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"SLOBO! SLOBO! SLOBO!"
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This is the man whose nationalist campaign
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it is held responsible for all the wars in Yugoslavia.
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Slobodan Milosevic.
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Then we will win.
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Despite, that today as in the past...
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Internal enemies unite
with external enemies
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against Serbia.
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To them we say:
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We are not afraid at all,
we will do every battle!
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I was wondering:
"If we continue like this...
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what will remain of the homeland?"
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He insisted;
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forced this approach
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and we will enforce it
to all of Yugoslavia.
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It is absurd, in the course of subsequent events,
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WE were the ones accused of nationalism!
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"We enter every battle...!"
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"with the intention of winning it!"
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THE DEATH OF YUGOSLAVIA
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THE ENTRY OF NATIONALISM
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In 1980 Marshal Tito did
his last trip
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through communist Yugoslavia.
Country that he had created.
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For 35 years he kept the six together
Yugoslav republics with an iron hand.
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Any hint of nationalism
by the Serbs, Croats,
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Muslims, Macedonians or Slovenians,
was crushed.
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He called this strategy political
"Brotherhood and Unity".
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Seven years after Yugoslavia
it was still together.
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Tito's heirs maintained
the grudges between the various ethnic groups are buried.
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In the Socialist Republic of Serbia,
Milosevic was the right hand
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of the President, Ivan Stambolic.
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The Yugoslav tragedy had begun
when Milosevic turned against the President.
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I managed to avoid all the traps.
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Milosevic was not a trap
put by someone else.
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I chose it.
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The story began in Kosovo.
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The poorest province in Serbia,
on the border with Albania.
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My teammates were pushing me again
to go to Kosovo.
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I am committed to
send Milosevic to meet them.
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The President delegated to his
most trusted official the task
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to calm the ethnic conflict
which was getting worse.
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The communist officials of the area, for the
mostly of Albanian descent,
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they had to face
a group of Serbian nationalists.
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Milosevic reunited with the
Party officials
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and with industrial exponents.
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It doesn't take anything into consideration
outside the nomenklatura.
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We nationalists of Kosovo Polje not
we would have allowed him to come.
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Every other strategy based on hate
between nationalities,
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on the spread of ethnic grievances
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it can never be a progressive strategy.
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Comrade President, it's been 12 years
what I'm waiting for
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I know Azem Vllasi, I know these people!
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Even the Party knows who I am,
I've been waiting 12 years...!
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We of the Central Committee of the Communists
of Serbia we recognize
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of not being satisfied with the speed
with whom we are working on the issue.
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Milosevic gave a speech
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in line with the function
which he was doing at the time.
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He was the president of the Union
of the Communists of Serbia
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I approached the stage
and I said to him, "Mr. President!"
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Because I was the Party member too.
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I told him: "Comrade President,
she gave a monologue."
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"We didn't invite her for that.
We want to talk to you."
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And he said, “Okay.
Shall we do this Friday?"
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And the crowd responded, "Let's do it!"
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- "Friday at 5pm?"
- "Okay!"
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- "Long live the Brotherhood and Unity of Yugoslavia!"
- "Long live!"
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Having agreed to meet the nationalists,
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Milosevic was violating the guidelines of Tito's Yugoslavia.
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Mostly in the most sensitive area of Serbia.
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Kosovo is not just any part of Serbia,
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Kosovo is the heart of Serbia.
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Our entire history is found in Kosovo.
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All our monasteries are located in Kosovo.
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In 1389, on the Piana dei Merli [Kosovo Polje ndt],
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King Lazar of Serbia led the army into battle,
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to try to counter the advance of Islam.
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Six centuries after Serbian television
reenacted their heroic defeat.
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Until that time, most Serbs have
abandoned this desolate province
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But the extras in the role of the infidels
they were found in abundance.
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The majority of the inhabitants of Kosovo
they were Albanian Muslims.
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The few remaining Serbs supported
of having been chased away from their ancient Kingdom.
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Without batting an eye,
Serbia believed
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to stories about Albanian atrocities,
however incredible they may have been.
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In those circumstances,
the presence of any Serbian public figure
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that would have proved the Serbian people right
of having to protect him,
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to affirm equality between peoples,
who would not have allowed violence against girls,
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house fires,
the desecration of cemeteries.
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He had to act quickly.
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Milosevic now had the opportunity
to exploit the Kosovan issue.
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He invited his most trusted advisors.
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- Milosevic remained silent about this,
while we continued to argue.
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He had the most complete picture of the situation,
and greater responsibility
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I didn't see him worried, though
he thought about it a lot.
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We were consulting whether to allow it
to speak or if he had to at all.
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I thought he should speak clearly,
to offer support to the Kosovar Serbs,
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The situation in Kosovo was unsustainable.
People have been deprived of their rights.
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We never considered it
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to allow anyone
was discriminated against in this country.
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The leader of the Communists of Kosovo
he felt that Milosevic was planning something.
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Milosevic sent his private secretary,
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the person who did the dirty work for Milosevic.
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He met the leader of the Kosovar Serbs,
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and told him what to do
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We had no more time,
only three days to organize everything!
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We organized ourselves by areas,
to meet people,
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and we indicated to all the kids that
they know how to bring everything they need!
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We brought two trucks full of stones
to widen sidewalks
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It was to widen the sidewalks,
not for the police.
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And it was there, in case we needed it.
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Milosevic came to pick me up in the car,
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the crowd was already agitated...
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until the moment we arrived.
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The head of the Kosovar Communist Party
he supported Milosevic
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uncertain what he was facing.
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Let them pass, comrade President Milosevic
allowed him to enter.
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One at a time!!
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When the meeting began,
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one Serb after another claimed that
the Albanians in Kosovo had made his life unbearable.
