Ex-VJ colonel: KLA deported Albanians

Retired Colonel Momir Stojanovic says that the KLA organized the deportation of the Albanian population. “Terrorist groups deported women and children, stayed in villages and dug in... that was the reason for the deportation of the population,” said the witness, referring to Yugoslav Army (VJ) security documents from the time he was head of security at the Pristina Corps. Ex-VJ colonel: KLA deported Albanians Stojanovic said that, as early as 1998, mercenaries from Saudi Arabia, Yemen and other countries had been fighting for the KLA, and that criminal proceedings had been launched against all VJ members who had committed crimes against the Albanian population. He labeled the claims of prosecution witness, former Captain Niko Peraje, "completely inaccurate" that, at a meeting in 1999 with MUP officers, he had said that “we should kill at least 100 Albanians” to avenge the murder of police officer Milutin Prascevic. Stojanovic also refuted the claims of prosecution witness Lakic Djorovic – who worked briefly during the war as a military prosecutor in Pristina – that the Pristina Corps authorities had blocked criminal proceedings being launched in certain cases. The witness was testifying in the defense of Vladimir Lazarevic, then Pristina Corps commander, who has been accused of forced deportation, murder and the persecution of Albanian civilians from Kosovo in the first half of 1999. Lazarevic’s co-accused for crimes committed against Kosovo Albanians in 1999 are then Serbian President Milan Milutinovic, Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic, and Generals Dragoljub Ojdanic, Nebojsa Pavkovic i Sreten Lukic. Vladimir Lazarevic (FoNet, archive)

Ex-VJ colonel: KLA deported Albanians

Stojanović said that, as early as 1998, mercenaries from Saudi Arabia, Yemen and other countries had been fighting for the KLA, and that criminal proceedings had been launched against all VJ members who had committed crimes against the Albanian population.

He labeled the claims of prosecution witness, former Captain Niko Peraje, "completely inaccurate" that, at a meeting in 1999 with MUP officers, he had said that “we should kill at least 100 Albanians” to avenge the murder of police officer Milutin Prašćević.

Stojanović also refuted the claims of prosecution witness Lakić Đorović – who worked briefly during the war as a military prosecutor in Priština – that the Priština Corps authorities had blocked criminal proceedings being launched in certain cases.

The witness was testifying in the defense of Vladimir Lazarević, then Priština Corps commander, who has been accused of forced deportation, murder and the persecution of Albanian civilians from Kosovo in the first half of 1999.

Lazarević’s co-accused for crimes committed against Kosovo Albanians in 1999 are then Serbian President Milan Milutinović, Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Šainović, and Generals Dragoljub Ojdanić, Nebojša Pavković i Sreten Lukić.