Byzantine Blog

If it wasn't for the independent sources of information most of the world would never have a chance to learn the truth about anything, especially when high NATO representatives embarrass themselves beyond repair by being caught in series of lies, such as British lord Paddy Ashdown while testifying against late President Milosevic in the Kangaroo Court in Hague.

Not surprisingly, highly acclaimed BBC reporters were satisfied to limit their “reporting” to singing praises to his lying lordship, while completely ignoring the other, much more important half of the story -- the part in which Ashdown's testimony was ripped into shreds. On the other hand, the sources that don't get paid to inform us, went ahead with the entire report, including the proof of Ashdown's perjury.

In short, Paddy Ashdown testified that he was no less than an eyewitness to Serbian “atrocities” in Kosovo strife. While under oath he went on to tell that, at the time Serbian army fought with terrorist KLA in Kosovo (during NATO bombardment of Serbia), he was in village Gegaj in Albania, near Serbian Kosovo border, from where he saw, with his own eyes, Serbian troops burning villages, killing everyone in their way, including the scores of Albanian civilians. A devastating testimony indeed, when no other than a high NATO official, a British lord, diplomat and a supposed gentleman swears he was an eyewitness to Serbian “war crimes.”

However, when President Milosevic's defense started, among his witnesses was General Bozidar Delic, Serbian war hero whose unit was fighting KLA in Kosovo at the time Ashdown claims he saw what he saw. This in itself wouldn't be the problem for Ashdown (‘your word against mine’ is how the Hague Inquisition basically operates), except for the fact that General Delic also happens to be a topography expert (a professor of topography at the Military Academy, to be exact). With few maps, markers and a plain ruler, General Delic has shattered Ashdown's testimony, proving without a doubt his lordship unashamedly lied on a witness stand and could not have seen any of what he says he saw.

Since the following excerpt from an interview with General Delic, as far as I know, isn't available in English, I have translated the part that pertains to revealing abominable lies of Paddy Ashdown, NATO, KFOR and UNMIK stationed in Kosovo and the lies of the Hague Inquisition. The interviewer is Boris Aleksic. Enjoy!

General, you have recently testified in The Hague. You have prepared ample documentation about crimes committed on Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.

I knew I would testify in The Hague back in 2002, because that was the first time Mr. Milosevic's assistants contacted me, asking if I would be willing to testify about what went on before and during NATO's aggression on our country in my zone of responsibility. I confirmed that I will testify. Meanwhile, the prosecution called me to testify about the crimes of the so-called UCK (KLA). The Army Headquarters and the Ministry of Defense gave their consent and I started preparing the documentation for my testimony with pleasure. I was preparing to testify as an expert witness for the prosecution against terrorist KLA from the end of 2002 and during the entire year of 2003. I have collected around 3,000 pages of documents, the complete organizational/formation structure of terrorists' command and units up from battalion level in the sectors of Pastrik and Dukadjini.

Towards the end of April 2005 all of the documents were properly classified and organized and I was ready. On June 12 I went to Hague as the witness for Mr. Milosevic's defense and testified for the first time on July 17, 2005 until the summer break. In the meantime Mr. Seselj testified, which I hoped for, since I knew the prosecution will make an effort to try to discredit me with some new details, and that's exactly what happened. On the second occasion I spent 19 days in Hague, testifying during 4 days. In total, I spent 63 days in Hague.

Your testimony has attracted massive interest in public and it is still the subject of conversation. You have used the scientific method to prove that prosecution and Tribunal are using falsified evidence and false witnesses. After your testimony Paddy Ashdown was replaced at the position of the EU's High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina. You have cancelled out Ashdown's testimony about the alleged crimes which, according to the prosecution, Serbian forces committed in Kosovo and Metohija, and which Ashdown supposedly saw looking through the mountains and hundred-year old forests?

From his position Ashdown supposedly saw the village Junik. Yet, whoever has the most basic knowledge about that area knows Ashdown's claims are entirely impossible. Junik mountains are exceeding the Kosovo and Metohija territory by the few hundred meters, while village Junik is 7 kilometers further away, below those mountains.

