Serbia's President Apologizes For The Srebrenica Massacre

Serbian President Apologises For Srebrenica 'Crime' -- BBC

Serbia's President, Tomislav Nikolic, has apologised for all "crimes" committed by Serbs during the break-up of Yugoslavia, including Srebrenica.

But he refused to call the killing of thousands of Bosnian Muslims an act of genocide, as recognised by UN war crimes prosecutors.

Mr Nikolic said he was kneeling down and seeking forgiveness for Srebrenica.

The president is a former senior figure in the ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party.

He was criticised after his election last year when he said: "There was no genocide in Srebrenica."

Some 8,000 Bosnian Muslims were killed at Srebrenica in 1995 after Bosnian Serb forces overran the UN-defended safe area there.

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More News On Serbia's President Apologizing For The Srebrenica Massacre

Serb president seeks pardon "on my knees" for Srebrenica -- Reuters
Serbia president apologises for Srebrenica massacre -- Global Post/AFP
Serbia president apologizes for Srebrenica massacre -- Global Post
Serb Leader Apologizes for Srebrenica Massacre in TV Interview -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Serbian president in historic Srebrenica massacre apology -- The Telegraph
Serbia's president apologizes for 1995 Srebrenica massacre -- Deutsche Welle
Serbian President Apologizes For Srebrenica Massacre -- Radio Free Europe
Serbian president apologizes for crimes in Bosnia -- B92

Did The Mafia In Serbia Plotted To Crash Serbian Air Force One

Falcon 50 aircraft (Image from jetphotos.net)

Mafia Plotting To Crash Serbian Air Force One – Interior Ministry -- RT

Mafia-linked criminal gangs have been trying to sabotage a Serbian government aircraft with the country's top officials on board, Serbia's Interior Ministry announced.

­A special investigation has produced evidence that the mafia is planning to hire staff among the aircraft's maintenance personnel to set up a malfunction in the plane in the hopes of it crashing after takeoff. The aim of the mission, investigators believe, is to take out top government officials during an international trip.

The Serbian government employs two planes – a Falcon 50, made in 1981, and a Learjet 31A manufactured in 1991. The Falcon 50 remains the main choice of air travel for the head of state. In recent years, both aircraft repeatedly suffered minor and major faults that sometimes led to the disruption of Serbian leaders' foreign visits.

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More News On Reports That The Serbian Mafia Plotted To Assassinate Key Leaders In Serbia

Serbia says it uncovers plot to bring down government plane -- Reuters
Serbian police: Criminals want to bring down government plane -- AP
Serbia says it thwarted mafia plot to bring down government jet -- EurActiv
Serbia Uncovers Plot To Down PM’s Plane -- Eurasia Review
Who planned an attempt on the life of first state official of Serbia? -- Jovana Vukotic and Grigory Sokolov, Voice of Russia

Goran Hadzic, Serbia's Last Remaining War Criminal

Goran Hadzic's 'warrant poster' for persons indicted by the ICTY for war crime Photo: AFP/GETTY

After Ratko Mladic Arrest, Attention Turns To Goran Hadzic, Serbia's Last Remaining War Criminal -- The Telegraph

With the arrest of Ratko Mladic, Serbia is now under pressure to capture one last remaining alleged war criminal – Goran Hadzic.

Hadzic, 52, is accused of the "extermination or murder" of hundreds of Croat civilians and the forcible deportation of around 28,000 Croats and other non-Serbs in Croatia during the 1991-1995 war there.

He faces 14 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the imprisonment of civilians in detention centres where they were subjected to torture, beatings and murder.

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My Comment: He has not been seen or heard from since 1994. For all that we know .... he may be dead.

Serb Nationalists Stage Massive Rally In Belgrade

A protester waves his Serbian flag during a rally in front of Serbian parliament building in Belgrade February 5, 2011. Reuters/Marko Djurica

Mass Protest In Serbian Capital To Demand Early Polls -- BBC

The Serbian capital Belgrade has seen its biggest anti-government protest in years as thousands of disenchanted Serbs demanded early elections.

At least 55,000 people turned out in front of parliament after the opposition Serbian Progressive Party called the rally.

Party leader Tomislav Nikolic gave the government two months to call polls or face a civil disobedience campaign.

Serbia's economic woes have continued as it moves towards EU membership.

There is rising discontent over high prices, low salaries and a stalled economy.

A disparate 10-party coalition, united around EU integration, has been in power since 2008, led by Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and President Boris Tadic.

The next general election is not scheduled until 2012.

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More News On Today's Massive Demonstrations In Serbia

Serbia Nationalist Opposition Holds Anti-Government Rally -- Voice of America
Serbia holds biggest opposition protest in years -- Reuters
Mass anti-government rally held in Serbia -- SF Chronicle/AP
Serbian opposition rally calls for early elections -- Deutsche Welle
Tens of thousands in Serbian opposition protest -- AFP
Serbian Opposition Rallies in Belgrade, Demands Early Elections -- Blooomberg
Opposition gives govt. "2 months to call elections" -- B92

My Comment: Serbia's economic downturn has hit all major sectors of the economy. People are frustrated, worried, and bitter .... hence today's demonstrations.

Europe's #1 War Criminal Now Has A $10 Million Euro Bounty On His Head

Serbia Multiplies Reward For Indicted War Criminal Mladic -- Deutsche Welle

Serbia has greatly increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of indicted war criminal Ratko Mladic. Arresting Mladic is a crucial condition for Serbia's bid to join the European Union.

Serbia increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of Ratko Mladic tenfold to 10 million euros ($13.7 million), apparently to prove Belgrade's political will to capture the indicted war criminal.

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More News On the Hunt For War Criminal Mladic

Serbia offers 10m euros for Mladic capture -- BBC
Serbia offers $14m for Mladic: Reward for capture of former Bosnian Serb commander wanted for war crimes increased tenfold. -- Al Jazeera
Serbia raises reward for Mladic to 10 million euros -- Reuters
Serbia ups price for Mladic capture to 10 mln euros -- AFP
10 Million Bounty On Mladic -- Times Of The Internet
Bounty hunters, too in search of war crimes suspects -- Blic

My Comment: If they cannot find this war criminal in the heart of Europe, what chance do we have of capturing someone like Osama Bin Laden in the inhospitable and hostile regions along the Afghan/Pakistan border.

Serbia Is Coming To Terms With It's Past

More than 600 coffins with remains of victims of Srebrenica massacre wait for the funeral in a factory hall in Potocari. Photo: Reuters

Serbia Condemns 1995 Srebrenica Massacre Of 8,000 Muslim Men And Boys -- Times Online

Serbia took a significant step towards a future in the European Union when its MPs last night endorsed a landmark declaration condemning the massacre of 8,000 Muslims at Srebrenica in 1995.

While stopping short of using the term genocide, the statement recognised that Serbia failed to prevent the killings carried out by its forces after seizing the UN safe haven in the ethnic conflict that followed the break-up of Yugoslavia.

The declaration was driven by Boris Tadic, Serbia’s pro-EU President but opposed by nationalists who warned it would “turn Serbia into an eternal villain”.

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My Comment: The focus is on Serbia, but the Croats and Bosnian Muslims also committed atrocities and mass murder in the Yugoslav civil war.

Realistically .... it is going to take decades (if not a century or two) before the bitterness and hate that was generated by this war dissipates .... but willing to atone is a start and Serbia is rightfully making the first move.