BELGRADE, Nov 26 (Hina) - The International Crisis Group's (ICG) assessment that the Yugoslav government knew about the illegal arms trade with Iraq "reflects ignorance of how the Government works and of the relationship between the
Government and the President," the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
BELGRADE, Nov 26 (Hina) - The International Crisis Group's (ICG)
assessment that the Yugoslav government knew about the illegal arms
trade with Iraq "reflects ignorance of how the Government works and
of the relationship between the Government and the President," the
Yugoslav Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. #L#
In a report released on Monday, the Washington-based non-
governmental organisation claims that both the government and
President Vojislav Kostunica, as well as some Serbian officials,
knew about the banned trade but did nothing to prevent it.
In its statement, the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry says it
"attentively anticipates the release of the International Crisis
Group's final and official version of the arms trade with Iraq
because of the influence it might have on individual important
groups in the country and abroad".
Talking to news agency Beta, Yugoslav Prime Minister Dragisa Pesic
said that not one minister in his government had any knowledge of
any cooperation with Iraq
Military chief-of-staff Branko Krga told reporters today the army,
in compliance with Yugoslav laws, did not participate in arms sales
to other countries.
Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic, speaking to
reporters today, said the ICG report "contains points which are
correct" but that the paper was "written rather tendentiously" and
"interfered with internal political affairs during pre-electoral
time in Serbia".
(hina) ha sb