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To: Mr
Richard Calton 9 TV Network, 60 Minutes From: Mio Ilickovic RE:
Your reports from Belgrade Dear Sir, A few days ago I saw a video with your
report from Belgrade. Frankly, from an Australian correspondant I had
expected a more balanced and documented description of the present
situation in Yugoslavia and Kosovo. With a simplistic approach you cannot
explain a very complex problem. The best way to contribute to a better
understanding of the situation in Kosovo and Serbia would be that in your
reports you paid more respect to the facts and judgments that history has
already proven and to recognize what is propaganda. The propaganda may
sometimes be justified in times of war but Australia hasn’t been
involved in the conflict or associated with NATO. What is the interest to
maintain aggressive US and UK propaganda demonizing Serbs, when Australia
as you know, has about two hundred thousands citizens with Serbian origin.
It is a risk in a multi ethnical country to instigate negative feelings
against an other ethnic group. President Milosevic has the reputation for
being an unpredictable, autocratic ruler who posses an inherited Byzantine
cleverness and a logic characteristic to Serb’s peasants. In your report
you are repeating without explanation an old accusation from the war in
Bosnia "Milosevic is a butcher" But it is also relevant that
from the beginning his policy towards Kosovo was undisputed and supported
by almost all major political parties and intellectual elite. That policy
has been based on a document called "Memorandum" issued by the
Serbian Academy of Science in the early seventies. Certainly Milosevic and
his regime are the first guilty for today’s disastrous situation in
Kosovo and the region but NATO as well has to acknowledge its own
culpability. Using force to save innocent Kosovars NATO has killed one
thousand two hundred civilians and wounded thousands and keeps almost ten
million people hostages in their own country. Here we have an other
illustration of barbaric and inhuman activities, if we like it or not.
Furthermore USA and NATO have promoted a group of Albanian drug and arms
dealer in a liberation army radicalizing the Albanian population and
marginalising moderate Kosovo politicians. It is difficult to explain the
fact that in Kosovo USA and NATO are fighting on the same side as Mr.
Osman Ben Laden mujahedins! USA and NATO claim that Mr. Milosevic had
always planed to eliminate Albanians from Kosovo and that the traits from
NATO have not caused or provoked ethnic cleansing. However the facts
suggest a different account. Milosevic revoked Kosovo’s autonomy after
almost forty years. By 1991 Albanians had established a parallel system of
institutions and a de facto autonomy, separate tax, health care and
education system, declared independence and ignored Serbia’s
sovereignty. They refused to pay electricity, water or to register their
cars (now some Albanians arrive on the border without plate). But
Mr.Milosevic tolerated de facto autonomy. During this period 1989 –1997
no ethnic cleansing or genocide was committed. But KLA acquired arms from
Albania and started killing Serbs and moderate Albanians. This time
Milosevic responded with the excessive retaliation against KLA and hurt
civil population. However he wasn’t acting any differently to Israel
towards Palestinians or Turkish government against Kurds. The Federal Government supports NATO’s
attacks on Serbia. Evermore, Australian intelligence officers are spying
for the US and NATO. Which interest should the Government have to adopt
such a policy if it is not to follow loyally US line. I didn’t notice
any serious attempt in the Australian press and TV, including your
network, to discuss this government position. Yours sincerely, M Ilickovic
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