LTG Dikovic's interview to Vreme
Thursday, 2.2.2012 | Interviews
There are two reasons to talk with General Ljubisa Dikovic: first –his appointing as the SAF Chief of the General Staff and the other - the allegations and accusations made by the Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) that his participation in Kosovo war was not without any stains. If the whole process of appointing to the post of SAF CHOD had been performed by procedure and without the scandal, which had not always been characteristic of the armed forces, "Dossier Ljubisa Dikovic" by has certainly stirred things up.
ABOUT ARMED FORCES AND ALLEGATIONS OF WARFARE IN KOSOVO
When one listens to the allegations made by the Fund for Humanitarian Law, someone who is neutral and is not apprized of the situation and problems may conclude that the army went to Kosovo to burn, rob and kill everything. That is not what happened, as anyone who was known to have committed crimes, was prosecuted according to laws and regulations.
There are two reasons to talk with General Ljubisa Dikovic: first –his appointing as the SAF Chief of the General Staff and the other - the allegations and accusations made by the Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) that his participation in Kosovo war was not without any stains. If the whole process of appointing to the post of SAF CHOD had been performed by procedure and without the scandal, which had not always been characteristic of the armed forces, "Dossier Ljubisa Dikovic" by has certainly stirred things up. The first interview of General Dikovic as Chief of Staff is therefore devoted to the current state of affairs, development, plans and activities of the Serbian Army and the answers to the charges part of the Humanitarian Law.
"VREME": You are the first Chief of the Army of Serbia which is now fully professionalized. What are your experiences?
GENERAL DIKOVIC: In the past two years we have actively worked on the project of professionalization of the Army of Serbia, which is one of the most important reform steps in the defense system. I would be happy if I could tell you- the Army is now fully professional and the reforms are complete. However, we will be working on this project for another several years, because it includes not only admitting professional soldiers instead of those who have served full-time military service, but also modernization, equipping with new weaponry, new systems and methods of training ... We have succeeded in the past year in completing the admission of professional soldiers. The number of interested applicants was high- we had 23,000 applications for admission to the Army of Serbia. We have admitted about six and a half thousand professional soldiers 14 % of whom are women, as I would like to stress on this occasion..
The reform process will continue: we have received professional soldiers, trained them and now we are moving towards developing new weaponry and equipping units. What are the benefits, one may ask? Firstly - we have manned the units with people who really see themselves in the military profession and who meet the conditions; furthermore- we get people motivated to serve in the army, which will cost slightly more than soldiers on military service, but the savings are higher because once you train a professional, there is no longer basic training again, and he continues his training in accordance with the tasks they carry out, and thirdly - there are great savings in terms of armaments and military equipments this means reduction in overusing the equipment, less consumption of fuel, ammunition and other resources in training. Finally, the biggest benefit of a professional army is to get masters of their craft, highly trained to handle weapons and systems.
These are the advantages, what about disadvantages of professionalism?
There is a possibility that in a period of economic prosperity of the country the number of people interested in working in the Army may drop. Then - and this is more a matter of tradition rather than a real danger - there is a perception that the professional military as an institution could be separated from the public. Of course, we know how to overcome these problems, when it comes to the latter; we are left with the possibility that all those who wish can do military service on voluntary basis. After all, all these professionals are our people, therefore a professional Army has far more advantages than disadvantages.
What is the state of weapons and equipment in the Army of Serbia?
It's no secret that most of our military technology dates back to 1980s. This is the case with systems of aviation, defense and anti air craft artillery systems. The priority is to improve the operational capabilities of Air Force. We have done a complete overhaul of several MiG-29 and extended their life span. We are looking for solutions for three important items: increasing the capacity of transport of aircraft and helicopters, the improvement of systems and equipment of anti fighter planes. As for the Army, the priority is to equip units engaged in the Ground Safety Zone, including declared units for participation in multinational operations. So far we have succeeded in supplying the Army with weapons and equipment, the "Model M21 for equipping infantry soldiers," with several thousand 5.56 mm caliber M21 rifles and the majority of protective equipment for soldiers. Special Brigade - as an elite unit - we have equipped the most modern means, so that it is now equipped and trained to the level of the latest brigade of its kind in the world. During this year we expect the "Hummer" donation made by the United States. In the future priorities will be the modernization of M84 tanks and artillery weapons. There is also a project to develop wheeled armored vehicle to replace the paver.
How would you assess the cooperation of the Serbian Army and KFOR?