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"I want to live here where my mother had me"
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"I want my children to live here,
let there be my grave"
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"If I have to leave, I'm willing to die!"
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It was the first time he heard the slogan:
- Ethnically clean
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Then it was Kosovo.
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Their target was Kosovo
ethnically clean.
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People were killed, cemeteries
desecrated, burned monasteries, orchards, fields...
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The exodus of Kosovo Serbs began.
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I kept suggesting to Milosevic:
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"They're all lying."
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The atmosphere was toxic
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The more they insulted us, we Albanians,
the more we applauded
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Or let's stop the exodus,
or we start to return,
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people will return to their homes,
or we all have to leave.
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We just want to stay and live here,
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but not this way!
NO and NO!!
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And now us
we started with the meeting,
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the others went in, and out yes
they heard noises like these...
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We had no idea what was happening.
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A fight broke out among the Serbs outside
and the Kosovar police.
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Everything was going according to plan.
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Our men fled and
the police started chasing them
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until our men reached the piles of stones
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When they turned against him,
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no policeman came out without a "gift" from the popular masses.
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On the head, on the helmet, on the shoulders...
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We approached Milosevic
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and I said to him, "The police are out there
He's beating our people."
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At that moment he could not pass
the hot potato no longer to anyone.
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He made the exit, he certainly felt it
very uncomfortable and afraid,
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he was scared because he understood the risks
of the match that was being played there.
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At first he hesitated for a while...
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...in his typical pose
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- Comrades!
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- Companions!
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This was the decisive moment for Milosevic.
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We were mistreated by the police,
they beat women and children
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The Albanians have infiltrated among us,
we were beaten!
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With permission, thank you...!
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They're beating us!
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What Milosevic said,
it changed everything.
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No one will ever hit you again!
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That evening Serbian TV
made Milosevic legendary.
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Serbia witnessed Milosevic standing
defending the Serbs in Kosovo.
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No one will be allowed to hit you ever again!
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We did that service for
our usual programming,
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we have three channels.
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Milosevic was very satisfied
of our point of view
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because he was convinced he had
done everything that needed to be done.
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You, as President, as you can allow
let the police raise their hand on the people!?
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Comrades and comrades!
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We need to hear depositions
of all your delegates.
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It was not shown to the public in Serbia
the way the Serbs provoked the police.
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The myth of Milosevic was based
on a lie.
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Milosevic returned from Kosovo scared,
hot-headed,
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We discussed it among a few close friends,
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he was pathetic, he shouted:
“This is about our Motherland!”
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Milosevic was accused of
having abused Party politics.
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Stambolic then asked the question:
"Why did Milosevic speak in those tones in Kosovo?"
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Milosevic said:
"Something has to change"
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Because the power is held by the Shiptari
[derogatory for Albanesi, ndt]
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Serbs are no longer found in institutional positions.
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The Albanians were the problem,
their interference had raised Kosovo
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practically giving it status
of a federal republic.
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While those who held power,
they could pursue a clearly Nazi-style objective.
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I wondered during that meeting...
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"If we continue like this, what will remain of the homeland?"
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Then I realized that not only
his methods were different.
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That actually two were forming
different strategies towards Kosovo,
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and two different policies regarding resolution
of the problems in the Republics and Provinces.
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The distance between us became larger and larger.
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The President of Serbia tried to avoid it
an open clash with his deputy.
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Then the third most powerful man in the Party
made a public criticism.
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"Dragisa Pavlovic declared that,
lately, in some public statements
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certain ideas and certain public figures are named
openly anti-communist.
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He declared this at the conclusion of the meeting.
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I went to Milosevic's house to get some information.
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I found him completely relaxed,
without the tie,
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...he put on his sports jacket
ready for his weekend.
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Sitting in the armchair watching the news
of Belgrade Television.
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What does it take for us to understand that statements
Could this kind of trigger riots?
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His public appearance was not
just a low blow for the Kosovo Serbs,
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but also for the planned reforms.
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00:16:39,853 --> 00:16:43,890
As soon as the press conference was over,
Milosevic stood up
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He looked determined and said:
"We'll discuss this on Monday."
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Milosevic consulted with his tactical advisor
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He suggested that offense would be the best defense.
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00:16:57,770 --> 00:17:00,185
I was categorical.
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00:17:00,637 --> 00:17:04,862
I personally suggested to him to exclude
that man from the Presidency.
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One of the obstacles was…
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...the old nomenklatura of bureaucrats
leading Serbia.
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He liked the idea,
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00:17:15,865 --> 00:17:19,183
But it was clear that he was worried
of the fate of this plan.
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We didn't know whether to leave,
This is a crucial decision for the President.
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The show began a few days later.
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on the occasion of the meeting of the leaders of
Serbian Communist Party.
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There can be no compromise here.
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The crisis in Kosovo is worsening
more and more every day.
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Every hesitation causes further pressure...
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To send away the President's man,
Milosevic urged every possible vote.
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Milosevic told me:
"Azem, take the votes of the Kosovar delegates from me
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"Help me with this thing"
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I replied: "Impossible!"
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In Kosovo, we expected unrest
by Kosovar separatists.
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But we didn't expect them here,
within the ranks of the Communist Party
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Those who procrastinate or obstruct
our reforms,
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violate Party guidelines,
although some deny it.
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I'm afraid Ivan couldn't
resist the authoritarian approach
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Of course, this was mine
political showdown
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They decided to send me away.
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00:18:49,962 --> 00:18:53,920
With the motivations that played
in their favor.
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I really don't understand. Because I have to see myself
labeled as authoritarian?
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00:19:06,682 --> 00:19:11,011
This is not my personal problem.
