Ivogram (3x) (fwd)

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1...........The right to self-determination
2...........Prince Alexander: Manifesto To All in Yugoslavia
3...........(Fwd) Women for Women: Kosovo Appeal



From: "Ivo Skoric" <ivo@reporters.net>
Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 01:55:58 -0400
Subject: The right to self-determination

Belgrade urbane opposition always reminded me of their Zagreb counterparts.
Only they were even more sycophantic. It seems that they liked the idea of
being the opposition so much that whenever they would get near to the
possibility of taking over some power and adjoining responsibility on their
own - they forfeited that chance for a cozy job inside the Milosevic
regime.

Even now when there was practically general consensus among Serbs that
Milosevic should resign (there is a petition around and practically
everybody including church, local authorities, academics, prince Alexandar
and parts of the military are in favor of it) - Vuk Draskovic kept timidly
silent until he was pre-empted by his own following in one of the
supposedly staunchest Milosevic's strongholds in the backwaters of South
Serbia: Leskovac.

A TV technician pre-recorded himself calling people to the streets, then he
waited for the prime time moment - the play-offs of local basketball teams
- and he cut the game off the air to play his tape. The people listened to
his appeal. Milosevic's television, for years used to condition Serbs to
support him in his idiocy, was thus turned against him. Maybe NATO would
have more success orchestrating such actions instead of bombing
transmitters.

Serbs, otherwise, are not particularly angry on NATO bombing Milosevic's
television: in fact, they (the returning unpaid angry reservists) just blew
up TV station Galaksija 32, the media stronghold of Milosevic supporters in
Cacak, which apparently went overlooked by NATO strategists.

But they are angry about the destroyed factories, lost jobs, destroyed fuel
and power supply, looming famine and potential danger of disease. They do
not actually make the connection between the current situation and their
past support for Milosevic during his actions in reference to Slovenia,
Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo, but they overwhelmingly blame him and not NATO
for the evident losses. It seems obvious to everybody that he pushed them
in a war which they did not have any chance of winning.

After moving a substantial number of troops to Montenegro to protect his
remaining perceived assets, Milosevic "offered" Russia and Belorussia a
federation... But Yeltsin is now deep in Kosovo - his troops control
Pristina airport and he got NATO to take his troops in ALL zones of
control, which makes Kosovo then a UN instead of NATO protectorate. Now,
obviously he can't at the same time ally Russia with NATO and with
Milosevic. It is not that difficult to see who's gonna come as a looser out
of this.

-/-

Meanwhile refugees from Albania and Macedonia are returning to Kosovo - too
fast. The international agencies are simple not ready to support all of
them returning to the scorched Kosovo. Then, there was that improbable
impasse with Pristina's airport in which neighboring countries (possibly
prompted by NATO) denied Russia flying over their airspace to resupply
their troops in Pristina, and Russians kept the airport closed, so the
relief agencies lacked supplies needed to handle the massive refugee
return... (i.e. Russian "surprise" move worked well for them).

A friend of mine who now works in Tirana what he used to do once in Zagreb,
tells me that Kosovar refugees are running back to Kosovo, terrified by the
Albanian society, which apparently is worse than anybody expected - in
terms of lack of government, lawlessness, abject poverty, illiteracy, and
other maladies usually attributed to the sub-Saharan countries. He says
Tirana is to Zagreb what Zagreb is to New York. Now, I know Zagreb and I
know New York...

-/-

Kosovo does not suffer the lack of government. It actually has three
paralel governments: the Serbian "governor" is still there, but his rule is
confined to his office (and that is limited, too - NATO just assigned a few
guards to watch over him so that he does not shred any documents); the NATO
military and the UN civilian rulers are there (the "proconsul" role will
eventually land in a lap of a Frenchman who was the first Minister of
Humanitarian Affairs in France and, as a matter of fact, in the world: now
he gets what he fought for...); then there is KLA: KLA, that as recent as
in February last year was called a terrorist organization by a high-ranking
American official, is everywhere, they generally took over control over the
community. Border between Albania and Kosovo is not guarded by anybody.
Kosovars started using Albanian money (not that it is much better than
Serbian, so I believe that DM and $ are still more preferred) - and that
was the last vestige of Serbian sovereignty in Kosovo. Albanian educated
Thaci surrounded himself with younger Albanian emigrees from the U.S. and
Germany. The hate crimes committed by KLA against Serbs and other Kosovo
minorities are on the rise. Virtually all the same methods that we saw in
Croatian or Bosnian retribution against Serbs in Krajina and Sarajevo,
respectively, are carried on to the letter, most notably confiscating of
real estate. The West tries to curb KLA excesses but the KLA got accepted
as the least of many evils plaguing the region. KLA has following in
Albania and among Albanians in Macedonia, opening an interesting and
somewhat terrifying perspective in which Kosovo becomes independent and
"acquires" Albania and takes over a part of Macedonia. Moreover, KLA never
gave up the struggle for independence. They signed the Rambouillet
agreement which promised them the referendum for independence in three
years and they are gearing up for that. They never signed the Petersen
agreement that omits the referendum clause. In fact NATO signed a different
agreement with KLA Albanians and different agreement with Milosevic Serbs -
letting KLA have their independence and letting Milosevic retain control
over Kosovo. This, however, is irreconcillable and in 3 years one side will
have to prevail. KLA already has its license plates and stickers, and you
can even see them on some cars in New Jersey and in the city of New York
(not a big surprise given the number of construction contractors from the
city in the KLA).

