ZAGREB, June 17 (Hina) - Zoran Lilic, a Yugoslav president before Slobodan Milosevic, testified at the Hague's war crimes tribunal Tuesday about the extent of Milosevic's influence on the making of the most important decisions in the
then republic and federal authorities.
ZAGREB, June 17 (Hina) - Zoran Lilic, a Yugoslav president before
Slobodan Milosevic, testified at the Hague's war crimes tribunal
Tuesday about the extent of Milosevic's influence on the making of
the most important decisions in the then republic and federal
authorities. #L#
Speaking about the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), Lilic said it
was the largest party in the then Yugoslavia and the Balkans, in
which not one decision had been made without Milosevic's approval.
"Decisions were made in Milosevic's inner circle and relayed by
associates to the executive committee, which gave them legitimacy.
The committee was practically a 'shadow government', but not one
decision was ever made without Milosevic's approval," Lilic said.
"I can say the SPS was led by Milosevic's family and a narrow circle
of people," he said.
Lilic also commented on the Yugoslav United Left (JUL), a party
whose establishment was officially initiated by Milosevic's wife,
Mira Markovic, in 1995. Lilic said, however, he was not sure who had
actually founded the party, she or Milosevic.
Lilic testified how the JUL had gradually taken over all important
functions in Serbia and later in Yugoslavia, on the fronts of
economy and media, adding that both parties had been under
Milosevic's indisputable influence.
Asked by the prosecutor what stand Milosevic advocated regarding
Serbs outside Serbia and Montenegro, Lilic said his stand was that
"every people in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia has
the right to decide about its own destiny, but that the Serb people
want to live in one, not several states".
Speaking about the Supreme Defence Council (VSO), comprised of the
presidents of Serbia, Montenegro and Yugoslavia, Lilic said the
three members were equal, but only the Yugoslav president had
transferred decisions to the Yugoslav Army. The army's chief-of-
staff also answered to the president, Lilic said.
Lilic confirmed that Yugoslavia and the Yugoslav Army had provided
assistance to the Bosnian Serb army and the "army of the Republic of
Srpska Krajina" in Croatia, adding Milosevic had "significant
influence" and control over Bosnian and Croatian Serbs and
financially controlled both Republika Srpska and "the Republic of
Srpska Krajina".
Lilic said volunteers had been trained as part of the Yugoslav Army
in 1995 under the command of Captain Dragan, as backup for Bosnian
and Croatian Serbs. He said that General Momcilo Perisic had told
him "this was done under Milosevic's orders".
Lilic said he had been shocked by this, since the training had been
carried out just before the signing of the Dayton accords and after
the massacre in Srebrenica for which, he said, Milosevic was not
responsible.
"I was shocked, so I closed down the (training) centres in late
September 1995," Lilic said.
Asked whether Yugoslav officers had served in the Croatian and
Bosnian Serbs' armies, Lilic said "they could have volunteered".
Trying to give a clear picture of the extent of Milosevic's
influence, Lilic underlined his power and influence in the economic
and foreign policy areas.
Milosevic appointed directors of all important companies and
successfully controlled foreign affairs.
"All international negotiations about Republika Srpska and
'Krajina' were conducted with Milosevic, but I must say that the
international community accepted that," said Lilic. He added that
he had not been included in international negotiations.
Regarding the war in Kosovo, Lilic said there had been lack of co-
ordination between the police and army. He claimed Milosevic had
had much more confidence in the police, which was why he had refused
to declare a state of emergency and immediate war danger, to avoid
involving the army.
"He dismissed General Perisic's suggestion that the VSO declare a
state of emergency and involve the Yugoslav Army," Lilic said.
Moreover, Milosevic separated the Guard Brigade from the Yugoslav
Army and made it subordinate to the interior ministry. In a letter
dated July 23, 1998, General Perisic warned about the illegal
deployment of Yugoslav Army units, Lilic said, adding Milosevic had
not accepted recommendations from the letter.
Zoran Lilic was Yugoslav president from 1993 to 1997.
(hina) lml