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Once finished,
Milosevic called to vote
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00:19:17,511 --> 00:19:22,547
It had all happened so fast,
they didn't know what had happened.
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00:19:24,352 --> 00:19:26,966
Raise your hand if you're in favor.
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00:19:27,059 --> 00:19:30,578
It was undoubtedly great
victory for Milosevic.
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00:19:32,648 --> 00:19:35,565
Raise your hand if you are against the proposal!
237
00:19:35,665 --> 00:19:38,665
"One, two, three, four, five..."
238
00:19:39,165 --> 00:19:44,565
"Six, seven, eight.
Eight against"
239
00:19:46,514 --> 00:19:50,339
I remember Ivan Stambolic sitting
in the front row
240
00:19:53,074 --> 00:19:57,397
during the vote he was amazed
241
00:19:58,051 --> 00:20:02,572
that only eight delegates voted against.
A total fiasco.
242
00:20:07,472 --> 00:20:11,172
With the reins in hand,
Milosevic pushed Serbia
243
00:20:11,172 --> 00:20:13,772
on crusade against Yugoslavia.
244
00:20:16,423 --> 00:20:19,572
He was caught up in the atmosphere
245
00:20:19,572 --> 00:20:22,072
...and poured gasoline on the fire.
246
00:20:22,772 --> 00:20:26,172
When dealing with Kosovar Serbs...
247
00:20:26,772 --> 00:20:30,372
...was received by all Serbs
like a battle cry.
248
00:20:49,486 --> 00:20:53,072
The relics of King Lazar,
who died in the Battle of Kosovo,
249
00:20:53,148 --> 00:20:56,881
they were carried in procession
throughout Yugoslavia,
250
00:20:57,281 --> 00:21:00,781
calling the Serbs to find again
their ancient glory.
251
00:21:01,081 --> 00:21:03,581
We will stop the counterrevolution in Kosovo
252
00:21:03,925 --> 00:21:06,340
We will reform the political system
253
00:21:07,951 --> 00:21:12,682
so that Serbia regains possession
of its entire territory!
254
00:21:15,570 --> 00:21:18,286
Serbia dominated Yugoslavia.
255
00:21:18,529 --> 00:21:22,459
To reduce its extension,
Tito created two autonomous provinces,
256
00:21:23,287 --> 00:21:26,302
Kosovo and Vojvodina, with their own governments.
257
00:21:26,702 --> 00:21:31,351
In federal meetings they could use
their votes to ally themselves with the northern republics,
258
00:21:31,451 --> 00:21:34,251
Croatia and Slovenia,
against Serbia.
259
00:21:34,851 --> 00:21:37,351
Milosevic aimed to get those votes back.
260
00:21:39,051 --> 00:21:43,451
He began here, where he had gods brought
Serbian nationalists from Kosovo.
261
00:21:46,151 --> 00:21:50,351
We didn't put him in power.
whoever says that is wrong.
262
00:21:51,351 --> 00:21:55,351
But we made it stronger
and firmer, it's true.
263
00:21:58,890 --> 00:22:02,710
Attracted by a free trip, some food
and drinking freely,
264
00:22:02,910 --> 00:22:06,559
nationalists transformed local protests
in a popular revolution,
265
00:22:06,726 --> 00:22:09,946
against the bureaucracy of the old regime.
266
00:22:12,246 --> 00:22:15,346
One word from Milosevic was enough to achieve the goal.
267
00:22:21,844 --> 00:22:28,984
This means that all provincial officials
they will be removed from their positions
268
00:22:29,164 --> 00:22:34,283
to whom rightly, I repeat, rightly,
the masses voted no confidence.
269
00:22:35,337 --> 00:22:37,950
While not a traitor,
270
00:22:39,183 --> 00:22:41,998
despite having acted with a clear conscience,
271
00:22:42,598 --> 00:22:44,498
I'm willing to resign.
272
00:22:44,798 --> 00:22:46,998
Vojvodina became Milosevic's fiefdom.
273
00:22:47,193 --> 00:22:50,106
The next target was the
Socialist Republic of Montenegro,
274
00:22:50,206 --> 00:22:52,306
historic ally of Serbia.
275
00:22:54,506 --> 00:22:56,506
The old President couldn't do anything about it.
276
00:22:57,006 --> 00:22:59,306
Another Milosevic puppet was installed.
277
00:22:59,306 --> 00:23:03,106
Maybe they'll pretend they don't have it
heard our calls,
278
00:23:03,706 --> 00:23:07,506
...as well as not knowing
the real reasons for our discontent.
279
00:23:08,206 --> 00:23:11,206
This rally was called by the people!
280
00:23:12,106 --> 00:23:14,306
The people decide and that's how it is
which it must be.
281
00:23:16,906 --> 00:23:20,906
At the beginning of 1989, Milosevic
controlled half of Yugoslavia.
282
00:23:22,406 --> 00:23:25,806
But here, in Kosovo,
the Albanians were the majority.
283
00:23:26,226 --> 00:23:28,834
And they reacted.
284
00:23:30,834 --> 00:23:33,734
The miners called a general strike,
285
00:23:33,855 --> 00:23:37,876
asking for the chair to be restored
to their representative.
286
00:23:41,775 --> 00:23:48,411
The biggest support for me
is to all stay united,
287
00:23:49,050 --> 00:23:52,576
brotherhood between all nationalities and ethnicities...
288
00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:57,784
I had been in bed for a couple of hours,
when the phone rang,
289
00:23:58,335 --> 00:24:00,347
It was Milosevic from Belgrade.
290
00:24:00,823 --> 00:24:04,746
He was very aggressive.
