FORMER MILOSEVIC ADVISER REJECTS HAGUE WITNESS'S ALLEGATIONS
FoNet - April 17, 2003

Rome, 17 April: The statement by protected witness 529 in the trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic before the Hague tribunal saying that I and the Karic brothers Serbian businessmen were the chief financiers of the Serb Volunteer Guard SDG of murdered commander Zeljko Raznatovic a.k.a. Arkan is not true because I was never asked to finance the SDG, a statement by Italian lawyer and former adviser to Slobodan Milosevic Giovanni Di Stefano submitted to FoNet says.

"Had Zeljko (Raznatovic) ever asked such help from me I would have undoubtedly agreed to it. But he did not do so and so it follows that not a single Yugoslav dinar or German mark of contributions ever came from me or anybody who is in any way linked with me," Di Stefano asserted. He further said that the personnel working in the office of SDG/SSJ Party of Serbian Unity Headquarters in 3 Ljutice Bogdana Street were small in number "and I knew all trusted secretaries who worked for Zeljko".

"They were never in a position to ever find out anything about the financial circumstances of any of Zeljko's business. Their role was strictly limited to answering the phone and seeing the guests to Zeljko's office. They were never present in that room and they did not know anything more than who had visited the office," Di Stefano said.

He said that "accusations based upon rumors, gossip and hearsay", were very dangerous and had no place at the Hague tribunal.

"I am surprised that Judge Richard May agreed to such testimony without any evidence. I cannot speak on behalf of the Karic brothers but I will send a letter to Judge May reserving my right to intervene. I frankly hope that President Milosevic will thoroughly examine this witness," Di Stefano said.

"Based upon everything, I cannot see how witness 520 could possibly know anything for real except make guesses, use allusions and bring forth arguments which are probably wrong," Giovanni Di Stefano said.

Source: FoNet news agency, Belgrade, in Serbian 0849 gmt 17 Apr 03

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