted the solution on bilingual ballots without their knowledge, Georgievski said that this party did not discuss seriously the 16 laws, but only discussed the issues referring to the election bodies.
PRESENTATION OF ACTIVITIES AND EQUIPMENT OF "WOLVES"
MIA
The activities and the equipment of the Macedonian Army's special unit "Wolves" were presented Thursday in the military barracks "Ilinden." Military attachés accredited to Macedonia attended the presentation.
The main task of this special unit established in 1994 was to perform special operations on Macedonia's territory in peace, in crisis situations and during wartime.
According to one of the unit's commanders, the candidates that apply to be member of this unit should meet some requirements such as to be males, not to be married, to be taller than 170 cm and to be good swimmers. After the preliminary selection, the candidates should attend a training course of 24 days and nights and only the best will be signed for three-year contract.
The practical part of the exercise had several parts. In the first part the martial arts including judo, karate, aikido were demonstrated.
The second and the third parts were real-life situations how to tackle terrorists from an ambush or during a hostage crisis with the help from the local residents and the Air Force. In the final part the weaponry, ammunition and the devices that these units utilize during their operations were presented.
Assessing the demonstration as successful, General Miroslav Stojanovski said "that we all witnessed the professionalism of the unit." "Personally I am very pleased with the skills and the knowledge showed by the members of this unit and I give my acknowledgement to the commander," Stojanovski said.
BULGARIA - GERMAN PRESS - AL QAEDA.
BTA
Interior Minister Petkanov Denies German Press Allegations that Al Qaeda Members Passed through Bulgaria.
Sofia, May 23 (BTA) - Bulgarian Interior Minister Georgi Petkanov told reporters Thursday that there is "absolutely nothing true" in German press allegations sourced to Interpol that some 30 members of Al Qaeda had passed through Bulgaria.
"The source of this information is neither Interpol nor Europol," Petkanov said.
"The source is in Bulgaria, a person of whose identity I am aware, who is ill-intentioned and pursues personal interests," he commented. He declined to name that source, saying only that the person in question wants to discredit Bulgaria and the competent Bulgarian authorities.
"There is nothing true in this writing, the services are doing their duties, and if there is the slightest suspicion or clue of anything like that they will inform their Western colleagues," Petkanov noted. As he put it, measures were taken on Wednesday and further measures will be taken shortly.
The Interior Minister expects the draft amendments to the Ministry of Interior Act to go before the Council of Ministers next week. The revisions are now being coordinated with the rest of the ministries and central-government departments.
POPE-WELCOME-RECAP.
BTA
Patriarch Maksim, President Georgi Purvanov Welcome Pope John Paul II in St Alexander Nevsky's Square.
Sofia, May 23 (BTA) - Pope John Paul II was welcomed officially in St Alexander Nevsky's Square by Patriarch Maksim of Bulgaria, President Georgi Purvanov, National Assembly Chairman Ognyan Gerdjikov, Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Foreign Minister Solomon Passy and Sofia Mayor Stefan Sofiyanski. Each of them shook hands with the Pope.
There were some 3,000 people in the square, according to policemen on duty, including official guests, representatives of the Holy Synod, the Catholic, Muslim and Jewish communities, Bulgarian and foreign citizens, and journalists.
Metropolitans told reporters they had been invited to the ceremony by Purvanov. The crowd of people eager to see the Pope started gathering in the square nearly three hours before the ceremony. They saw a concert, which ended shortly before the Pontiff arrived.
It took the papal motorcade and the official delegation about 15 minutes to get from the airport to Sofia's central square.
The Pope was met by the crowd with shouts of hooray, applause and waving of Bulgarian and Vatican flags. Eucharistine sisters, who act under the Catholic Eastern Rite, sang the hymn "Christ Has Risen", which is common to Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians.
The Pope was seated in a chair on a platform, with Purvanov standing on his left. They were both standing while the anthems of the Vatican and Bulgaria were played.
The ceremony opened with the President's welcoming speech and the Pope's address in Bulgarian. His opening words were met with applause and chants of "Holy Father". The Pope's words about Bulgaria and his blessing of the country, peace, life and love among the nations were interrupted by applause.
After the opening speeches, the Pope, speaking in Italian, again thanked the Bulgarians for the welcome and blessed them. Earlier, he stated in his address that he had never stopped loving the Bulgarian people.
Pope John Paul II blessed a wreath of yellow and white flowers - the colours of the Vatican flag - which was laid by guardsmen and the Vatican's Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano at the Monument to the Unknown Warrior.