291
00:24:05,183 --> 00:24:09,008
He looked really worried
292
00:24:10,685 --> 00:24:15,920
He thought I was responsible for the
demonstrations against him,
293
00:24:17,110 --> 00:24:18,922
He kept threatening me,
294
00:24:19,555 --> 00:24:22,574
"Someone will pay for this"
295
00:24:24,045 --> 00:24:29,171
To help Milosevic in his aim,
Kosovar Serbs arrived in Belgrade.
296
00:24:29,615 --> 00:24:32,500
As the crowd gathered in front of Parliament,
297
00:24:32,656 --> 00:24:37,381
Milosevic asked for extraordinary powers
to the Presidency of Yugoslavia.
298
00:24:39,060 --> 00:24:44,087
Milosevic insisted that the
Presidency recognized
299
00:24:44,498 --> 00:24:47,511
those responsible for the events in Kosovo,
and punish them.
300
00:24:47,794 --> 00:24:51,315
He said: "We Serbs have the right
to defend our interests"
301
00:24:55,062 --> 00:25:00,405
“We don't care if this violates or not
the Yugoslav Constitution."
302
00:25:01,061 --> 00:25:05,571
The Slovenian leader understood the consequences
this could have on the rest of Yugoslavia.
303
00:25:07,825 --> 00:25:10,751
In the aftermath of the events in Kosovo
304
00:25:12,648 --> 00:25:16,456
we found ourselves faced with a concrete reason
to counter the Serbs.
305
00:25:17,803 --> 00:25:21,730
Following the meeting,
Milan Kucan immediately returned to Slovenia.
306
00:25:23,843 --> 00:25:26,660
That evening he made a speech to his people.
307
00:25:30,508 --> 00:25:34,752
It's not just rights that are being defended here
of the striking miners,
308
00:25:35,152 --> 00:25:37,952
or the Albanians in Kosovo.
309
00:25:39,552 --> 00:25:41,652
Here Yugoslavia defends itself,
310
00:25:42,052 --> 00:25:45,752
and all its Republics,
including Slovenia.
311
00:25:47,618 --> 00:25:51,038
These words mean a lot
annoyed our people
312
00:25:51,638 --> 00:25:56,338
...and they experienced it as a sort
of Slovenian betrayal.
313
00:25:57,538 --> 00:26:00,538
The TV manager
monitored the transmission,
314
00:26:00,538 --> 00:26:02,638
...and he knew what he had to do.
315
00:26:02,897 --> 00:26:06,334
In my opinion, we should have shown it to all the people
316
00:26:07,734 --> 00:26:11,234
...what was happening in the other Republic.
317
00:26:12,234 --> 00:26:14,634
He made sure Serbia got the message.
318
00:26:15,434 --> 00:26:17,734
"Milan Kucan became even more provocative."
319
00:26:18,105 --> 00:26:23,225
Standing up for separatism in Kosovo,
he was defending Slovenian separatism.
320
00:26:26,470 --> 00:26:30,696
The broadcast brought crowds onto the streets of Belgrade.
321
00:26:32,096 --> 00:26:35,696
During the night my security men
322
00:26:36,596 --> 00:26:39,796
...they informed me about the outbreak of the protests
in the university area,
323
00:26:40,196 --> 00:26:42,296
which was getting bigger,
324
00:26:42,296 --> 00:26:44,596
which was about to pour into the city...
325
00:26:48,396 --> 00:26:53,196
With the first light of dawn,
before the final decision regarding Kosovo,
326
00:26:53,844 --> 00:26:58,468
Serbian workers were given a day off,
and they set off towards the center of Belgrade.
327
00:27:00,190 --> 00:27:03,709
Milosevic was warned when the crowd
reached the Parliament.
328
00:27:05,609 --> 00:27:09,609
They were calling Milosevic:
"Sloba, Sloba, Sloba!"
329
00:27:10,868 --> 00:27:15,568
And believe me, then as now, Milosevic
he was a saint to them.
330
00:27:17,206 --> 00:27:22,143
He said to me, "Keep them out, they are
at the meeting with the Presidency.
331
00:27:24,247 --> 00:27:27,970
We are discussing what it is
happened in Slovenia.
332
00:27:30,815 --> 00:27:34,538
With half of Belgrade demanding it
the exercise of the rule of law in Kosovo,
333
00:27:34,938 --> 00:27:39,338
Milosevic sent one of his men
to give the ultimatum to the President of Yugoslavia.
334
00:27:39,578 --> 00:27:44,313
It was supposed to give special powers to Milosevic,
or deal with the crowd personally.
335
00:27:45,913 --> 00:27:49,513
Ah, the idea didn't go down well with the President.
336
00:27:51,018 --> 00:27:56,249
We insisted: "You organized the protests.
Keep them under control."
337
00:27:56,901 --> 00:27:59,112
They were very scared.
338
00:27:59,312 --> 00:28:01,812
They feared the mob would have them
thrown into the Danube.
339
00:28:02,133 --> 00:28:05,155
Milosevic told us:
340
00:28:09,455 --> 00:28:15,255
"If you don't resign,
we will no longer be able to keep the crowd under control."
341
00:28:17,659 --> 00:28:21,675
Compare with what they considered
a Serbian blackmail,
342
00:28:22,475 --> 00:28:27,275
the presidents of the Republics came down for
explain the dangers of this choice.
343
00:28:28,185 --> 00:28:31,896
I started talking about Yugoslavia....
344
00:28:33,647 --> 00:28:37,863
...how to preserve the brotherhood and unity of the country...
345
00:28:38,939 --> 00:28:42,257
Our fathers built this country!
346
00:28:43,457 --> 00:28:46,957
We will not take the road
of national conflicts!
347
00:28:49,671 --> 00:28:53,594
We will embark on the path to rebuild
Brotherhood and Unity!
