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Milosevic Says Kosovo Massacre Staged by Rebels
Reuters ^ | 4/15/02 | Eric Onstad

Posted on 04/15/2002 12:30:01 PM PDT by joan

— By THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Slobodan Milosevic at his trial on Monday accused separatist Kosovo Albanian guerrillas of fabricating an alleged atrocity by Serb forces in 1999 in a bid to spur a shocked West into attacking Yugoslavia.

The killing of about 45 ethnic Albanians in Racak in January 1999 shocked the outside world and was widely credited with stiffening NATO's resolve to launch its 11-week campaign of air strikes against Yugoslavia two months later.

The former Serb strongman, accused of genocide and crimes against humanity in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s, could face life behind bars if convicted at the end of Europe's biggest international war crimes trial since World War Two.

The Hague tribunal heard last week from a Western observer that dozens of unarmed men dressed in slippers and rubber boots were found shot in the head at Racak in 1999 after Serb forces entered the village. Milosevic disputed the testimony.

Milosevic told the war crimes court that ethnic Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) guerrillas shifted corpses around Racak to an open mass grave as part of a ruse to convince Western observers that Serb forces had butchered villagers. He said Serb forces had only killed KLA guerrillas in gun battles.

"It may be, as Serb authorities claim, and many Europeans tended to believe, that the victims were in fact killed in the shoot-out reported by police and then aligned to give the appearance of a massacre," Milosevic said quoting from an Italian press report.

IN COLD BLOOD

The 60-year-old accused, who is conducting his own defense at the United Nations court against charges he has rejected as "false," vigorously challenged testimony that Racak's villagers had been gunned down.

Retired British general Karel Drewienkiewicz, who served in Kosovo with a mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said he was convinced a massacre had taken place and had not been staged by the KLA.

"I know what I saw on the hillside and it was not manipulation...it was men who had been gunned down in cold blood," said Drewienkiewicz.

Drewienkiewicz acknowledged, however, that a fierce battle had taken place between KLA guerrillas and Serb forces at Racak and that there had been a "lapse" of some 15 hours overnight before Western observers viewed the scene.

Last week Drewienkiewicz told the court he saw men shot in the head at Racak. They had been dressed in carpet slippers and rubber boots.

Since his trial opened in February Milosevic has accuses the West and Islamic militant group al-Qaeda of supporting a "terrorist" campaign by the separatist Kosovo Liberation Army to destabilize the Balkans.

He declined to enter pleas to the charges against him. Not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf. The trial is expected to last at least two years.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: balkans; kosovo; racak
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To: Wraith
So let me get this straight - I can't ask you for proof, but you can deride the EU-FET report based on whatever and then demand proof to support its integrity?

Learn the rules, Wraith - support your version of events or hang it up.

61 posted on 04/21/2002 7:44:19 PM PDT by Hoplite
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To: Hoplite
Skating around my last post says a lot. Nixon would be proud.......
62 posted on 04/21/2002 9:48:44 PM PDT by Wraith
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To: Wraith
And skating around post 58 doesn't count, I suppose.

You've got nothing, and it's showing, Wraith.

63 posted on 04/22/2002 10:52:00 AM PDT by Hoplite
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To: Hoplite
We shall see.
64 posted on 04/22/2002 12:59:49 PM PDT by Wraith
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To: Wraith
I'm seeing all I need to see right now, Wraith - and it's a big, fat, zero.

Are you waiting for evidence to support your hypothesis?

If so, how long am I to wait?

65 posted on 04/22/2002 10:39:43 PM PDT by Hoplite
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To: Hoplite
Who says you have to wait you pompous ass.
66 posted on 04/23/2002 7:12:57 PM PDT by Wraith
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To: Wraith
Well, since I'm waiting for you to provide evidence to support your views on Racak, specifically something that bolsters your claim that "the UCK put them in the ditch or worse", you're the one who's making me wait.

Don't get huffy - simply back up your statement or admit you have nothing to do so with.

67 posted on 04/23/2002 7:22:52 PM PDT by Hoplite
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To: Hoplite
Get off your high horse and provide something rather than be the high entity that decides what the proof is. I wonder about your motivation in all this is. Your inflexibility is it a method to draw out information. Been around long enough to know wheb something does not smell right. You can only probe so far hoplight before things become very obvious and I believe that time his here.
68 posted on 04/23/2002 9:14:10 PM PDT by Wraith
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To: Wraith
So we're back to #61.
69 posted on 04/24/2002 11:20:28 PM PDT by Hoplite
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To: Hoplite
No I believe its you with your selective memory that is going in circles. Don't get to dizzy.
70 posted on 04/25/2002 12:52:44 PM PDT by Wraith
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To: Wraith
Well you can help me out by showing where you have ever referenced anything other than unnamed Kosovar Albanians telling you about the KLA blocking a KVM patrol on the 15 to support your views and we can proceed from there.

If you can't, then nothing more needs be said.