Supported by two members of the delegation, the Pope rose from the chair and faced the monument.
Then the Pontiff got into popemobile and toured the square en route to the Apostolic Nunciature, blessing the crowd as a folk song played on the loudspeakers.
Not knowing which way the motorcade was heading, people ran across the square to wait for it in front of the Foreign Art Gallery and wave to the Pope once again.
People carried placards reading "Thank you for being here. We are with you".
The welcoming ceremony ended without incidents. Only a few people felt slightly unwell.
The last to go were the snipers perched on the Parliament's rooftop and in the belfry of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
The chair in which the Pope was seated was taken inside the cathedral, to be used again during the public events on Friday. It was made to order in Plovdiv for the Nunciature, a sexton said.
The whole ceremony could be viewed on a giant screen.
Pope to Pay Homage to Bulgaria's Orthodox Culture.
Reuters
By Sean Maguire
SOFIA (Reuters) - Pope John Paul (news - web sites) pays homage to Bulgaria's 1,100-year-old Orthodox culture on Friday as he pushes on with a trip that is a stern test of his increasingly frail physique.
The Pope will be received formally by Patriarch Maxim, the head of Bulgaria's Orthodox Church, and will pray in honor of St. Cyril and St. Methodius, 9th century scripture translators and fathers of the Cyrillic alphabet still used by many Slavs.
The pair are considered the patron saints of Bulgaria for their role in converting the population to Christianity. Friday is the feast day of the saints and the national alphabet.
On his arrival in Sofia, the Pope repeated his call for the two great divisions of Christianity to be healed, returning to a hope he has expressed with increased fervor since his trip to Romania, his first to an Orthodox country, in 1999.
Orthodox Christian leaders have accepted the Pope's Bulgarian trip with little enthusiasm, reflecting the ambivalence and suspicion the eastern rite of Christianity feels toward Roman Catholicism, which some of them say is stealing their flock.
The church split into Eastern and Western rites in 1054.
The 82-year-old Pope has been unable to realize his great dream of visiting Orthodox Russia due to opposition from the hierarchy in Moscow.
But Patriarch Maxim, spiritual leader of 80 percent of Bulgaria's eight million people, defied expectations he would boycott the arrival ceremony by showing up at the last minute.
With only 80,000 Roman Catholics in Bulgaria the crowds were expected to be small. But numbers at the arrival ceremony were particularly modest at around 3,000, with most Sofians complaining security warnings had deterred them from coming.
The four-day trip ends on Sunday with a lengthy mass in Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second city and heartland of the Roman Catholic community.
FRAIL PONTIFF.
The Pope's increasing frailty was on show quickly in Bulgaria as it was in Azerbaijan where he arrived on Wednesday on the first leg of the 96th trip of his pontificate.
He used a cargo lift to descend from the plane in Baku rather than using stairs, a procedure he repeated in Sofia. He required no such mechanical help on previous journeys.
In Sofia, he was wheeled past the guard of honor at the airport but later walked from his car to the throne at the arrival ceremony. He read parts of his speech in Bulgarian in a stumbling voice that made much of what he said hard to discern.
The Pope suffers from Parkinson's disease which impedes his speech and movement and makes one of his hands tremble uncontrollably.
The Pope, who on Thursday encouraged Bulgaria in its painful transition from communism to democracy, was starting Friday by meeting President Georgi Parvanov, a communist turned social democrat.
Later the Pope meets leaders of the one million Bulgarian Muslims and representatives of the country's tiny Jewish community, numbering 7-8,000, some of whom worship at the world's largest Sephardic synagogue in Sofia.
Most Bulgarians were reacting to the Papal trip with curiosity rather than enthusiasm.
"What impressed me most? -- the sense of duty. He is barely talking, he can't walk, but he carries on -- not many people are like that," said middle-aged bystander Sava Mihailov.
Soldiers on Leave Because of the Pope.
Standartnews
Evgeni Genov
Soldiers are granted leaves because of the visit of Pope John-Paul II and May 24 - the Day of the Slavonic Culture. Chief of the General Staff Gen. Miho Mihov ordered the working day in the army to last till 12 o'clock at noon today. The instructions are valid for the employees from the Defence Ministry in Sofia, too. The measures are in accordance with the order of the government that the budget organizations should work till noon because of the visit of the Pope. Today at 6 p.m. the special plane of the Holy Father lands at the Sofia airport. The Holy Father will kiss the Bulgarian land. He'll be welcomed in the new VIP hall of the government. Then the cortege of the Pope starts for the 'St. Alexander Nevsky' square, where the solemn welcoming ceremony will take place.