348
00:28:56,273 --> 00:28:59,892
The Yugoslav president failed to
satisfy the crowd.
349
00:29:01,192 --> 00:29:04,592
All it would have taken was for someone to throw
a firecracker in the crowd...
350
00:29:04,892 --> 00:29:07,592
...they would have set the city on fire.
351
00:29:07,892 --> 00:29:09,892
I said this to the Presidency:
352
00:29:10,392 --> 00:29:13,892
"If a million people ask,
none of us are allowed to ignore it"
353
00:29:14,492 --> 00:29:16,292
"Even though we were angry...."
354
00:29:18,664 --> 00:29:20,775
The Party Council gave in.
355
00:29:21,175 --> 00:29:24,875
They allowed him to use the Yugoslav Army in Kosovo.
356
00:29:27,611 --> 00:29:31,737
Jovic was euphoric: "Serbia was on fire!"
357
00:29:32,900 --> 00:29:37,022
Comrade Milosevic is coming, as we promised!
358
00:29:40,677 --> 00:29:46,310
The crowd waited all day to hear from
Milosevic that Kosovo would be theirs again.
359
00:29:49,900 --> 00:29:53,319
"There is no price, there is no such force..."
360
00:29:53,419 --> 00:29:56,419
"...that can dissuade the Serbian leadership..."
361
00:29:58,319 --> 00:30:01,419
"and the citizens of Serbia from their legitimate goals!"
362
00:30:08,206 --> 00:30:11,929
As I was leaving Belgrade
I listened to the radio.
363
00:30:15,053 --> 00:30:18,071
He heard a shout from the crowd:
"Arrest Vllasi!"
364
00:30:18,099 --> 00:30:19,909
Milosevic pretended not to have heard him.
365
00:30:21,267 --> 00:30:23,685
Arrest Vllasi!
366
00:30:24,085 --> 00:30:25,385
I want to tell you...!
367
00:30:26,505 --> 00:30:28,520
I can't hear you well!!
368
00:30:28,979 --> 00:30:33,221
I can't hear you well, though
I want to answer your requests...!
369
00:30:33,821 --> 00:30:37,121
Those who manipulated people...
370
00:30:38,421 --> 00:30:42,239
...for their political purposes against Yugoslavia...
371
00:30:42,839 --> 00:30:45,339
...they will be arrested and punished!!
372
00:30:48,673 --> 00:30:50,983
THE NEXT DAY
373
00:30:56,393 --> 00:30:59,306
With the extraordinary powers attributed to Milosevic,
374
00:30:59,406 --> 00:31:04,406
the Kosovar Parliament had no other choice
if not to cede power to Serbia.
375
00:31:06,651 --> 00:31:10,278
I knew they had decided my fate,
376
00:31:13,209 --> 00:31:16,693
I didn't know if they would put me in prison,
377
00:31:17,193 --> 00:31:19,893
...or if they would have liquidated me.
378
00:31:20,993 --> 00:31:25,445
Former head of the Communist Party of Kosovo
he was accused of fomenting the counter-revolution.
379
00:31:32,872 --> 00:31:35,785
All dissent was stifled.
380
00:31:37,689 --> 00:31:42,919
We must remember that all reforms
regarding the constitutional structure of Serbia,
381
00:31:43,619 --> 00:31:47,019
they were implemented with the means perfectly
legitimate and in line with the Constitution.
382
00:31:47,619 --> 00:31:50,019
In total compliance with the procedures.
383
00:32:10,313 --> 00:32:14,536
The small Slovenian republic went against the Serbian giant.
384
00:32:19,779 --> 00:32:22,497
New "Mladina"!
385
00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:28,019
Slovenia was enjoying the period
of the new freedom of speech,
386
00:32:28,319 --> 00:32:30,919
in the face of the old communist system.
387
00:32:33,903 --> 00:32:38,232
The editors of the magazine "Mladina"
they often made raspberries aimed at Belgrade.
388
00:32:40,503 --> 00:32:44,627
We have made a list of all
things not tolerated by the system;
389
00:32:45,327 --> 00:32:49,227
how to speak to the Party,
argue about the school system
390
00:32:53,989 --> 00:32:57,004
It was the ranking of all our "symptoms".
391
00:32:57,804 --> 00:33:03,700
The Public Prosecutor did not find
"Mladina" articles are illegal
392
00:33:09,145 --> 00:33:11,756
Others, however, did not take it lightly.
393
00:33:15,156 --> 00:33:20,426
The Yugoslav Defense Minister exploited
military exercises in Slovenia to face Kucan.
394
00:33:21,024 --> 00:33:24,643
In full view of its military might.
395
00:33:25,643 --> 00:33:28,314
"I ask you to stop this,"
396
00:33:28,314 --> 00:33:31,514
"only you two can do that"
397
00:33:31,464 --> 00:33:33,977
"And don't tell me you can't do it."
398
00:33:34,477 --> 00:33:38,859
The whole clique between Milosevic and the Army was evident,
399
00:33:39,459 --> 00:33:44,290
they went arm in arm with their companions
of the Party and the Yugoslav Presidency.
400
00:33:45,270 --> 00:33:47,380
Kucan did nothing.
401
00:33:47,880 --> 00:33:51,797
The Mladina journalists noticed
of the gravity of the situation Kucan found himself in.
402
00:33:53,097 --> 00:33:57,197
It was a national holiday,
403
00:33:58,897 --> 00:34:02,721
Our defense correspondent,
Janez Jansa, drove to my house,
404
00:34:03,067 --> 00:34:06,682
pretending it was
of a casual visit,
405
00:34:06,822 --> 00:34:10,142
and handed me a document,
it looked like a transcription.