Kosovo and Metohija is a potential source of risk and threat to security of the Republic of Serbia. Army of Serbia highly professional and responsible tasks performed in the Ground Safety Zone, including full cooperation with KFOR forces. In recent years there has been cooperation at all levels through regular meetings, joint patrols and prompt resolution of all possible threats in the so-called hot spots. The best indicator of good cooperation is that as of 2005, we began with the simultaneous patrols, to date we have achieved more than 2000 of these patrols. Meetings at the highest level are held regularly, I will have a meeting with the commander of KFOR early this month. In all the discussions we insist on objectivity and acting in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1244 of the United Nations. Army of Serbia in the Ground Safety Zone was and will be a stabilizing factor.
Were there any special requirements of KFOR given the tense situation in the north of Kosovo?
There were some specific requests regarding the situation in northern Kosovo and Metohija. KFOR has asked us to step up a little vigilance and security, that is not to allow the use of alternative routes for moving towards Kosovo and Metohija,and we managed to control this successfully... We followed what KFOR was doing and what measures to take.
What information do the army have with respect to incidents at Jarinje?
We had the same information, and nothing more than other entities. During the information exchange with KFOR we always insisted on solving the situation without using force.
How is the cooperation of the Serbian Armed Forces progressing in the region?
International military cooperation is one of the priorities of the Serbian Army in 2012. We have a very dynamic bilateral military cooperation plan in which the region in the first place. There are a lot of opportunities, as well as common interests. There are plans to form a battalion with Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Ukraine in the Tisa River Basin to assist the population in case of flooding. With Macedonia we will perform joint exercises and activities on water, this year we plan to exercise at the training ground Krivolak. With Romania we had very good cooperation last year and we plan to continue this year to exchange experiences with regard to participation in multinational operations. I would also like to remind you that my first meeting as SAF CHOD was with the Chief of General Staff of the Croatian army.
We aim to be in the region, through cooperation and mutual understanding, break down barriers that have no reason to exist. Also, our goal is to gain as much experience on participation in multinational operations, to carry out joint training unit, to monitor what and how others are doing, to what extent the development of their armed forces, and in accordance with these and other factors and conditions we train our military. Because no one I have to see what the problems of others, what's positive and what is negative. For example, when we went in the professionalization of the Army, we talked with anyone about their experiences.
What about military cooperation outside the region?
It is important to participate in the Partnership for Peace, in which we have accepted forty goals. Also, we want to increase the participation of the Serbian Armed Forces in peacekeeping missions of the United Nations and the European Union. I recently met in Brussels with the chief of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of General Staff of the Russian Federation, the EU Military Committee Chairman ... The aim of these discussions was that we specify the activities of international cooperation. What we are striving for is that the international military cooperation through strengthening the operational capabilities of the Army of Serbia, and to achieve an exchange of experiences, training and education of officers, joint training and exercises.
How many members of the Serbian Army currently participate in peacekeeping missions?
Serbian Army currently has 65 members in five peacekeeping missions. There are 45 officers and professional soldiers in Cyprus, and I was delighted to hear that the name of the military base our soldiers are stationed in bears the name of Stefan Nemanja. In Liberia and the Ivory Coast our members are engaged on the duties of military observers. In Lebanon, we have the staff officers in command of the mission, where they participate within the Spanish contingent. In Congo our medical team is stationed there engaged on evacuating patients by air. I expect that this year the number of engaged members of the Serbian Armed Forces in peacekeeping missions is increasing.
What does participation of our member in various peacekeeping missions mean for us?
The Republic of Serbia is committed to this as a member of the UN and as a European country participating in the multinational operations of the United Nations and EU operations for crisis management. We participate in many ways, thus contributing to stability and security in the areas of engagement. We develop the operational capabilities of the Army of Serbia for the execution of all missions and tasks. Then, Serbia to meet its obligations arising from membership in the United Nations. Participation of the Serbian Armed Forces in peacekeeping missions, Serbia became part of the family of nations that contribute to security, troubleshooting, and maintaining peace.
How the Army of Serbia qualified for the rehabilitation of the consequences of natural disasters and disasters?
One of the main tasks of the Serbian Army is providing assistance to citizens in case of threats of any kind. Soldiers and officers of our army jumped in to help citizens during floods, fires, earthquakes, shortness of drinking water supply ... We set up the bridges on Resava, Lim and South Morava in order to allow citizens a normal life and smooth movement. These days, helping to clear up roads in Serbia than snow. We are present in Nova Varos, Bosilegrad Vladicin Han, Babusnica and elsewhere. All this demonstrates the ability of the Serbian Army to help people. When is the hardest, the first Army helps. So it will be in the future, because we feel like the people's army, and people perceived us as their own.
