THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, Oct 21 (Hina) - The prosecution in the trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic before the Hague war crimes tribunal put Dobrila Gajic-Glisic, the Serbian defence minister's chief of staff in the autumn
of 1991, to the witness stand on Tuesday.
THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, Oct 21 (Hina) - The prosecution in the trial of
former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic before the Hague war
crimes tribunal put Dobrila Gajic-Glisic, the Serbian defence
minister's chief of staff in the autumn of 1991, to the witness
stand on Tuesday. #L#
Gajic-Glisic headed Minister Tomislav Simovic's office from
September to December 1991, during the war in Croatia. In August
1992 she published a book, "The Serbian Army" (in an unofficial
translation), based on files she kept at the office.
The prosecution entered into the case file a statement the witness
gave in writing. Today she answered questions directly concerning
the defendant and confirmed the authenticity of some intercepted
conversations.
She described the daily contacts between General Simovic and
Milosevic. Simovic informed Milosevic about all important
developments on the fronts in Croatia and about the sending of
volunteers from Serbia, Gajic-Glisic said.
The Serbian Defence Ministry purchased equipment, weaponry, and
buses taking volunteers to Croatia -- about 8,000 volunteers were
transported to Croatia in 1991, she said, adding that the
volunteers were mostly connected with the Serbian Territorial
Defence, while Zeljko Raznatovic aka Arkan's Tigers were linked
with the Serbian Interior Ministry.
The witness said money for said purchases came from donations made
by banks, major companies as well as individuals.
"Milosevic approved the sending of volunteers to Croatia. Their
ranks were filled with released criminals as well," she said,
adding that Simovic objected to that, especially because of the war
crimes they were committing.
"The defendant told General Simovic that the JNA (Yugoslav People's
Army) needed to be transformed in secrecy into a Serbian army with
volunteers as its core," said Gajic-Glisic, adding that a draft law
on Serbian armed forces was drawn up at the Defence Ministry to that
effect for the government to consider on 12 December 1991.
The witness said that "General Simovic had fewer powers than an
accountant and was a minister without an army". She added that she
had more powers in her capacity as head of the information service.
Gajic-Glisic also described how Milosevic issued orders to Goran
Hadzic and Milan Babic, rebel Croatian Serbs' political leaders.
She resumes her testimony tomorrow.
Earlier today, protected witness B-1122 described how the JNA
offered logistical support to Serbian paramilitary units in
southern Bosnia-Herzegovina's Gacko Municipality in 1992.
(hina) ha