406
00:34:11,380 --> 00:34:13,393
I read it quickly...
407
00:34:13,987 --> 00:34:17,504
It was the transcript of the meeting
of the Yugoslav Communist Party.
408
00:34:18,086 --> 00:34:20,704
Milosevic and the Yugoslav Army pilloried Kucan.
409
00:34:22,049 --> 00:34:24,359
"Mladina is financed by the CIA"
410
00:34:24,859 --> 00:34:30,459
"Slovenia is protecting counterrevolutionaries
which endanger the survival of Yugoslavia.
411
00:34:31,963 --> 00:34:37,900
The next step could have been
only the declaration of a state of emergency.
412
00:34:38,751 --> 00:34:40,964
The situation was really tense.
413
00:34:41,422 --> 00:34:44,943
We expected a military intervention.
414
00:34:46,043 --> 00:34:50,403
We came up with the idea of publishing an article
from the name "All this would be impossible".
415
00:34:51,464 --> 00:34:55,386
The article contained excerpts from the secret transcript.
416
00:34:56,527 --> 00:34:59,644
This was a clear violation of Yugoslav law.
417
00:35:00,632 --> 00:35:02,544
The Slovenian leadership was scared.
418
00:35:06,205 --> 00:35:09,826
They understood that we were about to strike in Slovenia.
419
00:35:11,562 --> 00:35:14,886
President Kucan gave in to pressure from Belgrade.
420
00:35:15,086 --> 00:35:20,207
His secret police went to arrest Janez Jansa,
the Mladina correspondent,
421
00:35:20,907 --> 00:35:24,407
They were pretending to search for a while...
422
00:35:25,307 --> 00:35:29,607
then they rushed directly onto the drawer
where I kept my documents
423
00:35:31,303 --> 00:35:36,428
You could tell exactly that they knew
what and where to look.
424
00:35:38,801 --> 00:35:41,896
It was found among the sheets
a secret military document.
425
00:35:42,796 --> 00:35:46,489
The ace in the hole that Kucan used
to make peace with Belgrade.
426
00:35:46,789 --> 00:35:50,608
He handed over the whole case to the Yugoslav Federal Army.
427
00:35:51,129 --> 00:35:54,437
The eye of the storm moved into the prison cell.
428
00:35:55,137 --> 00:35:59,666
The deputy director of the Secret Services
was sent to conduct the interrogation.
429
00:36:01,942 --> 00:36:05,065
"Can I bring you some coffee, or some tea?"
430
00:36:07,434 --> 00:36:10,956
She offered him a coffee, or a tea.
He didn't want anything.
431
00:36:12,233 --> 00:36:15,657
I joked that I would drink first...
432
00:36:16,057 --> 00:36:18,857
...if he suspected that the drinks were drugged.
433
00:36:19,657 --> 00:36:22,596
What did you think of the document?
434
00:36:23,796 --> 00:36:26,196
I thought maybe...
435
00:36:27,216 --> 00:36:30,235
...maybe it was a trap.
436
00:36:33,655 --> 00:36:36,172
Or maybe they wanted to frame me.
437
00:36:36,378 --> 00:36:39,899
They were threatening me that not
I would have seen my family again...
438
00:36:40,099 --> 00:36:43,899
...that would have given me 15 years in prison,
then another 15 years...
439
00:36:45,143 --> 00:36:47,363
I told him that if it were 1941
440
00:36:47,963 --> 00:36:51,571
...there would have been no interrogation,
the spring puller,
441
00:36:51,971 --> 00:36:54,071
...he has the document,
he refuses to talk...
442
00:36:54,971 --> 00:36:58,852
...is placed in front of the platoon
execution, they shoot and we move on.
443
00:37:00,252 --> 00:37:03,706
To make more order,
you could end up in front of the abbreviated procedure,
444
00:37:04,806 --> 00:37:07,383
It would be more effective.
445
00:37:07,954 --> 00:37:12,837
You steal a fruit, you get cornered.
End of story.
446
00:37:14,898 --> 00:37:18,821
Once you're inside,
you end up believing everything.
447
00:37:20,837 --> 00:37:23,351
They seem capable of anything.
448
00:37:23,784 --> 00:37:26,903
We established contact
and we could talk.
449
00:37:26,903 --> 00:37:28,503
He accepted coffee, tea...
450
00:37:28,603 --> 00:37:33,270
The army gathered enough evidence
to send journalists to the trial,
451
00:37:33,270 --> 00:37:34,870
and throw them in jail.
452
00:37:35,530 --> 00:37:40,879
They wanted to demonstrate that the Slovenian separatists
they had to respect the rules of united Yugoslavia.
453
00:37:42,936 --> 00:37:45,850
But the plan backfired.
454
00:37:49,567 --> 00:37:56,309
The meeting, however, resulted in one
anti-militarist campaign and against Yugoslavia.
455
00:38:07,261 --> 00:38:12,892
Kucan found himself constrained
to play by our rules.
456
00:38:12,992 --> 00:38:14,792
He became a sort of accomplice.
457
00:38:16,232 --> 00:38:19,646
Kucan was trying to shape
his communism to conform it to the dissidents.
458
00:38:19,646 --> 00:38:22,492
This would have shaken the foundations
of the national Communist Party.
459
00:38:23,587 --> 00:38:27,410
He always used the political climate in Slovenia
like an excuse.
460
00:38:28,114 --> 00:38:30,628
He said to me: "Vasil..."
461
00:38:31,036 --> 00:38:33,951
"We can do it, but we have to
do it in Slovenia"
462
00:38:34,618 --> 00:38:39,145
"They are putting tremendous political pressure on us,
but we cannot give up power."