(PY)
ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER.
vatican.va/
Sophia, St. Alexander Nevski Square
Thursday, 23 May 2002
Mr President,
Your Holiness,
Esteemed Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Authorities,
Representatives of Religious Denominations,
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
1. It is with emotion and deep joy that I find myself today in Bulgaria, addressing my warm greetings to you. I thank Almighty God for allowing me to fulfil a desire that I have long held in my heart.
Every year, on the Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius, the Apostles to the Slavs, it is customary for me to receive in the Vatican representatives of the Bulgarian Government and Church. In a way therefore today, I am here to repay those visits and to meet in their own country the beloved Bulgarian people. At this moment, my thoughts turn to my predecessor Pope Adrian II, who went personally to meet the Holy Brothers of Thessalonica when they came to Rome to bring the relics of Saint Clement, Pope and Martyr (cf. Life of Constantine, XVII, 1), and to bear witness to the communion between the Church founded by them and the Church of Rome. Today it is the Bishop of Rome who comes to you, prompted by the same sentiments of communion in the love of Christ.
On this occasion, my thoughts turn also to another of my predecessors, Blessed Pope John XXIII, who was Apostolic Delegate in Bulgaria for ten years and remained always deeply attached to this land and its people. In memory of him, I greet everyone with affection and I say to all that I have never ceased to love the Bulgarian people, lifting them up always in my prayer to the Throne of the Most High: may my presence among you today be a clear sign of my sentiments of esteem and affection for this noble Nation and its children.
2. I cordially greet the Authorities of the Republic. I thank them for their invitation to me and for all that has been done to prepare my visit. To you, Mr President, I express heartfelt gratitude for the kind words with which you welcomed me to this historic Square. Through the distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps, my thoughts go also to the peoples whom they so worthily represent.
With respect I greet His Holiness Patriarch Maxim and the Metropolitans and Bishops of the Holy Synod, together with all the faithful of the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria. I fervently hope that my visit will serve to increase our knowledge of each other so that, with Gods help and on the day and in the way that pleases him, we shall finally live "united in the same mind and the same judgment" (1 Cor 1:10), mindful of the words of our one Lord: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (Jn 13:35).
3. With particular affection I embrace my Brother Bishops Christo, Gheorghi, Petko and Metodi, together with all the sons and daughters of the Catholic Church, priests, religious and laity: I come to you with the greeting and good wishes of peace that the Risen Lord offers to his disciples (cf. Jn 20:19), to confirm you in faith and encourage you on the path of Christian living.
I greet the Christians of the other Ecclesial Communities, the members of the Jewish Community with their President, and the followers of Islam led by the Grand Mufti. I reaffirm here, as I did at the meeting in Assisi, my conviction that every religion is called to promote justice and peace among peoples, forgiveness, life and love.
4. Bulgaria received the Gospel thanks to the preaching of Saints Cyril and Methodius, and down the centuries that seed planted in fertile soil has produced abundant fruits of Christian witness and holiness. Even during the long cold winter of the totalitarian system, which brought suffering to your country and to many other European nations, fidelity to the Gospel did not disappear, and numberless children of this people remained heroically faithful to Christ, in not a few cases to the point of sacrificing their lives.
I wish to honour here those courageous witnesses of faith, members of the various Christian denominations. May their sacrifice not be in vain, and may it serve as an example and make fruitful your ecumenical commitment with a view to the full unity of Christians. May those who work to build a society based on truth, justice and freedom look to them as well!
5. Wounds must be healed, and the future needs to be planned with optimism. This is certainly not an easy road, nor one without obstacles, but the united efforts of all sectors of the Nation will make it possible to achieve the desired goals. At the same time, there is a need to move forward with wisdom, in accordance with law and safeguarding democratic institutions, sparing no sacrifice, maintaining and promoting the values on which the greatness of the Nation is founded: moral and intellectual honesty, the defence of the family, care of the needy, respect for human life from conception until natural death.
I express my hope that the efforts to achieve social renewal, which Bulgaria is courageously undertaking, will be wisely received and generously supported by the European Union.