How did the prosecution react?

They immediately requested detailed explanation. I told them that I was born there and that I taught topography at the [Military] Academy. Than they asked me to present the disputed area graphically, with visibility zones clearly marked. They wanted me to finish everything during the twenty-minute break. Since I had no maps and no tools, I had to tell them I cannot finish the task sooner than by the next day. I naively believed I was helping them, but the prosecution was only looking for ways to discredit me.

During the break they brought some 50 maps. There were all sorts of them - black and white, in color, originals and copies. After examining their maps I told them neither one is good. They were gloating over my conclusion, since now they could say “they are good to everyone else, except for you.” I replied that all of the maps are lacking the basic information which any barely decent map has to have, like ratios for example. Those are the most basic, elementary rules of topography. The maps also didn't have any topographic shapes marked either, and so on.

Finally, I picked two maps. I asked for a ruler and markers so I could do what was requested in the afternoon.

You are saying that Tribunal, which has the most technologically advanced equipment and which spends millions of dollars annually, gave you the maps without information about ratios and without topographic shapes? And you didn't even get to use a computer for the work they requested from you?

I was given the most modest implements only. But even that was sufficient. I marked everything visible from the point given by Ashdown, from Albania. In the meantime, they informed me about the new statement by Ashdown, according to which, this time around, he was further to the south.

He changed his statement?

Yes, and that won't be the only time. I marked the visible areas on the map. The next day I took it to the tribunal telling them I'm done, although the maps I had to work with were rather poor. [Prosecutor] Nice was enraged and literally ripped the maps out of my hands.

One has to wonder about the country in which State Prosecutor rips evidence out of witness' or expert's hands. Was apparently calm Nice showing his true nature?

I thought the gesture is illustrative -- it showed the amount of respect they had for me. When I told them the maps I was given do not contain most of what they should, but I have finished my work anyway, he simply ripped them out of my hands. He was eager to show my work to prosecution's experts, hoping they will be able to disprove my knowledge and proficiency.

In the meantime Mr. Milosevic has received the copy of the proper map from the Military-Geographic Institute. Has your work matched the markings on that map?

Yes. Mr. Milosevic has received the map from the Institute. Everything matched with my work. We went on to other questions and, two weeks later, when the prosecutor took over the cross-examination, the same subject came up again.

The prosecutor had two weeks time to prepare for this cross-examination?

That is right. He brought the graphic presentation showing the direction Gegaj - Ponosevac. According to that map the entire town of Ponosevac could have been seen, while my work demonstrated that only one small part of Ponosevac could have been visible from the given point, the area southward of the school. I was curious to find out how could this be. Nice didn't want to reveal the name of the topography expert responsible for this discrepancy. I soon realized what was done: the so-called expert shaved 40 meters off the Planik hill - he simply reduced the height of the hill for 40 meters. I told them the presentation is the falsified and the prosecutor is misleading the council of judges, since the height of Planik is clearly spelled out on genuine maps.

Has anyone warned Nice he is not allowed to waste the court's time and deceive the council in such manner?

No. It was time for the summer break and I could go back to Belgrade.

We have seen the kind of resources you were provided with by the Tribunal for completing the required task. Can you tell us about the type of resources prosecution has at its disposal which, according to the rules of law, should be equal to those afforded to defense?

There is no semblance of equality, at all. Just to give you an example of the kind of resources prosecution has access to - as soon as I showed a video presentation which included the testimony of Albanians from Kosovo and Metohija, the prosecution found those same men with the help of NATO, KFOR and UNMIK [United Nations Mission in Kosovo] officials. They interviewed them again, this time in conditions where Kosovo and Metohija is ruled by KLA terrorists Thaci, Ceku, Haradinaj etc. People living in the southern Serbian region now are afraid to contradict them - they could lose their heads for one wrong word. Prosecution has immense resources available throughout the world. In a very short time span, they can locate anyone, question them, record everything and bring it to The Hague. The Hague prosecution has nine investigative teams in our country alone.