What do you see as the security challenges in Serbia?
The security situation in Serbia and in the Western Balkans is stable but there are possible causes of threats to security in Kosovo and Metohija. The main threats to security in Serbia unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo and Metohija and security of citizens in Kosovo. The activities of extremist groups, corruption and organized crime make the situation in this province is very sensitive in terms of security.
Serbian Army and other security structures of the Republic of Serbia are intensively monitor and analyze the security situation and in accordance with their powers and responsibilities of taking adequate measures to prevent compromising the security of citizens. We are soldiers we like to resolve all outstanding issues through political means, and we hope it will be the case. However, the Army will continue to develop their abilities and is sure to be ready and able to respond to security risks in this area.
As Chief of Staff, what will be the priority in your work?
In all areas, the reform processes take the time necessary to reach certain standards and goals. For the Army of Serbia, priority will be to strengthen the operational capabilities, primarily through proposing a plan of equipping, improving the organization and training, international military cooperation and human resource management. Investing in the Army is not rattling weapons and threat of force, investments in the Army is investing in the security of the Republic of Serbia and its citizens.
How do you comment on the reports of the Humanitarian Law Fund which makes allegations regarding your acts while serving in the Yugoslav Army in mid-nineties and later in Kosovo?
There has been much debate about the writings of the Humanitarian Law. I really find it difficult to think about anything else except the armed forces and arbitrary statements of the Humanitarian Law Fund under the name of those famous "dossier Dikovic Ljubisa". There is no truth in all of that, and nothing is accidental about their allegations. It is certain that all these statements have been placed in a certain context. But what concerns me most is that this deepens the hatred in former Yugoslavia. The World War II ended in 1945, and our people began to go to Germany to work temporarily in the middle of the fifties - that is, ten years after the war. It has been several years since the war in former Yugoslavia, and it seems that some still want problems and wounds never to heal, that they continue open and burning, thus being a constant source of instability from which someone is profiting.
These days a lot has been said about the claims of the Humanitarian Law Fund which possess the so-called dossier of Dikovic Ljubisa. All these are a series of lies and I consider this to be an attack on the Serbian Army which is a stable and respected institution and an attack on the Chief of General Staff. For example, the allegations state that in 1994 and 1995, that as a commander of the 16th border battalion I committed certain acts; however on 30th August 1994 I handed over the duty, so I was not on that duty in 1995.
Furthermore, it reads that in 1998 I ordered that a vehicle be driven from Belacevac in Raska to be sold there, and in that very year the 37th Motorized Brigade was been in Kosovo and Metohija, but was sent there in 1999.
Paradoxically, the opinion of the Humanitarian Law Fund is that I am responsible for death of my the battalion under the command of Dragan Mitrovic and other members of the regular army, who died in their country, and not to blame the terrorist organization KLA, KLA not to blame that they were killed.
What's important is that HLF is neglecting any knowledge about the crimes that were prosecuted. Against fifteen people from the 37th brigade criminal charges on counts of war crimes were filed.
After all, you can see the official standpoint of the Court for war Crimes...
The fact, however that there were crimes committed in Kosovo remains. What did you, as a brigade commander, do to prevent looting and war crimes?
When one listens to the allegations made by the Fund for Humanitarian Law, someone who is neutral and is not apprized of the situation and problems may conclude that the army went to Kosovo to burn, rob and kill everything. That is not what happened, as anyone who was known to have committed crimes, was prosecuted according to laws and regulations. There is no mention in HLF’s solve the electricity supply in Glogovac, which was then eight thousand people, no mention of the Pristina Corps action to prevent hunger, does not mention the division of several tons of flour, oil and other ingredients necessary for life of the population. It's all written down and documented.
All those who were known to have committed war crimes have been prosecuted, according to the law. This is the essence. Of course, there are orders of the commanders in the field of Kosovo, so let's see what it says about protecting people and property, preventing robbery and inhumane treatment ...
So, you can vouch for everything you say to be true?
Absolutely.
It is mentioned in the Report of the Humanitarian Law Fund that you used two vehicles -a Mercedes and a Landrover ...
Not that I used , but it appropriated for itself, according to the Humanitarian Law Fund. So where are these vehicles, do you really think that if these allegations were true that they would not have stated their current location? This is untrue.