6. It was perhaps on this very spot, near the tombs of the martyrs, that the Bishops of East and West gathered in 342 or 343 for the important Council of Serdica, where the future of European Christianity was discussed. In the centuries following, there rose here the Basilica of Sophia, Divine Wisdom, which according to Christian thought indicates the foundations on which the city of man is to be built. The path to a peoples authentic progress cannot only be political and economic; it must also necessarily be open to the spiritual and moral dimension. Christianity is part of the roots of this countrys history and culture: therefore it cannot be ignored in any serious process of growth that looks towards the future.
The Catholic Church, with the daily commitment of her children and the ready availability of her structures, intends to contribute to maintaining and developing the heritage of spiritual and cultural values of which the country is so proud. She wishes to join her efforts with those of other Christians, to place at the service of all people those forces of civilization that the Gospel can offer also to the generations of the new millennium.
7. By reason of its geographical location, Bulgaria serves as a bridge between Western Europe and Southern Europe, like a kind of spiritual crossroads, a land of contacts and mutual understanding. Here the human and cultural wealth of the different regions of the Continent have come together: they have been welcomed and respected. I wish to pay a public tribute to the traditional hospitality of the Bulgarian people, remembering especially the noble efforts made to save thousands of Jews during the Second World War.
May the Mother of God, who is particularly loved and venerated here, keep Bulgaria under her mantle and intercede for her people, that they may grow in brotherhood and harmony! May Almighty God fill your noble country with his blessings, assuring it a future of prosperity and peace!
Assen Assenov Remains Head of Customs.
Standartnews
Finance Minister Milen Velchev proposed to Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Assen Assenov to become the head of the 'Customs' Agency, it became clear yesterday. The PM is expected to put his signature within several days. Assen Assenov has a long record of service in the customs' administration and was the acting head of the customs during the past three months.
(PY)
Season of Dismissals.
Standartnews
Ivan Neikov
Balkan Labor and Social Policy Institute
The winter is over and all of us anticipate the prognosis of Vice-Premier Nikolay Vassilev to materialize. He forecast that when the cold season is over and we set foot on the green, the time of raising will come - one will raise the rating, another - the living standards, while the third - something else... Though, it seems that we haven't stepped on the green lawn, but rather on live coals. The fire broke out because of the hollow promises. All expectations were immediately followed by pledges. The strain is fixed upon several points. In the employment sphere - the downsize in education is pending. Yet, it's strange, why are we talking only about the number of the dismissed teachers? And forget that several thousand jobs for ancillary and attendance personnel in schools, are also to be closed down. The next restructuring (which means dismissal) in BDZ (State Railway Company) gains momentum. Several thousands of army officers will also 'hand over' their uniforms. Anxiety has gripped the employees (tens of thousands in number) in BTC (Bulgarian Telecommunications Company). Further on, in the ranks one may catch a glimpse of people from the healthcare area, the administration... The 'coals' flare up somewhere else - there's no other country in the world where the living standard may increase if the incomes are frozen. And that is the reality for the next 2 - 3 years. Particularly, if the unexplainable pursuit of the Finance Ministry for the 'zero' budget deficit continues. This eats up not only the growth of incomes in the budget sphere, but actually hampers any investment program both of the central and the local governments.
* The author is a former minister of labor and social policy in Ivan Kostov-led government.
Michael Chernoy Launches Initiative to Help Victims of Palestinian Terror Attacks.
Standartnews
Project "Delphinarium: Jihad against Children" is meant to raise funds for the injured children and their families. It will be launched in Tel-Aviv, Moscow and New York.
