By LJ. GOJGIC
In the so-called ground security zone, which is a five-kilometer-wide belt, and near the front of the army zone of approximately 200 kilometers, the security situation, we assess, is worsening. What has been happening in recent months represents, practically, the metastasis of an extremely unfavorable political and security situation in Kosmet. This situation is spreading throughout all municipalities on the perimeters of Kosovo. For practical purposes we can state that there are three sectors: the municipality of Kursumlija, the region of Leskovac and especially the Pcinja district, that is, the municipalities of Bujanovac and Presevo. Incidents have been caused by Albanian terrorist forces, primarily coming from Kosmet, although the possibility that they are coming from areas where the Albanian ethnic minority is living within the ground security zone is not excluded. There have been multiple murders of members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) Police, locals of Serb, but also Albanian ethnicity, major thefts, the use of firearms, various explosive devices, forced expulsions, the occupation of entire villages, which are very serious incidents. The village of Dobrosin (municipality of Bujanovac), for example, was occupied by Albanian terrorist forces. In addition to this, multiple Serb villages, especially in Kursumlija municipality, have been cleansed. In the Jablanica district on the territory of the municipality of Medvedja, Albanians are being encouraged to relocate to Kosmet and then their return is insisted upon.
This is a well-planned game to demonstrate that forced expulsions are taking place in Serbia; what is happening, in fact, is that this part of the population is undergoing training in the region of Kosmet and subsequently being returned to the region of Medvedja and especially to the regions of Bujanovac and Presevo.
It is a well-known fact that the villages of Trnovac and Miratovac were internationally renowned smuggling centers in the past. Now it is being publicly announced that in March these conflicts will spread with the goal of escalating the security problem of Kosmet in order to demand the engagement of international forces in this region, as well. This is a purely terrorist attack on the general security situation. Security forces, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Yugoslav Army, that is, the Third Army, units are having a positive effect on the general security situation. In the municipality of Presevo, the local government is practically outside the sphere of influence of the Serbian and Federal institutions. It is known that meetings were being organized in mosques and other places to initiate a referendum for annexation to Kosmet [such referendum was held in 1992].
The reasons for this situation are many but practically they can be reduced to the following statement: there are written documents, as well, which state that the Pcinja district and this surrounding territory is called "Eastern Kosovo" by NATO and that there exist, I would say plans, for the further destabilization of this part of Serbia.
What kind of documents are these?
These are not secret documents; they talk about this openly. Now they have announced military exercises for February and especially March in which they have practically included this part of Serbia with respect to support for and possible "simulations" of versions of "rapid response".
Everything that has happened thus far, hundreds of incidents, attest to the failure to honor international agreements because KFOR forces have not prevented incursions into the security zone from territory which is now within their zone of responsibility. There have been incidents on their part, as well, when KFOR forces violated the security zone. The possibility should not be discounted that by these incidents and the maneuvers of which we are speaking, they wish to provoke a reaction first and foremost by the Yugoslav Army, by which I mean the Third Army because this is our zone, in order to justify the undertaking of more drastic measures, diplomatic, political and quite possibly military, as well.
The people living in the villages near the administrative border with Kosovo doubt that they are adequately protected. Can you guarantee the security of the current southern Serbian border?
All directions of movement toward Kosmet and from Kosmet toward this part of Serbia are under complete control and are completely secure thanks to the engagement of the Army. Security forces are engaged within security zone itself. Perhaps citizens do not have correct information regarding the control of those directions of movement. I am thinking of those in the districts of Toplica and Jablanica. As far as the Pcinja district is concerned I know that the local government officials are writing to international organizations that there are many soldiers there, in Presevo, for example, and that this bothers them. However, that is their problem. Well-meaning people who wish to live in these regions will accept the members of the Yugoslav Army as their own army.
Some analysts in fact are interpreting the announced maneuvers of the international forces in Kosovo as a message to the Yugoslav Army, or as a response to statements coming from the highest places in the army that its members will return to the Province [of Kosovo].
I have a, shall I say, personal opinion regarding that. NATO has announced that in April the Eurocorps will take over the role of the international security forces. It is not excluded that these exercises or maneuvers, even though they are not maneuvers, have the goal of practicing the transfer of the command function between the NATO alliance and the Eurocorps. On the other hand, I am not discounting that they wish to show their preparedness to carry out their assumed duties to the end in this manner and that they will not permit the return of the Yugoslav Army and the forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as envisaged by the Military-Technical Agreement, in any way, shape or form. If the message is truly directed to us, I can say that we do not spend a lot of time thinking about it. They held some kind of exercises only a few months ago. They have to practice because there is no coordination among them, especially in the command function.
There is something else, as well. It is possible that the international security forces want to show their strength, or should I say muscle, and that this message is directed to the Albanians in Kosmet and it means that they must restrain themselves somewhat.
So there will be no response to "Dynamic Response 2000"?
No, but in our everyday planning activities, in following and assessing the situation locally and regionally, of course we are making certain moves which have the task of preventing any surprises.
Who is spreading information regarding the possibility of a repeat bombing of Yugoslavia?
I am frequently asked in elevators and on the street by people who know me whether that is possible. Sometimes I laugh and sometimes I ask myself: where is this coming from? As far as NATO is concerned, no normal person can exclude even this possibility. Last year, as well, no one believed that they would decide on this kind of irresponsible venture, on a crime committed against an entire people. Therefore, no, the possibility is not excluded. However, analyses being done show that not only is there no reason, just as there was no reason before, but that the world has changed, too. It is difficult to imagine that the NATO countries could secure the support of public opinion in their own countries, let alone in the world. The world is not the same as it was before the aggression against our country. Different ways of thinking have emerged in other countries, in Russia, India, China, for example... This is only a small part of the arsenal of operations other than war which they apply wherever they can.