After the summer break, when I returned to the Hague, brilliant testimony of Dr. Vojislav Seselj was in progress. When it was my turn, the new Paddy Ashdown statement was ready.

Fourth one?

Yes, the fourth one. They wanted me to analyse this new claim during the break. I told them it won't be possible since now, for the first time, Ashdown used the GPS coordinates which had to be recalculated. I could do that in the afternoon.

You were expected to do within one afternoon something they have been working on during the summer break?

That is correct.

Which resources were you provided with?

I had to search the city for a photocopier, and I wasn't even given an ordinary ruler, although it was essential. But I managed. Upon examining the map I noticed that the place where Ashdown supposedly was has been moved 3 kilometers away from its actual location. Also, Ashdown has now hiked up one mountain and a reef.

This was incredible. According to the newest map he moved to a position 300 meters higher than before. I started the calculations. Basically, there are two methods for this sort of analysis, harder and easier. I chose the complex way, since that particular method gives the precise vertical section of the line of view. I worked until 2 a.m. and when the work was finished I was absolutely certain he could not have seen anything from there either, even if he was hanging off the reef. It didn't help that he hiked 300 meters up. I have marked all the zones in color. Although GPS allows for precision down to one meter, the prosecution gave me the GPS coordinates with the sloppy 100 meters accuracy, which is impermissible. Especially if you take into the account that you can have a 25 meters accuracy without the GPS.

It wasn't in their interest to give you the precise coordinates. But it is strange that Court didn't demand that from the prosecution.

Exactly. The position where Ashdown supposedly was according to their maps is surrounded by the hundred-year old chestnut and oak forests. We were unable to cut even a border belt through those forests. So, he couldn't have seen anything out of the forest. I thought my job there was done, but the prosecution asked me to stay another week. And I did.

You were given a single afternoon to analyze their map, but they were allowed a whole week to refute your analysis?

Yes. They went in with the camera and recorded Ashdown's position and everything that could be seen from there. Nice said that UNMIK and KFOR experts used the visual material and transferred it all to the maps. The Council asked Nice if he is certain everything was done properly this time around. He said he is.

So, they wanted to disqualify you entirely?

They wanted to destroy my expertise completely. Mr. Robinson [head “judge”] told me I don't need to prepare anything, just to relax and enjoy my stay for six days.

So, while you were sightseeing, they went into frantic preparations to invalidate your expertise? Have they succeeded?

When I walked back into the courtroom the overwhelming amount of material with all of Ashdown's statements, maps, translations, etc. was already awaiting. They have also shown the video tape. Allegedly, their cameraman was near Gegaj and he could see everything from there. But from the very start it was obvious their cameraman entered deeply into our territory and was over 2 kilometers away from Gegaj. Than they showed the map which corresponds to the video. I immediately noticed that village Gegaj is not in its place: as they moved the lord 3 kilometers closer in, so they moved the village 3 kilometers in, along with Ashdown. The map was signed as the work of NATO. I told them this is a fabrication and intolerable. In order to prove it, I took the prosecution's earlier map showing the village Gegaj. Than our map, from the Military-Geographic Institute, where the same village is at the same spot. Only the latest prosecutor's map, the one from NATO, was showing one and the same village 3 kilometers away from its actual position. The judges could plainly see the vulgar forgery. They asked Nice what is going on. He said he will call NATO and KFOR to investigate.

Although you discredited NATO, KFOR and UNMIK experts, the prosecution continued to present “evidence” from the same sources?

Yes, they continued using the same type of “evidence”. They kept calling Ashdown every now and than in order to synchronize their presentation. Now they moved the initial position 300 meters, placing it near one spring on our territory. Ashdown couldn't see what he and prosecution claimed from few other spots marked on the latest map either, because his view there would have been obstructed by the 600 meters tall object, while the villages are 14 kilometers away. On the video, they have shown the town Suva Reka, but it could not have been visible because it is 2 kilometers further away. But than, on the map that is supposed to correspond to the video, they marked Suva Reka as not visible from the same point.