Valery Weinberg, New York
Editor-in-Chief of "Novoe Russkoe Slovo"
Soon the first of June is coming - international day for the protection of childhood. The world mass media have already published dozens of articles on this topic. To no avail, though, will you look among them for articles that condemn the Palestinian mothers and fathers who send off their children to join the ranks of shahids. On June 1, 2001 a young Arab blasted himself in the crowd of Israeli teenagers in front of the Delphinarium disco in Tel-Aviv. Twenty-one were killed, among them 19 teens repatriates from the Commonwealth of Independent States, over 100 were injured, some severely. Two and a half months after, on September 11, the Arabian shahids killed more than 3000 people in New York and Washington. What country will suffer form a deadly blow tomorrow? Our vice-president Dick Cheney has recently warned that a violent terrorist attack can be expected today and tomorrow, as well as in one or two years. This means that we, in the blessed America, will have to live like the Israeli people live in the Holy Land - on full alert. However, this regime is not an obstacle for the extremists, last weekend there were two terrorists' attacks in Israel. Again there are killed and injured people. Arab-Islamic extremism is a global evil. The whole civilized world must join in the battle against it. The USA edition of "Novoe Russkoe Slovo" together with the Israelis of Russian origin will launch a project called "Delphinarium: Jihad against Children". This is also the title of a book written by Dmitry Radyshevski published in Russian, English and Hebrew with the help of Michael Chernoy's fund in Jerusalem. The presentation of the Hebrew edition will mark the first anniversary of the tragedy. It will take place in Tel Aviv on May 30. The Russian edition will be presented in Moscow on June 6, the English one, in New York. I, a man who saw a lot in his life, couldn't stop tears welling up reading this book. My son and daughter are peers of the killed or crippled Israeli children. It's only by chance that they are living in America, they could well live in Israel, for my wife was an Israeli citizen in the past... "In my sight they put my child into a grave and threw stones over her, shares her suffering repatriate Bronislava Osadchaya. My child is gone and no one will bring her back ever. I'm still alive, because I'm afraid of committing a sin. Not even a sin as itself, but its consequences. Because thus I still have a hope to meet her again. But if I do it the hope will vanish". Bronislava's daughter turned 18 a week before the tragedy. She was the only child of a not so young mother. They came to Israel from Lougansk. Alla Nalimova lost two daughters, Lena (18) and Julia (16). In their stead she got two plastic bags with two strings of beads and ID numbers. Ivan Loupalo recalls that his 17-year-old son's body was still warm when he came to the mortuary. He kept saying, "sunny, let's go home, what are you doing here?" Yes, this book is not for faint-hearted people, but one must read it out, against one's will, fighting the natural unwillingness to take in somebody else's pain. The survivals from the Riga ghetto remember that Jews from Germany didn't mix with Latvian Jews. To the last moment they hoped that Latvians will be shot but they will be returned to "Faterland". They were not... There can't be "others' pain". When I was reading "Delphinarium: Jihad against Children" the anguish of Bronislava Osadchaya, Alla Nalimova and Ivan Loupalo was my anguish, too. Thousands of Jews from New York and the readers of "Novoe Russkoe Slovo" responded to Israel's call for help. I believe that you will find courage and strength to meet the authors of this book and the victimized children. I want (don't you?) them not to feel forlorn, given up to be tortured by criminals disguised as fighters for freedom. "When I'm watching foreign TV programs, says Rita Abramova, I often hear the anchormen accusing Israel of all evil, while the Palestinians are pictured as victims, poor people... At such moments I want to address all mothers who live abroad and don't have an idea what's going on in Israel. What if their children went out one evening just like usual, saying "Mom, don't worry, I'll be back soon" and then wouldn't come back. If they had to look for their children in hospitals and morgues and identify their bodies, not even whole bodies, just remnants? What if they had to live through this horror? Then they would have understood what this tragedy means and what is really going on in the Middle East..." It's an awful wish, isn't it? Rita Abramova is 17. A shell pierced her lung and went down her diaphragm, she couldn't breathe and they had to pump out blood from her lungs. Her arm was broken at three places. Now there is a metal bar in her broken leg, from the thigh to the knee. God forbid to see your child in such a state. A renowned American entrepreneur and philanthropist Sam Kislin will render financial support to this action. It will prove that we are a united people! Paulina Valis (18) is one of the survivals. The shells lacerated her back and arm. Her both knees are severely injured, her ear-drum ruptured... But one can envy the girl's courage.
A 16-year-old Alena Shaportova was dreaming to become a model. The shells disfigured her head, half of her cerebrum is destroyed. The girl is learning to walk and speak. Her treatment may take long years...
Gen. Vassilev: Be Tolerant to Security Guards.
INTERVIEW Standartnews: Vassil Vassilev
Stephan Tashev
We won't hamper the people, whoever is claiming he can't go home is trying to find an excuse, Gen. Vassil Vassilev - director of the National Police, says.
- Gen. Vassilev the people who live in the cordoned-off regions, are complaining about heavy security measures because of the Pope's visit. Do they have any grounds?
- Claims of the kind are silly. Some are just trying to find an excuse for not going home for other reasons. These are security measures and they should be observed. All who wish to visit the closed-zone should show an ID with their permanent address. If they want to call at friends in those regions, no one will stop them. Regime, however, is implemented for the car traffic and the parking lots. Only during the events connected with the Pope, persons without a special invitation will be banned from entering the closed zone.