ivo

ps
I beleive that the right to self-determination should not apply solely on
the large groups like nations or ethnic entities, but also on each and
every inidvidual, making us all humans, citizens of the Planet Earth, born
with the right to choose to live and move wherever we determine most
fitting for us. This view, however, is still far from being accepted even
in the most developed world's countries, who fear immigration from the
countries impoverished by their development. 19 countries that form NATO
are mostly former colonial masters. In India, on the other hand, for
example more than a half of the population makes less than a $1 a day.



=====================///////////////////====================

From: "Ivo Skoric" <ivo@reporters.net>
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 23:18:01 -0400
Subject: (Fwd) Prince Alexander: Manifesto To All in Yugoslavia

------- Forwarded Message Follows -------


July 10, 1999

A Manifesto to All the People of Yugoslavia Crown Prince Alexander of
Yugoslavia

LONDON - My countrymen, we are facing the most critical moment in our
national existence. As the rest of Europe will soon be celebrating the end
of a millennium with hopes of further collaboration, political stability
and economic prosperity, we remain stuck with an ideology that belongs to
the dust bin of history. We are isolated, poor and sometimes reviled by our
European brethren.

I call upon all of you to join me in a process of national regeneration,
for this is our only hope for salvation. We were not the only guilty party
in the collapse of Yugoslavia. Many others played with nationalism and the
policies of exclusion. Under the pretext of preserving the unity of our
country, terrible crimes have been committed in our name.

We will get nowhere if we do not accept that throughout this decade
Slobodan Milosevic portrayed himself as the sole defender of our national
survival, the only leader who could stand up to Western governments, all of
whom were supposedly engaged in a massive conspiracy against our country.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Yugoslavia broke up not as a
result of ''foreign plots'' but because the leaders of its various
entities, most of them intoxicated by a poisonous blend of negative
nationalism and Marxism, ended up in bloody conflict and did not want to
compromise for fear of losing power.

Through the appalling utilization of ''ethnic purity,'' ''territorial
integrity'' and the obsession of ''power'' they led us into a decade of
bloodshed and hate.

Granted, the West made mistakes, but we are ultimately responsible for our
own future. What was the consequence of this supposedly heroic battle? The
Serbs are now perceived as the chief aggressors in this war, while
remaining the biggest victims of the conflagration at the same time. The
Serb communities in Krajina have been eliminated, our brethren in Bosnia
are cornered and the history of Serb existence in Kosovo-Metohija has been
erased. If Mr. Milosevic's dictatorship continues, we may yet find that
Montenegro will secede. Then, trouble could erupt in Vojvodina and Sanjak.

The country which my ancestors created and protected throughout most of
this century has now been smashed by a man who knows no God, respects no
law and suffers no remorse. When communism collapsed in Europe in 1989,
Yugoslavia was the most economically developed country in the region. If
democratic institutions and civil society had been restored, it would have
been at the top of the list for membership in the European Union and would
be able to participate constructively as an illustrious member of world
institutions.

Instead, we are now a pariah state, our economy is broken, hundreds of
thousands of people have been killed and many more have been displaced.
Sanctions have hurt the people and promoted Mr. Milosevic's regime.

If we are to survive and prosper as a state we must not remain the
prisoners of history, but must now look forward to democratic reform. We
must proceed immediately with the creation of a national unity government,
whose task will be to pave the way for eventual general elections after a
serious designated period of meaningful democratic reforms.

The media must be freed from its shackles. The bizarre war legislation that
still applies in Serbia must be revoked. As a first step toward the triumph
of justice, those indicted by the United Nations international war crimes
tribunal should be declared ineligible for elections or any government
post. Their ultimate fate would then be decided by a newly elected
Parliament. The new Parliament should transform itself into a constituent
assembly in order to draft a new constitution, a document that should blend
our historic traditions, as well as update our political institutions.

We must invite delegations from the ethnic Albanians, ethnic Serbs in
Kosovo and all minorities to take part in the elaboration of this new
constitution, which will provide for a large measure of self-government for
all regions, and clearly delineate the responsibilities of federal
institutions. Some of the borders created by the wars of this decade may
yet turn out to be irreversible. However, we can make these borders less
important and painful, by extending the hand of cooperation to all our
neighbors and communities. The national unity government would proceed
immediately with economic reform. There is no future in a siege economy,
tied to a federation with Russia and Belarus as Mr. Milosevic proposes. Our
fate lies in an open market economy, and in real privatization, rather than
in the wholesale theft that characterized Mr. Milosevic's economic policy.
The new government must institute urgent procedures to recover the assets
stolen by the Milosevic regime. This money must be used in order to
alleviate the poverty of our people.