They state that I became the owner of thousands of cattle herds and flocks seized by Kosovo Albanians. This is how their fabrications work. May that be on their conscience if they have one.
Minister Dragan Sutanovac said that you have been checked out before you became chief of staff. What kind of checks are we talking about?
These are regular and thorough security checks to be carried out for all the people who are placed on senior managerial positions.
When one listens to the allegations made by the Fund for Humanitarian Law, someone who is neutral and is not apprized of the situation and problems may conclude that the army went to Kosovo to burn, rob and kill everything. That is not what happened, as anyone who was known to have committed crimes, was prosecuted according to laws and regulations.
There are two reasons to talk with General Ljubisa Dikovic: first –his appointing as the SAF Chief of the General Staff and the other - the allegations and accusations made by the Humanitarian Law Center (HLC) that his participation in Kosovo war was not without any stains. If the whole process of appointing to the post of SAF CHOD had been performed by procedure and without the scandal, which had not always been characteristic of the armed forces, "Dossier Ljubisa Dikovic" by has certainly stirred things up. The first interview of General Dikovic as Chief of Staff is therefore devoted to the current state of affairs, development, plans and activities of the Serbian Army and the answers to the charges part of the Humanitarian Law.
"VREME": You are the first Chief of the Army of Serbia which is now fully professionalized. What are your experiences?
GENERAL DIKOVIC: In the past two years we have actively worked on the project of professionalization of the Army of Serbia, which is one of the most important reform steps in the defense system. I would be happy if I could tell you- the Army is now fully professional and the reforms are complete. However, we will be working on this project for another several years, because it includes not only admitting professional soldiers instead of those who have served full-time military service, but also modernization, equipping with new weaponry, new systems and methods of training ... We have succeeded in the past year in completing the admission of professional soldiers. The number of interested applicants was high- we had 23,000 applications for admission to the Army of Serbia. We have admitted about six and a half thousand professional soldiers 14 % of whom are women, as I would like to stress on this occasion..
The reform process will continue: we have received professional soldiers, trained them and now we are moving towards developing new weaponry and equipping units. What are the benefits, one may ask? Firstly - we have manned the units with people who really see themselves in the military profession and who meet the conditions; furthermore- we get people motivated to serve in the army, which will cost slightly more than soldiers on military service, but the savings are higher because once you train a professional, there is no longer basic training again, and he continues his training in accordance with the tasks they carry out, and thirdly - there are great savings in terms of armaments and military equipments this means reduction in overusing the equipment, less consumption of fuel, ammunition and other resources in training. Finally, the biggest benefit of a professional army is to get masters of their craft, highly trained to handle weapons and systems.
These are the advantages, what about disadvantages of professionalism?
There is a possibility that in a period of economic prosperity of the country the number of people interested in working in the Army may drop. Then - and this is more a matter of tradition rather than a real danger - there is a perception that the professional military as an institution could be separated from the public. Of course, we know how to overcome these problems, when it comes to the latter; we are left with the possibility that all those who wish can do military service on voluntary basis. After all, all these professionals are our people, therefore a professional Army has far more advantages than disadvantages.
What is the state of weapons and equipment in the Army of Serbia?
It's no secret that most of our military technology dates back to 1980s. This is the case with systems of aviation, defense and anti air craft artillery systems. The priority is to improve the operational capabilities of Air Force. We have done a complete overhaul of several MiG-29 and extended their life span. We are looking for solutions for three important items: increasing the capacity of transport of aircraft and helicopters, the improvement of systems and equipment of anti fighter planes. As for the Army, the priority is to equip units engaged in the Ground Safety Zone, including declared units for participation in multinational operations. So far we have succeeded in supplying the Army with weapons and equipment, the "Model M21 for equipping infantry soldiers," with several thousand 5.56 mm caliber M21 rifles and the majority of protective equipment for soldiers. Special Brigade - as an elite unit - we have equipped the most modern means, so that it is now equipped and trained to the level of the latest brigade of its kind in the world. During this year we expect the "Hummer" donation made by the United States. In the future priorities will be the modernization of M84 tanks and artillery weapons. There is also a project to develop wheeled armored vehicle to replace the paver.
How would you assess the cooperation of the Serbian Army and KFOR?
