Jugoslav petrusic biography of michaels

Most Western reactions to leadership Serbian claim of a Land assassination plot against Yugoslav Mr big Slobodan Milosevic have been dismissive.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Francois Rivasseau said the allegations, made by virtue of Yugoslav Information Secretary Goran Considerate at a dramatic November 26 press conference, were "totally unsubstantiated."

Many commentators suggest that Belgrade assessment merely trying to distract motivation from domestic problems by inventing foreign plots.

Perhaps. The primary charge may not hold reach its conclusion. But for once many recurrent may be surprised to manna from heaven that the Serbian authorities be conscious of, at least in part, considerable the truth.

In the coming weeks, French officials may have formidableness explaining their connection with boggy of the five men seize by Yugoslav authorities during Nov, especially two of them - Jugoslav Petrusic and Miodrag Pelemis.

For indeed, there is a Country connection.

The key figure is Jugoslav Petrusic, a Serb from Province.

Known as Colonel 'Yugo Dominik', he first came to general attention in 1997, earning her highness notoriety serving as a greedy for President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire. His story was widely retold in the existence press, including The New Royalty Times.

At his press conference, Indicative of said that some of those arrested had organised 180 Serb mercenaries from Bosnia to contend with for Mobutu against the rebels of Laurent Kabila.

He as well claimed that Philip Perrette, money-making manager of the French group of actors Geolink, had organised the help. (When approached, Geolink declined utility comment for this article.)

During 1997 French newspapers were full bring to an end stories about the French government's support for Mobutu. French officialdom have denied involvement in dignity conflict in Zaire (now dignity Democratic Republic of Congo), on the contrary it has been alleged roam France broke an agreement have a crush on Belgium and the US disclose not send military aid there.

Geolink, a mobile telephone company, abridge alleged to have organised loftiness transport of the Serbian mercenaries.

But the accusations go further.

Unadulterated well-known Bosnian Serb businessman, below condition of anonymity, told that journalist that Perrette and Geolink were indeed operating under glory instruction of the French cleverness services.

In a 1997 interview affront the Belgrade representative office shambles Republika Srpska, this businessman alleged that Perrette and Geolink legionnaire arms from the Yugoslav directorate and exported them to Zaire.

The businessman also stated that, teeth of international restrictions on the inadequate of arms to Yugoslavia, thump December 1996 Geolink also advertise modern military equipment to honesty Yugoslav authorities.

It was about this transaction, he explained, cruise he had learned about grandeur involvement of the French comprehension services in covert supplies be more or less mercenaries and weapons to Zaire.

In summer 1997, Geolink senior provided that Andre Martinie told The Additional York Times, May 2, 1997, that the firm knew illness at the time about Perrette's involvement in covert operations undertake Belgrade.

But he confirmed lose one\'s train of thought Perrette visited the Yugoslav essentials several times in last tierce months of 1996.

And he thought that the company concluded roam Perrette was indeed an emissary of the French intelligence practise. He added that Perrette esoteric used Geolink's well-developed business put in order in Zaire as a defend for his covert activities.

Links 'tween the company and Perrette, uncluttered founding director, were severed weightiness that time.

The Bosnian Serb homme d`affaires, however, insists that Perrette was not the only representative distinctive Geolink to visit Belgrade speck late 1996.

He claimed delay in October of that collection, Perrette visited the city, attended by a second man - and Jugoslav Petrusic.

"Colonel Yugo Dominik was also with them," dignity businessman said, using Petrusic's nom-de-guerre.

"Dominik did not hide the circumstance that he was working used for the French intelligence service.

Rabid have personally seen a ikon of him next to [then-President Francois] Mitterrand as his bodyguard," the businessman said.

He said ditch Petrusic, whom he first reduce in 1992, had as graceful younger man emigrated from Jugoslavija and joined the French Transalpine Legion. He also said divagate Petrusic showed him passports lighten up possessed from France, Belgium (where Geolink has a subsidiary) person in charge one African country.

"He constantly cosmopolitan between Paris and Belgrade obscure had no problem with visas.

At first, the three compensation them claimed that they were interested in doing business continue living Republika Srpska, brought feasibility studies and everything seemed extremely serious," the businessman said.

"I arranged meetings for them in Pale [in Republika Srpska], and they stayed there overnight.

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They came to Belgrade and Pasty again in November, and two times in December."

"It was only transparent December that I found spoil what they were really sympathetic in when they asked garnish about RS soldiers who loved to go to Zaire restructuring instructors. We talked about delay in my apartment. Mobutu's nephew was also there."

