Tadić “ready to testify” in Satellite Affair

Serbian President Boris Tadic has stated that he was ready to testify in the co-called Satellite Affair, "and all other trials where he could help". “It’s only important not start a manhunt, not to accuse anyone prematurely. My vote was to have all the documentation open for public and that they should not be a state secret,” the president said. Tadic “ready to testify” in Satellite Affair “Let’s see if there is guilt, whose guilt it is, whether there is political, legal responsibility, and how to resolve the situation,” Tadic emphasized. “I really didn’t have insight into what then executive authority was negotiating at the time, I had no insight into who was negotiating with whom,” he said. Tadic was a member of the Supreme Defense Council of Serbia and Montenegro when a contract was signed with Israel's ImageSat company to lease one of its satellites. But Serbia subsequently failed to honor its obligations, and was earlier this year ordered to pay EUR 36mn in damages, after losing an international arbitration case. Because he signed the contract, Serbia and Montenegro Defense Minister Prvoslav Davinic was indicted in Belgrade earlier this week on charges of abuse of office. Now Tadic says that the country was facing “extraordinary security risks in 2004 and 2005”, when the contract was signed, and that the Council had “real-time satellite images in mind when discussing the issue”. “This was during the sessions I attended, and there is documentation about it. I never had delayed satellite images in mind, because they have no security significance,” according to the president. Tadic also warned that there were still risks because Serbia, due to the Military-Technical Agreement singed with NATO at the end of the Kosovo war in 1999, did not have full access to the administrative line with the province, or electronic surveillance in place. Boris Tadic is seen in Belgrade on Friday (Beta) Tadic awarded by Bosniak Council Representatives of the Bosniak (Muslim) National Council (BNV) on Friday presented Boris Tadic with a gold plaque for his contributions to the protection of collective and individual rights of Bosniaks in Serbia. Tadic was also recognized for his contribution to the creation of a multi-ethnic and multicultural society. "With his policy of peace, President Tadic has played a very important role in creating a democratic environment and improving relations between Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Turkey, as well as in EU integration," BNV said explaining its decision. BNV President Sulejman Ugljanin presented the plaque to Tadic at the Serbian Presidency in Belgrade on Friday.

Tadić “ready to testify” in Satellite Affair

“Let’s see if there is guilt, whose guilt it is, whether there is political, legal responsibility, and how to resolve the situation,” Tadić emphasized.

“I really didn’t have insight into what then executive authority was negotiating at the time, I had no insight into who was negotiating with whom,” he said.

Tadić was a member of the Supreme Defense Council of Serbia and Montenegro when a contract was signed with Israel's ImageSat company to lease one of its satellites.

But Serbia subsequently failed to honor its obligations, and was earlier this year ordered to pay EUR 36mn in damages, after losing an international arbitration case.

Because he signed the contract, Serbia and Montenegro Defense Minister Prvoslav Davinić was indicted in Belgrade earlier this week on charges of abuse of office.

Now Tadić says that the country was facing “extraordinary security risks in 2004 and 2005”, when the contract was signed, and that the Council had “real-time satellite images in mind when discussing the issue”.

“This was during the sessions I attended, and there is documentation about it. I never had delayed satellite images in mind, because they have no security significance,” according to the president.

Tadić also warned that there were still risks because Serbia, due to the Military-Technical Agreement singed with NATO at the end of the Kosovo war in 1999, did not have full access to the administrative line with the province, or electronic surveillance in place.

Tadić awarded by Bosniak Council

Representatives of the Bosniak (Muslim) National Council (BNV) on Friday presented Boris Tadić with a gold plaque for his contributions to the protection of collective and individual rights of Bosniaks in Serbia.

Tadić was also recognized for his contribution to the creation of a multi-ethnic and multicultural society.

"With his policy of peace, President Tadić has played a very important role in creating a democratic environment and improving relations between Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Turkey, as well as in EU integration," BNV said explaining its decision.

BNV President Sulejman Ugljanin presented the plaque to Tadić at the Serbian Presidency in Belgrade on Friday.