Kosovo and Metohija is a potential source of risk and threat to security of the Republic of Serbia. Army of Serbia highly professional and responsible tasks performed in the Ground Safety Zone, including full cooperation with KFOR forces. In recent years there has been cooperation at all levels through regular meetings, joint patrols and prompt resolution of all possible threats in the so-called hot spots. The best indicator of good cooperation is that as of 2005, we began with the simultaneous patrols, to date we have achieved more than 2000 of these patrols. Meetings at the highest level are held regularly, I will have a meeting with the commander of KFOR early this month. In all the discussions we insist on objectivity and acting in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1244 of the United Nations. Army of Serbia in the Ground Safety Zone was and will be a stabilizing factor.
Were there any special requirements of KFOR given the tense situation in the north of Kosovo?
There were some specific requests regarding the situation in northern Kosovo and Metohija. KFOR has asked us to step up a little vigilance and security, that is not to allow the use of alternative routes for moving towards Kosovo and Metohija,and we managed to control this successfully... We followed what KFOR was doing and what measures to take.
What information do the army have with respect to incidents at Jarinje?
We had the same information, and nothing more than other entities. During the information exchange with KFOR we always insisted on solving the situation without using force.
How is the cooperation of the Serbian Armed Forces progressing in the region?
International military cooperation is one of the priorities of the Serbian Army in 2012. We have a very dynamic bilateral military cooperation plan in which the region in the first place. There are a lot of opportunities, as well as common interests. There are plans to form a battalion with Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Ukraine in the Tisa River Basin to assist the population in case of flooding. With Macedonia we will perform joint exercises and activities on water, this year we plan to exercise at the training ground Krivolak. With Romania we had very good cooperation last year and we plan to continue this year to exchange experiences with regard to participation in multinational operations. I would also like to remind you that my first meeting as SAF CHOD was with the Chief of General Staff of the Croatian army.
We aim to be in the region, through cooperation and mutual understanding, break down barriers that have no reason to exist. Also, our goal is to gain as much experience on participation in multinational operations, to carry out joint training unit, to monitor what and how others are doing, to what extent the development of their armed forces, and in accordance with these and other factors and conditions we train our military. Because no one I have to see what the problems of others, what's positive and what is negative. For example, when we went in the professionalization of the Army, we talked with anyone about their experiences.
What about military cooperation outside the region?
It is important to participate in the Partnership for Peace, in which we have accepted forty goals. Also, we want to increase the participation of the Serbian Armed Forces in peacekeeping missions of the United Nations and the European Union. I recently met in Brussels with the chief of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of General Staff of the Russian Federation, the EU Military Committee Chairman ... The aim of these discussions was that we specify the activities of international cooperation. What we are striving for is that the international military cooperation through strengthening the operational capabilities of the Army of Serbia, and to achieve an exchange of experiences, training and education of officers, joint training and exercises.
How many members of the Serbian Army currently participate in peacekeeping missions?
Serbian Army currently has 65 members in five peacekeeping missions. There are 45 officers and professional soldiers in Cyprus, and I was delighted to hear that the name of the military base our soldiers are stationed in bears the name of Stefan Nemanja. In Liberia and the Ivory Coast our members are engaged on the duties of military observers. In Lebanon, we have the staff officers in command of the mission, where they participate within the Spanish contingent. In Congo our medical team is stationed there engaged on evacuating patients by air. I expect that this year the number of engaged members of the Serbian Armed Forces in peacekeeping missions is increasing.
What does participation of our member in various peacekeeping missions mean for us?
The Republic of Serbia is committed to this as a member of the UN and as a European country participating in the multinational operations of the United Nations and EU operations for crisis management. We participate in many ways, thus contributing to stability and security in the areas of engagement. We develop the operational capabilities of the Army of Serbia for the execution of all missions and tasks. Then, Serbia to meet its obligations arising from membership in the United Nations. Participation of the Serbian Armed Forces in peacekeeping missions, Serbia became part of the family of nations that contribute to security, troubleshooting, and maintaining peace.
How the Army of Serbia qualified for the rehabilitation of the consequences of natural disasters and disasters?
One of the main tasks of the Serbian Army is providing assistance to citizens in case of threats of any kind. Soldiers and officers of our army jumped in to help citizens during floods, fires, earthquakes, shortness of drinking water supply ... We set up the bridges on Resava, Lim and South Morava in order to allow citizens a normal life and smooth movement. These days, helping to clear up roads in Serbia than snow. We are present in Nova Varos, Bosilegrad Vladicin Han, Babusnica and elsewhere. All this demonstrates the ability of the Serbian Army to help people. When is the hardest, the first Army helps. So it will be in the future, because we feel like the people's army, and people perceived us as their own.
What do you see as the security challenges in Serbia?
