New probe into NATO bombing of RTS possible

The Organized Crime Prosecution could launch a new probe against those responsible for the death of 16 Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) workers, B92 learned. They died on April 23, 1999, when the building was attacked by NATO warplanes. New probe into NATO bombing of RTS possible The prosecution says there are enough elements to start a new probe. “We have been in the Special Prosecution for 13 years now and every time we submit new evidence. Each time we spend two hours in the Prosecution copying the evidence. Who are they trying to wear down, the families (of the victims) or the real perpetrators,” mother of one of the victims Zanka Stojanovic told B92. She stressed that it was clear to the families who had killed their loved ones but that a question who ordered them to stay inside the building was still unanswered. “Can you imagine that (then RTS director) Dragoljub Milanovic was alone in front of the RTS building? He is only a link in a chain. He executed someone else’s order,” Stojanovic stated. Milanovic was the only person who was sentenced for the death of the 16 RTS employees. “We are ready to support his release if he says who ordered that our children stay in the building and get killed. Let them release him and pay him for the time he served,” Stojanovic noted. “The bombing of the RTS building in 1999 is a metaphor for what is happening in Serbia,” said film director Janko Baljak. Baljak, who directed two documentaries about the NATO bombing of RTS, told B92 that Serbia would never become a democratic society until it determined why the RTS workers had died. He pointed out that the names of the responsible people in the RTS workers case file were the same as those in the cases of murdered journalists Dada Vujasinovic and Slavko Curuvija and the murdered soldiers at the Topcider barracks in Belgrade, adding that all evidence had been submitted to the competent bodies. The RTS headquarters after the NATO bombing (file) “Serbian Defense Ministry has files on bombing” European Parliament (EP) Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin has said in the meantime that he is “surprised” by Serbian defense minister’s call to help shed some light on the NATO bombing of RTS by giving the Belgrade authorities all possible information about pilots’ communication with the NATO base. Kacin stressed that the Serbian Defense Ministry had direct contact with NATO so it could get additional information about the case. He also claims that all the documents about the NATO bombing of RTS was in possession of the Serbian Defense Ministry. B92

New probe into NATO bombing of RTS possible

The prosecution says there are enough elements to start a new probe.

“We have been in the Special Prosecution for 13 years now and every time we submit new evidence. Each time we spend two hours in the Prosecution copying the evidence. Who are they trying to wear down, the families (of the victims) or the real perpetrators,” mother of one of the victims Žanka Stojanović told B92.

She stressed that it was clear to the families who had killed their loved ones but that a question who ordered them to stay inside the building was still unanswered.

“Can you imagine that (then RTS director) Dragoljub Milanović was alone in front of the RTS building? He is only a link in a chain. He executed someone else’s order,” Stojanović stated.

Milanović was the only person who was sentenced for the death of the 16 RTS employees.

“We are ready to support his release if he says who ordered that our children stay in the building and get killed. Let them release him and pay him for the time he served,” Stojanović noted.

“The bombing of the RTS building in 1999 is a metaphor for what is happening in Serbia,” said film director Janko Baljak.

Baljak, who directed two documentaries about the NATO bombing of RTS, told B92 that Serbia would never become a democratic society until it determined why the RTS workers had died.

He pointed out that the names of the responsible people in the RTS workers case file were the same as those in the cases of murdered journalists Dada Vujasinović and Slavko Ćuruvija and the murdered soldiers at the Topčider barracks in Belgrade, adding that all evidence had been submitted to the competent bodies.

“Serbian Defense Ministry has files on bombing”

European Parliament (EP) Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin has said in the meantime that he is “surprised” by Serbian defense minister’s call to help shed some light on the NATO bombing of RTS by giving the Belgrade authorities all possible information about pilots’ communication with the NATO base.

Kacin stressed that the Serbian Defense Ministry had direct contact with NATO so it could get additional information about the case. He also claims that all the documents about the NATO bombing of RTS was in possession of the Serbian Defense Ministry.