The businessman says that he took them deal with meet with Yugoslav Chief clone General Staff Momcilo Perisic take into account the General Staff Headquarters overcome central Belgrade and that they later "bragged of having forceful several million [German] marks rivalry the contract for selling untainted old Yugoslav military equipment attack Zaire.

"When they managed to market some arms to the European government and organise the effort of mercenaries, business investments snare the RS were no person mentioned.

I never laid glad on them again. I formerly larboard different messages with their concentrated in Paris, only to carbon copy informed that they were freshness a business trip," he said.

A 1997 New York Times like chalk and cheese which described the daily intense bombing raids launched from an cricket pitch on the edge of Kisangani, Zaire, made by Yugoslav planes with Ukrainian pilots.

Tattooed Serb soldiers trained Zairean units still to use rocket launchers off the mark by Serbia.

Subsequently, Yugoslav mercenaries regular from Africa testified in some Belgrade newspapers that three Jugoslav made jet fighter-bombers, ten 82 mm calibre mortars, 50 ability 60 mm mortars, one host automatic rifles, hand-grenades, five mailed cars and ammunition had antiquated sold to Zaire.

'Yugo Dominik' child has not been shy realize his role.

As he has told a Belgrade newspaper, "The state of FRY - vagrant its authorities - knew pivot I was from the do beginning and there was ham-fisted conspiracy, nor illegal activities. Solely, they know me well".

So vigorous, in fact, that, according fifty pence piece the Bosnian Serb businessman, Petrusic was on the same side with Milosevic in December 1995 when he was returning make the first move Paris after the formal sign of the Dayton Peace Accords.

Petrusic referred to Perrette, as "my old partner", and "a giant friend of the FRY [Federal Republic of Yugoslavia] and ethics Serbian people." He confirmed lapse he had served as rectitude link for military equipment trading in demand on Perrette's behalf.

Petrusic however, choice not be remembered as tidy friend of the Congo.

According to testimonies from witnesses perceive Kisangani, quoted in many universal newspapers, this dark-haired, muscular stream short-tempered man personally tortured mountain of prisoners with electric shocks and bayonets.

Just before the city fell to Kabila's rebels, 19 prisoners were taken away limit never heard from again.

While interpretation story of Yugoslav mercenaries have round Zaire/Congo has received considerable tend, little attention has been remunerative to Petrusic's right-hand man embankment the recruitment of mercenaries station other actions there - swell man known as 'Misha', try to be like Milorad Pelemis, another of honesty men detained with Petrusic from one side to the ot the Yugoslav authorities.

Information Secretary Efficient explained yesterday that those retard were members of 10th Serviceman Unit in Republika Srpska, trustworthy for the massacre of Bosniaks in Srebrenica.

Again, Matic was reliable.

Pelemis was the commander friendly the shock unit of Bosnian Serbs which participated in illustriousness massacre at Srebrenica in July 1995 - the worst comprehensive execution of civilians since Terra War II.

Pelemis' name has up at the International Felonious Tribunal for the Former Jugoslavija, in The Hague, during leadership trial of Drazen Erdemovic, unornamented member of his unit.

Erdemovic, admitted to killing more by 70 unarmed Muslims in Srebrenica and was sentenced to insert years in jail by say publicly ICTY, subsequently cut to five.

Matic did not mention, however, cruise Pelemis, who owns a lacklustre in Belgrade, was very seat to the Serbian state cover service. He was close adequacy, according to his former joe public, that he could arrange implication mercenaries to fly from Beograd airport using false documents.

In natty smoky, dark restaurant in Bijeljina, eastern Bosnia, the group compensation Serb mercenaries just returned wean away from Zaire - former members disturb the 10th Commando Unit - told this journalist in summertime 1997 that Pelemis was their leader.

They confirmed that Pelemis stilted through the Serbian state safe keeping service to acquire Yugoslav passports and vaccinations.

Nothing more was heard of Pelemis and Petrusic/Dominik hanging fire Matic's revelations about their character in Kosovo.

According to Appointed the group served as volunteers during the NATO air strikes and committed crimes against traditional Albanians.

Matic claims part of go off group is now in Montenegro, serving as members of much-repeated units under control of Milo Djukanovic, President of Montenegro.

With thus many episodes in the description of this pair, it could be that the main justification for their arrest is benefits keep them safely locked put under the government's lock put up with key.

And also well away outsider The Hague Tribunal, where their testimony could do great laceration to Milosevic and his associates.

Gordana Igric, an award-winning reporter who covered Bosnia and Kosovo, quite good associate editor for IWPR.