71 posted on 04/25/2002 2:43:04 PM PDT by Hoplite
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To: Hoplite
anything other than unnamed Kosovar Albanians telling you about the KLA blocking a KVM patrol on the 15

Come on Hoplite if you have a bit of common sense you would realize that this is for a reason. You have never been to the Balkans and yet you attempt to give the perception that you know. Well you don't have a clue and if you did you would understand why Albanians remaining unnamed means they will remain breathing. Come on prove the KLA did not put those bodies in the ditch during the 15 hours the KLA where in control of Racak? You will not answer this because you can't. 15 hours Hoplite.....We shall see....

72 posted on 04/26/2002 2:25:24 PM PDT by Wraith
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To: Wraith
Wraith, your guy's name is irrelevant, and the second patrol being stopped is ultimately irrelevant - you have nothing but innuendo to go against the EU-FET report which clearly makes the case that the men in the ditch were shot in place, not moved there, as you continue to try to convince in the absence of any supporting evidence.

It's a simple case of one version of events being documented with findings, and the other being nothing more than a make believe version devoid of any basis in reality.

Now either you have something to anchor your version of events (the bodies being moved there) in reality, or you're just wasting your breath attacking the only scenario that has anything to back it up.

73 posted on 04/26/2002 8:38:00 PM PDT by Hoplite
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To: Hoplite
the second patrol being stopped is ultimately irrelevant

Funny you didn't think so not so long ago,. I was different from the rest, now its irrelevant? Its irrelevant because its not the so called Walker official point of view . The fact that the BBC caught him lying about his contact with the U.S. State department heavies while running the OSCE right up until Racak really hurts his credibility and you support his view. Your supporting a liar hoplite. Think about it. That’s where you need to begin questioning the reality of it all. Stop trying to rip apart a first hand point of view when all you have are the arranged perceptions and people like the questionable William Walker who presented them. Admit it hoplite, Walker lied to the press, could he be lying about Racak considering the circumstances of his past history. Admit it, you have to agree with this because its a fact. If not you do have a problem. I saw the BBC Documentary and so did the world. A hard bullet to swallow but I know your eggo will not allow you to admit it in any reply. If you want to be objective bring forth the objectivity and park the eggo. If not you are wasting your time.

74 posted on 04/26/2002 9:51:58 PM PDT by Wraith
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To: Wraith
Alright Wraith, you've had your chances - you don't have anything substantiative to support your version of events and can only attempt to mask this fact by attempting to shift the conversation away from this fatal flaw in your position.

Sadly, you're in good company here.

75 posted on 04/26/2002 10:06:42 PM PDT by Hoplite
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To: Hoplite;vooch;wonders
Sadly you stand alone. I have a large responsibly to certain individuals in regards to the proof you demand. I thought a intelligent individual would understand this. I'm the source of what I say and I mask nothing.
76 posted on 04/27/2002 4:08:51 PM PDT by Wraith
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To: Wraith
I'm the source of what I say and I mask nothing.

The only thing you've said is that a Kosovar Albanian told you that a KVM patrol was stopped by the KLA on the 15th.

That does not equal the KLA manipulating the crime scene at Racak.

What does equal a scenario is the witness statements (from Pro LDK villagers, per you), forensic evidence, and the autopsy results - all of which point to Serb culpability for the killings.

Now, do you have anything to bring to the table other than the KVM patrol being stopped by the KLA?

77 posted on 04/27/2002 8:13:32 PM PDT by Hoplite
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To: Hoplite;vooch;wonders
Answer my question why are you supporting William Walker and his point of view when it is a fact that he lied to the BBC about his contact with the US State Department. Your refusal to acknowledge this fact seems to be very sensitive issue but I find it very strange why you will not acknowledge this simple fact? The question Hoplite is how big was Walker's lie and how far reaching was it. Is it an obvious embarrassment for you?

Now, do you have anything to bring to the table other than the KVM patrol being stopped by the KLA? As for what you want brought to your table please refer again to my post #76. I believe your selective memory is working again. You know this problem of yours really puts up a barrier for example statements like “this is your last chance” etc. Last chance for what to make Daddy happy. Give me a break. Their is lots more Hoplite and patients is something you need to develop. Don't bother replying unless you want to acknowledge that William Walker is a confirmed documented liar, you know the guy that pointed the finger at the speed of light......

78 posted on 04/28/2002 2:13:24 PM PDT by Wraith
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To: Wraith
Look up dissimulation in your dictionary.

William Walker, by the way, is providing none of the evidence pertinent to the matter at hand, so if you wish to discuss his shortcomings I suggest you do it with some of the usual suspects rather than trying to use him as a device to extricate yourself from the factual deficit your position is suffering from.

I had expected better from you, Wraith - you're turning into a regular G. Dority.

79 posted on 04/28/2002 2:38:32 PM PDT by Hoplite
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To: Hoplite, Wraith, Gael
Hoplite

we've already established that the KVM reports were falsiifeid by higher ups......therefore your reliance on them does nothing for your case.

80 posted on 04/28/2002 4:23:03 PM PDT by vooch
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