BIA: Unilateral moves may spark conflict in Kosovo

The state security service, BIA, submitted a report to a parliamentary council in Belgrade yesterday. Director Rade Bulatovic told the Defense and Security Council that the security in the country, with the exception of Kosovo, was stable, but that risks were present. BIA: Unilateral moves may spark conflict in Kosovo He singled out what he called Albanian separatists in the south, Islamist movements in the Raska (Sandzak) region, extremists from ethnic minorities and organized crime as the sources of risk for the country. One of the priorities the service listed in the report is its contribution to the preservation of sovereignty over Kosovo. Bulatovic told the council members that protests and unrest can be expected in case of a unilateral declaration of the province's independence, warning that armed conflict may break out between Kosovo Albanians and Serbs. "Estimates show that a critical moment for Kosovo could happen prior to and immediately after the Contact Group mediators submit their report, which has been announced for December 10," Bulatovic said. "Protests, and possibly riots can be expected at that time, including a possible armed confrontation between the Serb and Albanian side, especially in case of a unilateral declaration of independence," he explained. But the BIA chief added his service did not expect major security challenges in the south of the country, "in the short-term". A terrorist ethnic Albanian group, known as Albanian National Army (ANA), was singled out as the main destabilizing factor in that region. In Bulatovic's words, BIA has established where ANA strongholds are, observing an increased level of the group's mobility, acquisition of weapons and recruitment of new members. He spoke about an extreme Wahhabi group present in Sandzak as the greatest Islamist danger, "that could spell out a direct threat for security." Turmoil within Serbia's Islamic community was also cited as one of the risk factors for the country's security, as well as extremists within ethnic minorities' communities and neo-Nazi and extreme right wing groups. Organized crime, weapons smuggling, human trafficking and money laundering are all endangering Serbia's security, Bulatovic said, adding that better cooperation with the police (MUP) is leading to a more successful fight against these threats. Speaking about the agency's other activities, he mentioned reports BIA submitted to the state leadership, cooperation with MUP, the Ministry of Defense, War Crimes Prosecution, and the handing over of 27,989 dossiers to the Serbian Archive. BIA has set its priorities for the coming period, which include fight against international terrorism and organized crime, the report submitted by Bulatovic, and adopted by the council, said. The ruling coalition, made up of the Democratic Party (DS), the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), New Serbia (NS) and G17 Plus voted in favor, opposition Radicals (SRS) abstained, while Liberals (LDP) voted against the document. Some of the council members reacted to the report wondering why the Hague cooperation was mentioned only in passing, and even then to say that BIA operated according to the law and obligations it undertook. But irrelevant of which part of the report was discussed, council members, above all those from the Serb Radical Party (SRS), wanted to know when and how Zdravko Tolimir was arrested. According to official information, the former Bosnian Serb Army (VRS) general and close Mladic aide was arrested at the end of May on the Bosnian side of that country's border with Serbia. But Tolimir, accused of war crimes, has contested this in each of his appearances before the Hague court, stating he was arrested in Belgrade and then shipped across the border. The council members also wished to know whether "the parliament wiretapped lawmakers." The debate that followed Bulatovic's presentation saw a tense exchange between Dragan Sormaz (DSS) and Aleksandar Vucic (SRS). "There are tapes and shorthand records that prove Mr. [interior minister Dragan] Jocic never said Mr. Tolimir was arrested on the bridge between Ljubovija and Bratunac," Sormaz said, after Vucic made that claim. "What he [Jocic] in fact did was read out two official notes coming from the Republic of Srpska MUP, that said Tolimir was arrested on a macadam road between two villages inside the RS territory, therefore not on the bridge, and I beseech you not to repeat that claim," Sormaz addressed Vucic. "I am not obligated to listen to anyone's lies," he added. "If Mr. Sormaz repeats one more time that we are lying, or if Mr. Bulatovic repeats that, I will tell you specifically who, from a very high place within BIA, gave this information about the location of General Tolimir's arrest, to a daily," Vucic retorted. "They drew a map [for the daily], they drew a brigde between RS and Serbia," he went on. After the council took over two hours to pose some 70 questions, Bulatovic proceeded to provide answers. Among others, he said that Tolimir was arrested in Bosnia, and that BIA was not wiretapping the MPs. The report, which covers the period between June 2006 and October 2007, is a state secret, thus reporters were only allowed to attend some parts of the council session Thursday. Rade Bulatovic and Ivica Dacic (SPS) during the council meeting (Beta)

BIA: Unilateral moves may spark conflict in Kosovo

He singled out what he called Albanian separatists in the south, Islamist movements in the Raška (Sandžak) region, extremists from ethnic minorities and organized crime as the sources of risk for the country.