- Yet, lots of people grumble against the security measures. They've even accused you of 'arresting' the people because of the Pope's visit?
- These are far-fetched statements. We just implement the worldwide security rules for guarding person of importance like Pope John-Paul II. In the morning I've just received the latest information from the Russian Intelligence Service and the Federal Security Service. They inform us about probable challenges against the Pope's security. Yet, there's no information about threats. But they've told us that the measure we take, are exactly by the world standards. That's why I would like to ask the Bulgarians to show tolerance and patience to the temporary restrictions. In all states where the Pope pays a visit, it's just the same, as we currently do in regards with the security measures. You should remember the visit of US President Bill Clinton in Sofia. He was escorted by 1,000 guards, while the Pope is attended by 6 guardsmen solely. The security services all over the world, no matter - American, Russian, or Bulgarian, are aware that the Pope is target No 1 of the international terrorism. In result, we should undertake the exclusive security measures. This is made for the sake of the Bulgaria's image as well. Ex-Bosnian president interviewed about wartime terrorist camps, assassinations.
INTERVIEW BHTV1: Alija Izetbegovic
[Announcer] In an interview with BHTV1, the honorary chairman of the Party of Democratic Action [SDA], Alija Izetbegovic, has said that he disapproves of the case of illegal possession of weapons in Mostar, but he understands the fear of renewal of hostilities even after the signing of the Dayton Agreement. Due to his engagement with various state duties, Izetbegovic was not informed about the camp for military training in Pogorelica. He believes that the current investigation against the former members of the AID [Agency for Information and Documentation, intelligence service] will prove that. Izetbegovic also said that he received numerous phone calls from people at home and abroad, who inquired about his health.
[Unidentified reporter] The long-standing chairman of the SDA and former chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia-Hercegovina, Alija Izetbegovic, told BHTV1 that he was not informed about the existence of the recently discovered arms caches in Mostar and that he understands, but does not approve of, the motives of those who set up the warehouse in 1996.
[Izetbegovic] At the time, a large number of people did not believe in the Dayton Agreement, did not believe that peace will hold. I believed that peace will hold.
[Reporter] Izetbegovic rejected the possibility that the weapons, many years after Dayton, could be used for illegal trafficking. He also said that he knew nothing about the camp for military training in Pogorelica near Fojnica [central Bosnia] and believes that the current investigation will prove that. He said that he knew about the contacts of the then Interior Minister Bakir Alispahic with the Iranian, but also the French and American intelligence services.
[Izetbegovic] I knew about these contacts, but I really did not know about the Pogorelica camp.
[Reporter] How is that possible? You were the president of the state.
[Izetbegovic] It is absolutely possible. That was a pure [changes thought], namely, when one follows the progress of the investigation, at least what the media report, it becomes clear that Pogorelica was not a terrorist, but an anti-terrorist impulse. When I found out I said that it was a mistake. On the basis of the information issued by Sfor [NATO-led Stabilization Force], which was Ifor then, I said that it was a mistake. If the information was true, I said that it was a mistake.
[Reporter] Why did not Bakir Alispahic face charges then?
[Izetbegovic] Well, we trusted Alispahic with the anti-terrorist training. There were two versions: one that it was a terrorist camp and the other that it was an anti-terrorist camp. We trusted him, but he was replaced.
[Reporter] At the request of the Americans?
[Izetbegovic] At the request of the Americans, yes.
[Reporter] Izetbegovic denies that he was informed about the preparations for assassination of certain political officials.
[Izetbegovic] I do not know who came up with the idea to plan that assassination on Konca [as heard]. Too much fuss has been made about this issue. They killed [Hakija] Turajlic then, our deputy prime minister. That was also planned somewhere. Somebody, somewhere, some headquarters planned this, that man did not come alone to kill him. And that was done in the presence of Sfor, I mean,
[Reporter] Unprofor [UN Protection Force].
[Izetbegovic] Yes, Unprofor. No investigation was ever launched. So much fuss was made about this, whether the assassination was even attempted, although it was never carried out. Turajlic was killed. Fikret [?Abdic, former Muslim leader based in western Bosnia currently on trial for war crimes in Croatia] was not killed.
[Reporter] Izetbegovic knew about the loan of the Pakistani government to the amount of 20m dollars in 1992, but believed that the government in Islamabad would write it off.