This is the same material provided by NATO, KFOR and UNMIK?

Yes. When they asked for my opinion about this map I said it must have been made by the utter ignoramuses and amateurs, and that such a blunder even a freshman at the Military Academy wouldn't make after his third lesson. They asked what do I base such statement upon and I pointed out we have just seen Suva Reka on their video, but on the map the same town was marked with red lines, indicating the territory out of the field of visibility.

British judge Bonomi was turning red out of rage.

Instead of digging Ashdown out of the hole, he kept sinking deeper. Lord also claimed he could see houses burning in the village Vranic from the marked spot. That was impossible too, since his view would have been obstructed by the object that is 100 meters higher than the village. He could not see through the hills and mountains.

The Council said to Nice: “Our suspicions were justified, you did not need to question this witness further.” Afterwards, it turned out Nice completely changed the meaning of certain words in a translation he presented to the court, so the content would work in prosecutions' favor. At that point he was justifying his deception by the supposedly meager and modest resources at his disposal, saying he made an innocent mistake.

Did you believe him?

No, of course not. His associates are the numerous prosecution teams, NATO, KFOR, UNMIK and others. That is far from meager.

In the end, has the Council accepted into evidence prosecutor's fabricated maps, proving its bias in that way too?

Yes. They accepted my maps and almost all of the prosecutor's. Out of all the maps the prosecution presented, the court excluded only two.

Have they included into the evidence NATO's map where village Gegaj was moved three kilometers?

Yes.

Although Paddy Ashdown was accused by the US Congress of shielding Al Qaeda mujahedeens in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he was replaced only after your testimony.

The new High Representative of the EU was sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

After 1999, when you succeeded in preventing the ground aggression from Albania, this was your new victory, this time on the field of science and judiciary. After all this, how do you view NATO officers: Clark, who was ordering bombardment of civilian targets in our country, Short, who claimed Serbs should have the water and food cut off, Ashdown, who took part in the Irish massacre in the “Bloody Sunday,” and Walker whose units were killing Jesuit priests in Salvador?

William Walker played a shameful role in Salvador. He told journalists he only had 50 men in Salvador, but during one of the celebrations of the Salvador anniversary it was revealed 5,000 special troops were sent there. The massacre of the Jesuit priests is the most notorious atrocity. Walker is actually the expert for the dirty operations and that is precisely why he was sent to Kosovo and Metohija. Americans are the only ones who had the separate mission in Kosovo, apart from OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe].

NATO was destroying bridges, hospitals, electrical plants, hydro plants... NATO aggression was the most serious crime. Since they couldn't defeat our army, they were looking for ways to make life impossible for civilians, to terrorize and destroy them. They even planned to burn the wheat fields of Vojvodina [northern Serbia]. NATO strategy included raining leaflets on large cities in Serbia proper, like Kragujevac, which would order civilians to evacuate until noon the next day, and than level those cities entirely.

Regarding our defense of Kosovo and Metohija, I would like to say that members of national minorities also fought heroically within my division, alongside Serbs. In my unit, the number of ethnic Hungarians, who fought very bravely from the first day, lost their lives. I had a unit which consisted of Muslims - there was only one Serb in it. We also had a unit made entirely of ethnic Turks, and their commander was Turkish too. One of our units was Albanian. It wasn't the fighting unit, but it was stationed on the front lines. We had volunteers from many countries. All of them are heroes of Kosovo and Metohija defense.

You probably knew what awaits you before you went to Hague, but how do you view the opponent now, the prosecution which constantly presents falsified evidence and false witnesses?

The main characteristic of the Hague Tribunal is that when one proves a part of the indictment is pure fiction, they simply write a new indictment from which they exclude that particular part. This way the indictment changes dozens of times during the proceeding and the accused soon has no idea what is he being charged for in the first place.