[ALBSA-Info] {QIKSH «ALBEUROPA»} Kostunica Acknowledges Kosovo Genocide

[Nikoll A Mirakaj]

Kostunica Acknowledges Kosovo Genocide 

NEW YORK, Oct 24, 2000 -- (Reuters) President Vojislav Kostunica has acknowledged that Yugoslav security forces committed genocide in Kosovo and said he was ready to take responsibility for crimes committed by his predecessor Slobodan Milosevic.

Milosevic, who has been indicted by a UN court for his security forces' crimes against members of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority, was forced by a mass uprising to admit defeat to Kostunica in last month's elections.

Kosovo legally remains part of Serb-dominated Yugoslavia but has been run as a de facto international protectorate since June last year, when NATO bombing drove out Serb forces.

In an interview with CBS's "60 Minutes II", released on Monday and to be aired on Tuesday, Kostunica was asked if there was any doubt that the Yugoslav army and police were guilty of genocide in Kosovo.

"Those are the crimes and the people that have been killed are victims," the president responded, adding: "I must say also there are a lot of crimes on the other side and the Serbs have been killed.

"I am ready to, how to say, to accept the guilt for all those people who have been killed so I'm trying to, taking responsibility for what happened on my part. For what Milosevic had done and as a Serb I will take responsibility for many of these, these crimes,"

On whether Milosevic would stand trial somewhere, Kostunica replied: "Yes, somewhere." Asked about Serb crimes against humanity, he said Milosevic was "among those responsible."

Kostunica said his government had not arrested Milosevic because there were "too many things to be done at this moment, too many priorities."

The president also said "before anything else we are in need of democracy being, how to say, consolidated in this country. By opening the questions of the Hague (court) that democracy may be put into question."

After the sacking of the parliament building in Belgrade, Kostunica said he had feared a visit from the security forces.

"We were somewhere between democracy and revolution. And I must say that that morning I went to bed and had the specific feeling that someone might knock at my door."

Asked if had feared arrest, he replied: "Exactly."

(C)2000 Copyright Reuters Limited

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