ITN REPORTER TESTIFIES IN MILOSEVIC TRIAL

ZAGREB/THE HAGUE, Feb 25 (Hina) - The trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic before the Hague-based international war crimes tribunal continued Tuesday with the testimony of a reporter for the ITN British television network, Paul Davies, who spoke about the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) attack on Dubrovnik in autumn 1991. #L# Davies reported from the besieged town in October and November that year. In his testimony he said the JNA had shelled Dubrovnik hotels and the old town despite the fact that there had been no Croatian soldiers at those locations. The JNA shelled the Libertas, Belvedere, Excelsior, Imperial and Argentina hotels, said Davies. In reply to a question by prosecutor Geoffrey Nice, Davies asserted refugees had been accommodated in these hotels, but no soldiers. The town's historical centre was not shelled for the most part of the time, but was damaged in attacks from November 9 through 12, he said, adding that it seemed as if the Serb policy had changed during those several days. During the four days, the old town was heavily shelled and there were a lot of damaged buildings which were clearly marked by UNESCO signs, Davies said. He added that there had been no defence positions in the old town. The reporter testified that he had spent three weeks in Dubrovnik and had frequently visited the old town, during which he had not seen any defence positions. No shots were ever fired from the old town, except from a rocket launcher in the vicinity, he said. Croatian soldiers were poorly armed and could only jeopardise JNA positions around the town under siege and JNA war ships off Dubrovnik's coast from time to time, said Davies. There were frequent attempts to attack JNA positions on the Zarkovici hill, but those were mostly unsuccessful, he testified. This was no war. This was an attack on people who could only sporadically defend themselves. This was not a balanced event, it was a unilateral war, Davies asserted. (hina) lml