One of the priorities the service listed in the report is its contribution to the preservation of sovereignty over Kosovo. Bulatović told the council members that protests and unrest can be expected in case of a unilateral declaration of the province's independence, warning that armed conflict may break out between Kosovo Albanians and Serbs.

"Estimates show that a critical moment for Kosovo could happen prior to and immediately after the Contact Group mediators submit their report, which has been announced for December 10," Bulatović said.

"Protests, and possibly riots can be expected at that time, including a possible armed confrontation between the Serb and Albanian side, especially in case of a unilateral declaration of independence," he explained.

But the BIA chief added his service did not expect major security challenges in the south of the country, "in the short-term".

A terrorist ethnic Albanian group, known as Albanian National Army (ANA), was singled out as the main destabilizing factor in that region.

In Bulatović's words, BIA has established where ANA strongholds are, observing an increased level of the group's mobility, acquisition of weapons and recruitment of new members.

He spoke about an extreme Wahhabi group present in Sandžak as the greatest Islamist danger, "that could spell out a direct threat for security."

Turmoil within Serbia's Islamic community was also cited as one of the risk factors for the country's security, as well as extremists within ethnic minorities' communities and neo-Nazi and extreme right wing groups.

Organized crime, weapons smuggling, human trafficking and money laundering are all endangering Serbia's security, Bulatović said, adding that better cooperation with the police (MUP) is leading to a more successful fight against these threats.

Speaking about the agency's other activities, he mentioned reports BIA submitted to the state leadership, cooperation with MUP, the Ministry of Defense, War Crimes Prosecution, and the handing over of 27,989 dossiers to the Serbian Archive.

BIA has set its priorities for the coming period, which include fight against international terrorism and organized crime, the report submitted by Bulatović, and adopted by the council, said.

The ruling coalition, made up of the Democratic Party (DS), the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), New Serbia (NS) and G17 Plus voted in favor, opposition Radicals (SRS) abstained, while Liberals (LDP) voted against the document.

Some of the council members reacted to the report wondering why the Hague cooperation was mentioned only in passing, and even then to say that BIA operated according to the law and obligations it undertook.

But irrelevant of which part of the report was discussed, council members, above all those from the Serb Radical Party (SRS), wanted to know when and how Zdravko Tolimir was arrested.

According to official information, the former Bosnian Serb Army (VRS) general and close Mladić aide was arrested at the end of May on the Bosnian side of that country's border with Serbia.

But Tolimir, accused of war crimes, has contested this in each of his appearances before the Hague court, stating he was arrested in Belgrade and then shipped across the border.

The council members also wished to know whether "the parliament wiretapped lawmakers."

The debate that followed Bulatović's presentation saw a tense exchange between Dragan Šormaz (DSS) and Aleksandar Vučić (SRS).

"There are tapes and shorthand records that prove Mr. [interior minister Dragan] Jočić never said Mr. Tolimir was arrested on the bridge between Ljubovija and Bratunac," Šormaz said, after Vučić made that claim.

"What he [Jočić] in fact did was read out two official notes coming from the Republic of Srpska MUP, that said Tolimir was arrested on a macadam road between two villages inside the RS territory, therefore not on the bridge, and I beseech you not to repeat that claim," Šormaz addressed Vučić.

"I am not obligated to listen to anyone's lies," he added.

"If Mr. Šormaz repeats one more time that we are lying, or if Mr. Bulatović repeats that, I will tell you specifically who, from a very high place within BIA, gave this information about the location of General Tolimir's arrest, to a daily," Vučić retorted.

"They drew a map [for the daily], they drew a brigde between RS and Serbia," he went on.

After the council took over two hours to pose some 70 questions, Bulatović proceeded to provide answers.

Among others, he said that Tolimir was arrested in Bosnia, and that BIA was not wiretapping the MPs.

The report, which covers the period between June 2006 and October 2007, is a state secret, thus reporters were only allowed to attend some parts of the council session Thursday.