LDP accuses former U.S. ambassador

LDP has accused former U.S. Ambassador to Serbia William Montgomery of obstructing attempts to learn about the political background of the Djindjic murder. The Liberal-Democrats have called upon Montgomery to reveal what agreements he had with former Yugoslav President and Serbian PM Vojislav Kostunica, and whether he had contacts with chief Djindjic assassination conspirator Milorad Ulemek aka Legija. LDP accuses former U.S. ambassador LDP MP Nenad Milic called a news conference in Belgrade on Thursday, after Wednesday night's interview the former U.S. diplomat gave to Serbia's state broadcaster RTS. Milic called upon the state authorities to provide answers about the political background of the March 2003 murder of PM Zoran Djindjic, i.e., to determine whether such a background existed. Ulemek, several members of the disbanded JSO unit and members of the Zemun Clan gang were put on trial and found guilty of conspiring to organize and executing the assassination. Milic today stressed that the fact that Montgomery for his part called on LDP leader Cedomir Jovanovic "to answer some questions" was indicative, since Jovanovic had already elaborated on those issues before the court and a committee set up to investigate the assassination. “If anyone answered questions, that's Cedomir Jovanovic. Vojislav Kostunica never did,“ the LPD official pointed out, and added that Montgomery’s claims that he and Djindjic were friends "are not true". According to Milic, relations between Djindjic’s government and the former U.S. ambassador were "problematic", until Djindjic made contact with then U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, while “Montgomery kept trying to topple the Serbian government together with Kostunica’s cabinet”. The LDP also criticized RTS Editor-in-Chief Nenad Lj. Stefanovic, who interviewed Montgomery, for the way in which he handled the interview, stating that none of the representatives of the competent state bodies were previously given a whole hour on the air to speak about the political background of Djindjic’s murder. What Montgomery said William Montgomery, who is promoting his book entitled "Struggling with Democratic Transition: After the Cheering Stops", spoke for RTS in Belgrade on Wednesday, and according to a partial transcript available on the broadcaster's website, he touched on the issue of the Djindjic assassination. "I firmly believe that Legija and the Zemun Clan killed Zoran Djindjic because they had learned that he and his government were about to arrest them, and they felt that they had no choice, and that this was their decision." "The political atmosphere at the time was very poisonous, there were a lot of charges back and forth between Kostunica's camp, Djindjic's camp," said Montgomery, noting that this may have helped persuade Ulemek and the Zemun gang that they could go unpunished for the murder, because of the confusion it would create at a time when Djindjic had many enemies. The former U.S. ambassador in Belgrade also commented on the detail in his book concerning another gangster, later turned collaborating witness - Ljubisa Buha aka Cume. When Buha was transfered from Turkey to Slovakia, allegedly by western intelligence services - most likely British - he made a statement as a potential witness that was detailed and specific to the point where it was impossible for Djindjic's government not to react. "The confession of Cume was so detailed, with so many dates, so many specific events, that it was impossible - I think - for Zoran Djindjic and his government to avoid arresting them. (...) There was obviously a relationship between Legija, Djindjic, Ceda (Cedomir) Jovanovic and the Zemun Clan. I don't know all the details, I don't think anyone does, other than Ceda and Legija. But that could provide some very useful background to help understand the Serb history and the history of that time and the background of events leading to Djindjic's murder." "I'm sorry that that has not been disclosed by Ceda Jovanovic, and I'm also sorry that there doesn't seem to be any drive on the part of any Serbian government or news media like yours to encourage him to be more forthcoming. It's almost as if there is a desire to 'let the sleeping dogs lie' - in other words, if you know who the killer is, why bother with details if they might be embarrassing," said Montgomery.

LDP accuses former U.S. ambassador

LDP MP Nenad Milić called a news conference in Belgrade on Thursday, after Wednesday night's interview the former U.S. diplomat gave to Serbia's state broadcaster RTS.

Milić called upon the state authorities to provide answers about the political background of the March 2003 murder of PM Zoran Đinđić, i.e., to determine whether such a background existed.

Ulemek, several members of the disbanded JSO unit and members of the Zemun Clan gang were put on trial and found guilty of conspiring to organize and executing the assassination.

Milić today stressed that the fact that Montgomery for his part called on LDP leader Čedomir Jovanović "to answer some questions" was indicative, since Jovanović had already elaborated on those issues before the court and a committee set up to investigate the assassination.

“If anyone answered questions, that's Čedomir Jovanović. Vojislav Koštunica never did,“ the LPD official pointed out, and added that Montgomery’s claims that he and Đinđić were friends "are not true".

According to Milić, relations between Đinđić’s government and the former U.S. ambassador were "problematic", until Đinđić made contact with then U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, while “Montgomery kept trying to topple the Serbian government together with Koštunica’s cabinet”.

The LDP also criticized RTS Editor-in-Chief Nenad Lj. Stefanović, who interviewed Montgomery, for the way in which he handled the interview, stating that none of the representatives of the competent state bodies were previously given a whole hour on the air to speak about the political background of Đinđić’s murder.

What Montgomery said

William Montgomery, who is promoting his book entitled "Struggling with Democratic Transition: After the Cheering Stops", spoke for RTS in Belgrade on Wednesday, and according to a partial transcript available on the broadcaster's website, he touched on the issue of the Đinđić assassination.

"I firmly believe that Legija and the Zemun Clan killed Zoran Đinđić because they had learned that he and his government were about to arrest them, and they felt that they had no choice, and that this was their decision."

"The political atmosphere at the time was very poisonous, there were a lot of charges back and forth between Koštunica's camp, Đinđić's camp," said Montgomery, noting that this may have helped persuade Ulemek and the Zemun gang that they could go unpunished for the murder, because of the confusion it would create at a time when Đinđić had many enemies.

The former U.S. ambassador in Belgrade also commented on the detail in his book concerning another gangster, later turned collaborating witness - Ljubiša Buha aka Čume.

When Buha was transfered from Turkey to Slovakia, allegedly by western intelligence services - most likely British - he made a statement as a potential witness that was detailed and specific to the point where it was impossible for Đinđić's government not to react.

"The confession of Čume was so detailed, with so many dates, so many specific events, that it was impossible - I think - for Zoran Đinđić and his government to avoid arresting them. (...) There was obviously a relationship between Legija, Đinđić, Čeda (Čedomir) Jovanović and the Zemun Clan. I don't know all the details, I don't think anyone does, other than Čeda and Legija. But that could provide some very useful background to help understand the Serb history and the history of that time and the background of events leading to Đinđić's murder."

"I'm sorry that that has not been disclosed by Čeda Jovanović, and I'm also sorry that there doesn't seem to be any drive on the part of any Serbian government or news media like yours to encourage him to be more forthcoming. It's almost as if there is a desire to 'let the sleeping dogs lie' - in other words, if you know who the killer is, why bother with details if they might be embarrassing," said Montgomery.