463
00:38:40,613 --> 00:38:44,129
Kucan announced that he would
amended the Constitution of Slovenia,
464
00:38:44,325 --> 00:38:46,575
to keep Belgrade out of the way.
465
00:38:47,236 --> 00:38:51,153
As if the ideals of the people and the Republic
they would grow stronger if we split up,
466
00:38:51,253 --> 00:38:57,194
instead of uniting to form a single market,
thus benefiting the economy.
467
00:38:58,696 --> 00:39:06,815
I told Kucan we were willing
to use all military means to prevent it.
468
00:39:07,315 --> 00:39:09,715
I asked him: "What means?"
469
00:39:11,020 --> 00:39:13,536
I told him, "Consult your lawyers
470
00:39:13,836 --> 00:39:16,236
and they will explain to you what our rights are."
471
00:39:17,028 --> 00:39:18,943
I can't give you an interpretation of the Constitution.
472
00:39:21,340 --> 00:39:26,240
Milosevic's show made him carry it
a few thousand supporters in Ljubljana.
473
00:39:26,540 --> 00:39:30,840
He would have sent them to say
to the Slovenians that I was a traitor.
474
00:39:35,900 --> 00:39:38,314
Kosovar Serbs have mobilized again.
475
00:39:38,814 --> 00:39:42,814
The Gathering of Truth and Solidarity
will be held on December 1, 1989
476
00:39:43,151 --> 00:39:46,871
in the central square in Ljubljana.
477
00:39:53,840 --> 00:39:57,862
I was about to be eliminated.
478
00:40:00,778 --> 00:40:05,202
As far as I know
mentality of those people
479
00:40:06,811 --> 00:40:10,840
I knew they wouldn't stop
in front of nothing.
480
00:40:15,504 --> 00:40:18,726
Kosovo was located at the other end of the country
compared to Slovenia.
481
00:40:18,826 --> 00:40:23,486
And Slovenia found an ally in
its neighbor, the Republic of Croatia,
482
00:40:23,486 --> 00:40:27,281
which he refused to let pass
agitators across its territory.
483
00:40:29,533 --> 00:40:33,756
The small protest staged by a few Serbs
was easily quelled by the Kucan police.
484
00:40:36,447 --> 00:40:39,061
Long live Yugoslavia!
485
00:40:40,134 --> 00:40:43,050
Down with traitors of all colors,
of all the Republics!
486
00:40:43,650 --> 00:40:46,650
- Come on, let's go!
- You're arresting the flag!
487
00:40:48,745 --> 00:40:51,961
Milosevic should have come up with it
another plan to subdue the Slovenians.
488
00:40:53,364 --> 00:40:56,987
14TH EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS
UNION OF YUGOSLAVIAN COMMUNISTS
489
00:40:57,407 --> 00:41:01,513
Milosevic's instrument of choice
it was the Yugoslav Communist Party.
490
00:41:01,618 --> 00:41:04,729
He called an extraordinary Party Congress.
491
00:41:06,447 --> 00:41:10,926
As the delegates stood up
for the national anthem on Brotherhood and Unity
492
00:41:11,430 --> 00:41:15,912
they knew the reason for the assembly
was to tear the Slovenians to pieces.
493
00:41:17,041 --> 00:41:21,349
The Slovenians, or should I say
the leaders of the Slovenian Communist Party,
494
00:41:22,396 --> 00:41:27,230
they were intent on imposing a
their vision of the future Yugoslavia...
495
00:41:31,643 --> 00:41:33,652
Kucan only had one hope...
496
00:41:33,752 --> 00:41:36,853
The second largest republic of Yugoslavia.
Croatia.
497
00:41:39,208 --> 00:41:43,641
Slovenian colleagues kept me at
current on their tactics,
498
00:41:44,304 --> 00:41:48,019
even in great moments
discussion among their ranks.
499
00:41:48,619 --> 00:41:53,375
Milosevic nominated as President of the Congress
the person who owed him his career.
500
00:41:53,775 --> 00:41:58,032
It was the first Congress at which
the Montenegrin President participated.
501
00:41:59,583 --> 00:42:04,727
First of all I have to tell you how much they were
my parents are proud of their smart son,
502
00:42:04,827 --> 00:42:09,227
which he came to occupy at such a young age
such an important political position.
503
00:42:09,726 --> 00:42:13,948
As President I was targeted
of great pressure
504
00:42:14,348 --> 00:42:21,517
by the Slovenian delegation which
he wanted to speak to explain the case.
505
00:42:22,578 --> 00:42:26,804
I remember that we voted by half
some green and red cardboard...
506
00:42:28,692 --> 00:42:31,501
And we voted, with cards
green and red
507
00:42:31,960 --> 00:42:34,970
We rejected many of their proposals,
certainly.
508
00:42:35,170 --> 00:42:38,817
And when one of the proposals came
rejected they stood up and said:
509
00:42:39,017 --> 00:42:42,343
"If you continue like this,
You'll blow up Congress!"
510
00:42:43,873 --> 00:42:48,196
The Serbs were convinced that the delegation
Slovenian would not have had the courage
511
00:42:49,710 --> 00:42:53,631
to put an end to this agony.
512
00:42:55,292 --> 00:43:00,421
This is yet another example of manipulation
Serbian government gave was a shock to the other delegations.
513
00:43:01,622 --> 00:43:07,954
I saw the passion and the applause with which
the Slovenian amendments were rejected.
514
00:43:11,815 --> 00:43:17,348
I hope all the proposals
serve as a starting point for discussion
515
00:43:17,736 --> 00:43:19,953
with greater tolerance.
516
00:43:20,558 --> 00:43:24,985
To understand what to do about it
the Union of Communists of Yugoslavia.