[Izetbegovic] I think that there is no more left of that loan, I do not think so. I even thought that loan was written off since the Pakistani government kept silent about this loan for 10 years. At the time when [Haris] Silajdzic [the then prime minister] signed that agreement, there was talk that the loan would be transformed into some form of a donation.
[Reporter] Mr Izetbegovic, thank you for this interview.
[Izetbegovic] Thank you. Charlatans In Charge.
Antiwar
Nebojsa Malic
The unprecedented farce that unfolded at the Hague Inquisition's "courtroom" last week transcended shocking, pushed the limits of even this kangaroo court's credibility, and perfectly exemplified the past decade in the former Yugoslavia.
What it has shown, and what most people don't seem to understand, is that Imperial military, political, and economic interventions were just one big con.
Displaying a stunning degree of idiocy, leaders of Balkans fiefdoms bought into it, and made their people do so as well. Now the Empire has near-total control of the peninsula, logic and laws are turned on their head, and charlatans seem to have the run of the region.
Swindler's List.
Having seen scores of their witnesses shatter to pieces as Slobodan Milosevic's questioning unmasked their fragile lies, the prosecutors decided to call their star witness, an anonymous "insider" who claimed intimate knowledge of Milosevic's policies. In exchange for money and a new life in the West, "K-3" told of being privy to Milosevic's master plan to murder and expel thousands of Albanians. Reuters called his account the "clearest testimony to date." K-3's damning admissions sounded as if they were read straight from the Inquisition's indictment, or the voluminous collection of anti-Milosevic diatribes written over the past 10 years. He even claimed that Milosevic desired the bombing, in order to cleanse the Albanians and crack down on domestic opposition.
Too good to be true? It was.
"K-3" was soon revealed to be no other than one Ratomir Tanic, a Serbian swindler known for massive gambling debts and a penchant for inventing personal exploits. In other words, a professional con artist. The Serbian press regaled its readers with stories of Tanic's life of deceit. He never worked for Yugoslav intelligence. He did not know the location of any of the meeting rooms he described, and the meetings he claimed to have taken part in never took place. Most of this was revealed in the course of Milosevic's cross-examination, but true to form, reports ignored it.
Even Tanic's alleged party comrades members of New Democracy, led by the current DOS Police Minister, Dusan Mihajlovic denied he was ever a member, much less a policy advisor or high-ranking official. Mihajlovic dismissed Tanic as a nobody and called his testimony "rubbish."
In a normal court, this sort of charlatan witness advertised as prosecution's key asset should have cast doubt on the veracity of other witnesses already eroded by Milosevic's questioning. Then again, the Inquisition is not exactly a normal court, and the outcome of the "trial" has been fixed a long time ago.
Morons On The March.
On Tuesday, agencies announced that the Empire certified Serbian submission to the Inquisition, and thus in His Elevated Majesty's infinite mercy deemed it worthy of several more high-interest loans from the IMF and the World Bank. The Djindjic regime would also get a small reward ($40 million), courtesy of U.S. taxpayers.
It just so happened that the announcement was made while Djindjic was visiting Washington yet again. (For a head of an impoverished state in dire need of money, he sure travels a lot!) Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic, Djindjic's designated groveler for this trip, proudly proclaimed that the certification was "an acknowledgment for what we did in the last year and a half," and that such policy would continue.
That is truly wonderful. Just a week before, both Djindjic and the Serbian public were appalled at the recent statements made by Senator Joseph Biden at an Albanian lobby fundraiser. Threatening to cut off Imperial "aid" again, Biden demanded that Belgrade give up all influence and involvement in Kosovo and the Bosnian Serb Republic, fully prostrate itself before the Hague Inquisition, and that both Djindjic and President Kostunica publicly apologize for a "campaign of genocide" in the wars of the 1990s. Belgrade's shock was difficult to fathom. After all, Biden has long been a friend of the Albanian lobby, and a noted Serbophobe. More to the point, they have already accepted most of his demands, as exemplified by the policy Svilanovic was so proud of.
Exercises In Capitulation.
Belgrade has essentially abandoned Kosovo to the capricious power of Imperial gauleiter Michael Steiner, whose chilling visions of "multi-ethnicity" and "integration" spell further woes for the nearly-extinct Serbs. Even the Kosovo Serb leaders who condemn Belgrade's policy tend to believe in the occupiers' good intentions, proving either their extreme naivet or simple thick-headedness.
