THE HAGUE, Oct 9 (Hina) - Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on Wednesday attacked the credibility of former Montenegrin Foreign Minister, quoting sections of statements made by Nikola Samardzic justifying the actions of
Croatian Serbs and the Yugoslav Peoples' Army in Croatia.
THE HAGUE, Oct 9 (Hina) - Former Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic on Wednesday attacked the credibility of former
Montenegrin Foreign Minister, quoting sections of statements made
by Nikola Samardzic justifying the actions of Croatian Serbs and
the Yugoslav Peoples' Army in Croatia. #L#
"Why are you now saying the complete opposite," Milosevic asked,
quoting an entire series of speeches and letters in which Samardzic
in 1991 advocated the right of Serbs in Croatia to self-
determination, considered Prevlaka as part of Montenegro, stated
that Montenegro needs to defend itself from Croatian attacks OR
estimated that conflicts in Croatia resulted from the oppression of
the Serb people and their fears dating back to World War II, as well
as the genocidal nature of Croatia's politics.
"You then spoke the opposite... and now you refer to this as crime
and greater Serbian expansionism," Milosevic said.
Samardzic objected to some quotes claiming they were fabricated.
Following Samardzic's explanations, Milosevic at one moment asked
the witness if he was demented or if something else was wrong with
him.
During his cross-examination, Milosevic of his own initiative
stated that when he heard of the attacks on Dubrovnik, he himself
condemned the attacks in front of Lord Carrington.
Who attacked Dubrovnik, asked the presiding Judge, Richard May,
completely confusing Milosevic who then began to make excuses that
"someone had spoken about this at the conference" (Peace Conference
in The Hague).
"Who was in your opinion responsible for Dubrovnik?", May
insisted.
"We will get to that later," Milosevic responded, in the end
offering this interpretation. "The explanation I was given was that
the army was being attacked in an attempt to limit the actions of the
National Guard Corps."
Milosevic also disclosed how Samardzic in his initial statements to
the Hague investigators spoke about the involvement of the then
president of Montenegro, Mile Djukanovic, and his brother in
smuggling weapons ten years ago.
Samardzic said that a mistake had been made in his statement and
this referred to a former Yugoslav banker, Jezdmir Vasiljevic.
He said that he believed that up to 30,000 tonnes of arms were
smuggled that went to Croatian and Bosnian Serbs.
Samardzic's cross examination will continue on Thursday.
(hina) sp it sb