517
00:43:25,404 --> 00:43:30,232
If we now started analyzing the proposals,
the meeting would last a couple of months.
518
00:43:34,948 --> 00:43:37,676
The Serbian bloc showed no mercy.
519
00:43:38,038 --> 00:43:40,755
During the break the Slovenians held
an emergency meeting.
520
00:43:41,855 --> 00:43:45,583
If they had abandoned Congress,
Kucan knew they would blame him
521
00:43:45,679 --> 00:43:48,694
for the chaos that would have split Yugoslavia.
He made a proposal.
522
00:43:49,298 --> 00:43:52,616
His condition was non
beat them numerically in every vote,
523
00:43:52,716 --> 00:43:56,016
asked that some of their amendments
were welcomed.
524
00:43:57,037 --> 00:44:00,555
What would this mean?
An amendment is discussed and voted on.
525
00:44:00,764 --> 00:44:04,586
They insisted: "If it happens one more time,
we will abandon Congress!"
526
00:44:05,040 --> 00:44:07,756
But what ways are they? It doesn't make sense.
527
00:44:08,007 --> 00:44:11,127
How could we check the votes in
a plenary with 4000 delegates?
528
00:44:11,499 --> 00:44:15,228
The Slovenians should have already
come to terms with this, rather than giving ourselves an ultimatum.
529
00:44:15,605 --> 00:44:19,228
I propose that their position
is not accepted
530
00:44:19,653 --> 00:44:23,876
and they are welcome to leave,
to leave the organization to us louts.
531
00:44:28,487 --> 00:44:31,301
The tension was rising,
they were all sweating
532
00:44:32,357 --> 00:44:35,871
the situation at that time
I'm starting to fall apart.
533
00:44:39,867 --> 00:44:43,502
A second before he came
the last vote has been announced
534
00:44:43,602 --> 00:44:45,802
I was still at the microphone.
535
00:44:45,818 --> 00:44:50,340
when Ribicic asked for the floor, no one gave it to him.
He simply got on the podium.
536
00:44:51,802 --> 00:44:56,224
Ribicic, one of the Slovenian delegates,
was instructed to give him the signal.
537
00:44:57,417 --> 00:45:02,859
He said that, unfortunately, the Slovenians
they couldn't accept the climate we were breathing.
538
00:45:04,932 --> 00:45:07,673
I must note that the conditions have been created
539
00:45:07,673 --> 00:45:11,408
where we are forced to abandon the
14th Congress of the Union of Yugoslav Communists
540
00:45:16,420 --> 00:45:21,178
At that moment all the delegates
Slovenians stood up
541
00:45:22,359 --> 00:45:26,281
and began to leave the plenary
through a single door.
542
00:45:33,335 --> 00:45:37,554
It was a game, a rather dirty one,
but also quite obvious.
543
00:45:37,990 --> 00:45:40,702
They even canceled theirs
hotel reservations
544
00:45:40,702 --> 00:45:43,402
so as not to pay for another night.
These Slovenians are practical.
545
00:45:43,602 --> 00:45:47,602
That morning they left their bags
at the reception.
546
00:45:49,966 --> 00:45:52,883
Milosevic wanted to downplay the gravity
of the situation
547
00:45:52,883 --> 00:45:55,783
and proposed to continue regularly,
as if nothing had happened.
548
00:45:55,997 --> 00:45:58,612
I have a very practical proposal
549
00:45:58,712 --> 00:46:00,912
The Presidency will take a break
550
00:46:01,312 --> 00:46:06,112
during which we can do
the recount of the new number of delegates
551
00:46:06,375 --> 00:46:12,904
remained after abandonment
of the Slovenian delegation.
552
00:46:15,229 --> 00:46:19,253
and to establish the new quorum.
553
00:46:22,348 --> 00:46:24,660
Milosevic's response was bold.
554
00:46:24,960 --> 00:46:29,177
He would have convinced the Party that he could
survive the defection of the problematic Slovenians.
555
00:46:29,677 --> 00:46:33,530
His bet depended on the
kept in line with all the other delegations.
556
00:46:36,169 --> 00:46:40,701
I remember when Milosevic I
he asked to take a ride with him.
557
00:46:42,908 --> 00:46:47,230
The most important thing was prevention
the Croats from supporting their Slovenian neighbors.
558
00:46:48,604 --> 00:46:51,663
If the Croats remain,
Yugoslavia will continue to exist.
559
00:46:52,846 --> 00:46:56,467
In the end they couldn't know which one
would have been their position.
560
00:46:58,361 --> 00:47:01,076
Milosevic asked me: "Are you leaving too?"
561
00:47:01,976 --> 00:47:07,779
I replied: "Yes, if you continue to behave like this
without making any compromises"
562
00:47:09,532 --> 00:47:13,647
He asked me:
"What do you want in return?"
563
00:47:15,305 --> 00:47:16,716
I replied to him:
564
00:47:17,616 --> 00:47:23,700
"We cannot accept the Yugoslav Communist Party
without the Slovenians"
565
00:47:24,087 --> 00:47:27,109
Milosevic remained almost silent.
566
00:47:29,553 --> 00:47:33,575
That was the first time
I saw him extremely serious
567
00:47:34,824 --> 00:47:38,647
Without its charm and, I would almost say,
his sense of humor.
568
00:47:38,647 --> 00:47:42,633
At that moment we got up
and we abandoned the 14th Congress.
569
00:47:50,377 --> 00:47:52,987
This was how the Yugoslav crisis began.
570
00:47:53,856 --> 00:47:57,575
It was the Slovenians who opened the door
571
00:47:57,575 --> 00:48:01,913
although I wouldn't attribute it to him
complete responsibility.
572
00:44:49,102 --> 00:44:50,602