The appalling "Hague Cooperation Act" passed a month ago has divested Serbia and Yugoslavia from any sovereignty in respect to the Inquisition. With that act, and the "extradition" of Milosevic last June, the DOS regime effectively recognized the existence of a genocidal campaign or as the Inquisition's indictments call it, a "joint criminal enterprise." If it existed, why would anyone claiming to believe in "human rights" and "democratic reform" not apologize for it? If Bill Clinton could apologize for slavery...
Perverted logic thus produces the appropriately perverted conclusions.
Sovereignty either is, or isn't. The Inquisition is either legitimate and hence its charges would be legitimate, too or it's a kangaroo court, railroading people who never had a chance to get a fair trial. As the old sayings go, one can't be "a little bit pregnant" or "almost a virgin."
Anyone could have told the collective circus in charge of Serbia (well, not exactly) that their actions would have predictably dire consequences. It is unlikely they would have listened, though.
Delusions Of Goodness.
The rule of Djindjic and DOS is increasingly scrutinized by the Serbian media. No one has yet come to the logical conclusion that this motley crew couldn't find its way out of a paper bag, much less the conundrum of epic proportions Serbia has been thrown into at the fin de siecle, but it might only be a matter of time. Or it might not, given the extent to which so many in Serbia and elsewhere, to be fair still believe in Empire's ultimate goodness, and the promises of its Big Lie.
Take for example General Nebojsa Pavkovic, who commanded the troops facing the KLA and NATO in Kosovo back in 1999, and managed to defeat the former and hold off the latter with minimal casualties. He then became head of Yugoslav Army's General Staff. Over the past three years, the Empire and its most zealous servants have repeatedly called for his head. Now he tells the state news agency that he considers "the international community's support to include our country into the Partnership for Peace an expression of its endeavors to erase forever the traces of the Balkans' past as a trouble spot and to turn it into a zone of peace and cooperation." Translated from doubleplusgood duckspeak, this means he believes the Empire's good intentions in the Balkans, and wishes the Yugoslav Army to become a NATO satellite as soon as possible.
What Lies May Come
When exactly did the Empire change its stripes? Did it recant the criminal act of aggression that the 1999 NATO bombing clearly was? Did it stop the Albanian massacres and expulsions of Serbs from Kosovo, after June 1999? Did it perhaps catch the terrorists who blew up a busload of elderly Serbs in February 2001, as they were trying to visit the cemeteries in their occupied Kosovo hometowns? How come no one sent out a memo?
In fact, the NATO aggression is still presented as defense of unarmed, innocent Albanians from Slobodan Milosevic's evil "crackdown, resulting in 800,000 expelled and thousands killed" Just check any agency report, and that line will be in there somewhere. Not only did no one stop the Albanian terror since June 1999, it has been excused as "revenge attacks," ignored, and even helped by the occupying NATO armies.
As for the 11 Serbs killed on the bus in February last year a lengthy report in the London Times last week revealed how the investigation was sabotaged, stonewalled and deep-sixed by the Empire. Now the London Times dutifully parroted the party line during the 1999 attack, and even now used the "revenge attack" rationalization, so this was obviously not some unexpected pro-Serb bias. It sounded more like a small, still voice of whatever's left of humanity amongst Empire's paid apologists.
The Balkans Theater of the Absurd really knows no boundaries. True to the misguided, malicious fixation with creating a state in Bosnia, the Empire is currently undertaking an expensive bureaucratic experiment in reforming the occupied quasi-state's judicial system based on recommendations from the ICG. The effort is led by the 58-year-old Rakel Surlien, a prominent Norwegian judge, who decided to do foreign-aid work because she was "bored." That really says it all.
The Healing Power of Ridicule.
Faced with this much hypocrisy, malice, mendacity and sheer madness, all one can do is laugh. Evil craves to be worshipped, praised, respected, and feared. It cannot stand to be mocked.
So perhaps Slobodan Milosevic was on to something, when he took a moment in the midst of a fight for his life to be the best man at a fellow prisoner's wedding this past weekend. The wedding itself was a powerful message to those whose efforts to manufacture "justice" depend on delusional liars, and not even the BBC's snide commentary could fully deflect its impact.
Empire's legitimacy is based on nothing but lies and fear. Ridicule is the best weapon against both. The sooner the people of the Balkans and other places afflicted with Empire's penchant for conquest start laughing at their masters and stop following their orders, the sooner a lot of them might be free, and truly better off. Or they could continue to obey the charlatans running their lives, and accept the inevitable consequences. Consider this a memo to that effect.
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