Only if we implement these measures will the future be secure. I know that
we can rely on massive Western economic and political support. After a
period of restructuring, our armed forces will be able to join NATO's
Partnership for Peace program. Instead of bombing us and hurting us, the
alliance will be helping us reconstruct our defenses, and anchor our armed
forces as the true defenders of our democracy and stability. This, coupled
with the creativity and resilience of our people, will ultimately erase
many of the current wounds. Yugoslavia can return to its traditional
position as a force for good in the Balkans, rather than remain the
Continent's disaster story.

Too good to be true or too idealistic? Having visited Kosovo a week ago, I
am persuaded that there is no other alternative. I saw the suffering of
ordinary citizens on all sides, smelled death and witnessed the
destruction.

So stand up to the dictator who now destroys us and cast him out. There is
nothing in our history that prevents us from achieving the transformation
accomplished by many other former communist countries. We owe it to all our
people, young and old, and future generations to act now. I pledge myself
to help you in this great effort to achieve democracy and human rights for
one and all.

============
Submitted by
Nalini Lasiewicz
Lasiewicz Foundation

reprinted with permission


===================//////////======================


From: "Ivo Skoric" <ivo@reporters.net>
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 23:17:40 -0400
Subject: (Fwd) Women for Women: Kosovo Appeal


------- Forwarded Message Follows -------

ACTION ALERT-- WOMEN FOR WOMEN IN KOSOVA July 1999

In April of this year, Women for Women responded to the Kosovar refugee
crisis by extending its sponsorship program to women in Albanian camps
receiving little or no other assistance. We started the project by helping
250 families, and within two months had delivered over $17,000 in direct
aid. While continuing to assist these and other women, we are redoubling
our efforts to sponsor women returnees and establish a women's resource
center in Kosova. Through the Solidarity Project, Women for Women will
bring urgently needed aid to returned refugees, particularly to the most
vulnerable women living outside of major cities. The Solidarity Project
will also foster links among women throughout the region who are survivors
of political violence and instability, enabling them to help one another.

Women for Women is a non-profit humanitarian organization that protests the
crimes and consequences of war on a personal level. We help women according
to need only, regardless of nationality or religious affiliation.
Sponsorship forms the heart of our assistance, bringing friendship and
badly needed aid to women in urgent need. For a woman who has lost her
home, her loved ones, and her livelihood, sponsorship can help restore her
hope in a better future. Please join us in helping the people of Kosova by
sponsoring a woman who needs a friend. As a sponsor, you will be helping on
a personal-and very immediate-level.

Already, sponsors have touched lives and communities in Bosnia, Rwanda, and
now Kosova. Through letters and modest but sustained contributions,
sponsors help women gain the confidence they need to piece their lives back
together. As conditions in each country allow, sponsored women may also
receive job skills training to help them achieve economic independence and
gradually become less dependent on humanitarian aid. In small group
workshops that reinforce women's support for one another, we also combine
technical skills training with human rights education, helping to raise
women's awareness about their social, economic, and political rights.

While letters and financial assistance bring much-needed relief to the
sponsored women, they also positively affect sponsors in the U.S. and other
countries. For sponsors, the program opens a door to learning about the
effects of war on individuals, while providing an opportunity to take
personal action to help heal the wounds of war. Since its foundation, Women
for Women has sent over half a million dollars in cash to more than 1,600
women refugees. In December 1995, President Clinton honored Women for Women
for its humanitarian efforts in Bosnia.

We depend on the support of individuals to provide a form of assistance
that is personal, practical, and incremental -- literally every dollar
makes an immediate difference in another woman's life. For more
information, visit our webpage at www.embassy.org/wmn4wmn. If we can answer
your questions, please feel free to call us at (202) 822-1391.

To become a sponsor, you can also print the following form and mail it with
your donation.

YES: I WANT TO SPONSOR A WOMAN IN NEED

Name___________________________________

Address________________________________

Phone__________________________________

Email__________________________________

Age (Though optional, this helps in providing the most supportive
sponsorship relationship)_____

I would like to sponsor a woman from: Bosnia_____ Rwanda_____ Kosova_____


I can commit for: one year_____ six months_____

Enclosed is my check for: $300 (one year)_____ $150 (six months)_____ $25
(for the first month; please bill me monthly)_____

Please make all checks payable to:

Women for Women
1725 K Street, NW #611
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 822-1391
email: W4wintl@aol.com

Women for Women is a 501(C)(3) tax-exempt organization. All donations made
in the United States are tax deductible.

======================
Submitted by Nalini Lasiewicz
Lasiewicz Foundation
Los Angeles