The security situation in Serbia and in the Western Balkans is stable but there are possible causes of threats to security in Kosovo and Metohija. The main threats to security in Serbia unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo and Metohija and security of citizens in Kosovo. The activities of extremist groups, corruption and organized crime make the situation in this province is very sensitive in terms of security.
Serbian Army and other security structures of the Republic of Serbia are intensively monitor and analyze the security situation and in accordance with their powers and responsibilities of taking adequate measures to prevent compromising the security of citizens. We are soldiers we like to resolve all outstanding issues through political means, and we hope it will be the case. However, the Army will continue to develop their abilities and is sure to be ready and able to respond to security risks in this area.
As Chief of Staff, what will be the priority in your work?
In all areas, the reform processes take the time necessary to reach certain standards and goals. For the Army of Serbia, priority will be to strengthen the operational capabilities, primarily through proposing a plan of equipping, improving the organization and training, international military cooperation and human resource management. Investing in the Army is not rattling weapons and threat of force, investments in the Army is investing in the security of the Republic of Serbia and its citizens.
How do you comment on the reports of the Humanitarian Law Fund which makes allegations regarding your acts while serving in the Yugoslav Army in mid-nineties and later in Kosovo?
There has been much debate about the writings of the Humanitarian Law. I really find it difficult to think about anything else except the armed forces and arbitrary statements of the Humanitarian Law Fund under the name of those famous "dossier Dikovic Ljubisa". There is no truth in all of that, and nothing is accidental about their allegations. It is certain that all these statements have been placed in a certain context. But what concerns me most is that this deepens the hatred in former Yugoslavia. The World War II ended in 1945, and our people began to go to Germany to work temporarily in the middle of the fifties - that is, ten years after the war. It has been several years since the war in former Yugoslavia, and it seems that some still want problems and wounds never to heal, that they continue open and burning, thus being a constant source of instability from which someone is profiting.
These days a lot has been said about the claims of the Humanitarian Law Fund which possess the so-called dossier of Dikovic Ljubisa. All these are a series of lies and I consider this to be an attack on the Serbian Army which is a stable and respected institution and an attack on the Chief of General Staff. For example, the allegations state that in 1994 and 1995, that as a commander of the 16th border battalion I committed certain acts; however on 30th August 1994 I handed over the duty, so I was not on that duty in 1995.
Furthermore, it reads that in 1998 I ordered that a vehicle be driven from Belacevac in Raska to be sold there, and in that very year the 37th Motorized Brigade was been in Kosovo and Metohija, but was sent there in 1999.
Paradoxically, the opinion of the Humanitarian Law Fund is that I am responsible for death of my the battalion under the command of Dragan Mitrovic and other members of the regular army, who died in their country, and not to blame the terrorist organization KLA, KLA not to blame that they were killed.
What's important is that HLF is neglecting any knowledge about the crimes that were prosecuted. Against fifteen people from the 37th brigade criminal charges on counts of war crimes were filed.
After all, you can see the official standpoint of the Court for war Crimes...
The fact, however that there were crimes committed in Kosovo remains. What did you, as a brigade commander, do to prevent looting and war crimes?
When one listens to the allegations made by the Fund for Humanitarian Law, someone who is neutral and is not apprized of the situation and problems may conclude that the army went to Kosovo to burn, rob and kill everything. That is not what happened, as anyone who was known to have committed crimes, was prosecuted according to laws and regulations. There is no mention in HLF’s solve the electricity supply in Glogovac, which was then eight thousand people, no mention of the Pristina Corps action to prevent hunger, does not mention the division of several tons of flour, oil and other ingredients necessary for life of the population. It's all written down and documented.
All those who were known to have committed war crimes have been prosecuted, according to the law. This is the essence. Of course, there are orders of the commanders in the field of Kosovo, so let's see what it says about protecting people and property, preventing robbery and inhumane treatment ...
So, you can vouch for everything you say to be true?
Absolutely.
It is mentioned in the Report of the Humanitarian Law Fund that you used two vehicles -a Mercedes and a Landrover ...
Not that I used , but it appropriated for itself, according to the Humanitarian Law Fund. So where are these vehicles, do you really think that if these allegations were true that they would not have stated their current location? This is untrue.
They state that I became the owner of thousands of cattle herds and flocks seized by Kosovo Albanians. This is how their fabrications work. May that be on their conscience if they have one.
Minister Dragan Sutanovac said that you have been checked out before you became chief of staff. What kind of checks are we talking about?
These are regular and thorough security checks to be carried out for all the people who are placed on senior managerial positions.
