Kosovo Six: Soldiers carried Geneva Conventions

The Hague trial of the six former Serbian leaders charged with Kosovo crimes continued this week.

Izvor: SENSE

Saturday, 19.01.2008.

14:41

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The Hague trial of the six former Serbian leaders charged with Kosovo crimes continued this week. General Dragan Zivanovic testified as the defense witness of Vladimir Lazarevic, his former commander in the Yugoslav Army (VS). Kosovo Six: Soldiers carried Geneva Conventions He has already given evidence at the trial of Haradinaj, Balaj and Brahimaj as a prosecution witness. In the Kosovo Six trial, he repeated his allegations about KLA crimes and VJ's impeccable treatment of civilians in Kosovo. Each soldier carried on his person a pocket edition of the Geneva Conventions, he said. Zivanovic, former commander of the 125th Motorized Brigade, accused what he called Albanian terrorists of a series of crimes committed in the Dukagjin area in 1998 and 1999. The VJ had to respond, he concluded in his evidence. No crimes against Albanians civilians were committed in these military operations, the witness said. Isolated crimes were prosecuted, Zivanovic added. In his effort to prove that the military leadership acted preventively, he said that every VJ soldier received a "laminated pocket book" with all provisions of the international law and Geneva conventions on the eve of the conflict. Also, courses were organized for VJ officers where they were taught about those provisions in detail. Zivanovic claims that general Lazarevic never gave him any written or oral orders to commit any crimes; other Pristina Corps officers who have testified in the defense of their former commander have said the same thing. On the contrary, he said, Lazarevic insisted on the protection of civilians and international observers on Kosovo before NATO launched its air strike campaign.

Kosovo Six: Soldiers carried Geneva Conventions

He has already given evidence at the trial of Haradinaj, Balaj and Brahimaj as a prosecution witness.

In the Kosovo Six trial, he repeated his allegations about KLA crimes and VJ's impeccable treatment of civilians in Kosovo. Each soldier carried on his person a pocket edition of the Geneva Conventions, he said.

Živanović, former commander of the 125th Motorized Brigade, accused what he called Albanian terrorists of a series of crimes committed in the Dukagjin area in 1998 and 1999. The VJ had to respond, he concluded in his evidence.

No crimes against Albanians civilians were committed in these military operations, the witness said.

Isolated crimes were prosecuted, Živanović added. In his effort to prove that the military leadership acted preventively, he said that every VJ soldier received a "laminated pocket book" with all provisions of the international law and Geneva conventions on the eve of the conflict.

Also, courses were organized for VJ officers where they were taught about those provisions in detail.

Živanović claims that general Lazarević never gave him any written or oral orders to commit any crimes; other Priština Corps officers who have testified in the defense of their former commander have said the same thing.

On the contrary, he said, Lazarević insisted on the protection of civilians and international observers on Kosovo before NATO launched its air strike campaign.

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