"Ulemek cannot benefit from his testimony"

BELGRADE Veran Matic has said that Milorad Ulemek is accused of the most serious crimes, and by law cannot receive any privileges in exchange for his testimony. The president of the Commission for Investigation Murders of Journalists told B92 TV late on Tuesday that the arrest of suspected organizers of the murder of Slavko Curuvija was the result of the prosecutor's investigation, and that the prosecutor "certainly further verified and strengthened Ulemek's statement." "Ulemek cannot benefit from his testimony" "There are two more witnesses, but the details of who they are are known to the special prosecutor," said Matic. Special Prosecutor for Organized Crime Miljko Radisavljevic said on Tuesday that Milorad Ulemek aka Legija was the person who started to speak out about the murder, and that this proved to be of key importance for the arrests of two former state security operatives. Radosavljevic said that Ulemek, who is serving 40 years in prison for his role in the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, decided to speak about the murder, and that this testimony was unconditional. The prosecutor also estimated that the investigation will take a month to two months to complete.According to current information the order to carry out the murder came from former head of DB Radomir Markovic, and the perpetrators were Miroslav Kurak, who is out of the country, and Ratko Romic, who was arrested on Tuesday. However, Branka Prpa, the partner of the murdered journalist, told the magazine NIN that Kurak was not the person who shot him. "For me it's a new name, but he did not shoot Slavko. He does not look like that person. I did not see the other one, who hit me on the head with a gun, from behind," she said on Tuesday. She confirmed that she had seen Curuvija's killer and described him. Curuvija's brother, Jovo, spoke for B92 and said the arrest of the two suspects was a historic shift in solving the murder, and highlighted the commitment of the commission, saying at the same time that he believed the murder would finally be solved. "The punishment is an important thing, that Slavko, my brother, was killed by government officers. There had been stories that the mafia killed Slavko," he noted. He added that special thanks were due to Ljiljana Smajlovic and Veran Matic. "I have always stressed that Mirjana Markovic was the instigator and inciter, and that the top, Slobodan Milosevic, was the only one who could have given the order," Jovo Curuvija stated. He said he was not optimistic when it comes to Mirjana Markovic, and even to Kurak facing justice. Matic said that he also previously proposed the formation of a commission, which he now chairs: "I realized that the institutions are not strong enough... And that additional energy had to be made and extra strength added... " "I think this is a par excellence political murder, and I am inclined toward the definition given by Jovo, that it happened that way," said Matic. "It's awfully important for the journalist profession, for the country, that these cases are resolved. It is impermissible that journalists are threatened, that there are threats sent to newsrooms, that people live like myself or Brankica Stankovic under police escort for years, and to think that this is the solution," said Matic, adding that such a thing should not be happening in a democracy. "It is necessary to determine all aspects, not just condemn the shooter, who gave the order, but to reveal the whole mechanism," he noted. He added that there are a number of murders and that they all must be addressed. It is our duty as a modern state, said Matic. Speaking about the other cases, Matic said that a working group dealing with the murder of Milan Pantic had done much. "Soon there will be plenty of persons questioned, this will begin in the next few weeks, a prisoner from Bosnia will be questioned," said Matic. Regarding the murder of Dada Vujasinovic, he said that a credible expert testimony was needed, and noted that there was also the case of RTS workers killed in the bombing. "A lot of work is before the Commission and we will not stop working on the case of Slavko Curuvija... It is very important that the whole society confronts its dark past," said Matic. (B92) B92

"Ulemek cannot benefit from his testimony"

"There are two more witnesses, but the details of who they are are known to the special prosecutor," said Matić.

Special Prosecutor for Organized Crime Miljko Radisavljević said on Tuesday that Milorad Ulemek aka Legija was the person who started to speak out about the murder, and that this proved to be of key importance for the arrests of two former state security operatives.

Radosavljević said that Ulemek, who is serving 40 years in prison for his role in the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić, decided to speak about the murder, and that this testimony was unconditional.

The prosecutor also estimated that the investigation will take a month to two months to complete.According to current information the order to carry out the murder came from former head of DB Radomir Marković, and the perpetrators were Miroslav Kurak, who is out of the country, and Ratko Romić, who was arrested on Tuesday.

However, Branka Prpa, the partner of the murdered journalist, told the magazine NIN that Kurak was not the person who shot him.

"For me it's a new name, but he did not shoot Slavko. He does not look like that person. I did not see the other one, who hit me on the head with a gun, from behind," she said on Tuesday.

She confirmed that she had seen Ćuruvija's killer and described him.

Ćuruvija's brother, Jovo, spoke for B92 and said the arrest of the two suspects was a historic shift in solving the murder, and highlighted the commitment of the commission, saying at the same time that he believed the murder would finally be solved.

"The punishment is an important thing, that Slavko, my brother, was killed by government officers. There had been stories that the mafia killed Slavko," he noted.

He added that special thanks were due to Ljiljana Smajlović and Veran Matić.

"I have always stressed that Mirjana Marković was the instigator and inciter, and that the top, Slobodan Milošević, was the only one who could have given the order," Jovo Ćuruvija stated. He said he was not optimistic when it comes to Mirjana Marković, and even to Kurak facing justice.

Matić said that he also previously proposed the formation of a commission, which he now chairs: "I realized that the institutions are not strong enough... And that additional energy had to be made and extra strength added... "

"I think this is a par excellence political murder, and I am inclined toward the definition given by Jovo, that it happened that way," said Matić.

"It's awfully important for the journalist profession, for the country, that these cases are resolved. It is impermissible that journalists are threatened, that there are threats sent to newsrooms, that people live like myself or Brankica Stanković under police escort for years, and to think that this is the solution," said Matić, adding that such a thing should not be happening in a democracy.

"It is necessary to determine all aspects, not just condemn the shooter, who gave the order, but to reveal the whole mechanism," he noted. He added that there are a number of murders and that they all must be addressed. It is our duty as a modern state, said Matić.

Speaking about the other cases, Matić said that a working group dealing with the murder of Milan Pantić had done much. "Soon there will be plenty of persons questioned, this will begin in the next few weeks, a prisoner from Bosnia will be questioned," said Matić.

Regarding the murder of Dada Vujasinović, he said that a credible expert testimony was needed, and noted that there was also the case of RTS workers killed in the bombing.

"A lot of work is before the Commission and we will not stop working on the case of Slavko Ćuruvija... It is very important that the whole society confronts its dark past," said Matić.