(25 Nov 2000) Natural Sound
A defiant Slobodan Milosevic has denounced the pro-democratic government that ousted him as pro-Western "traitors and occupiers."
Milosevic made his comments during his first public appearance since losing power in September, when he chaired his troubled party's special congress on Saturday.
The harshly worded opening speech by Milosevic - who has been indicted for war crimes and accused by most of his countrymen of causing economic and social misery during his 13-year reign - showed that the former Yugoslav strongman intends to come back to politics with his trademark style that had made the country an isolated, pariah state.
"We all know what kind of violence and lawlessness took place after the October 5 coup," Milosevic told some 23-hundred Socialist Party delegates, referring to street riots that ended his 13-year reign after he refused to recognise an electoral defeat.
"A war is being conducted against this country is now conducted with (Western) money," Milosevic said, maintaining his old theme that those who sought his removal were actually "paid Western spies" who are aiding the "occupation" of the country.
He said that with the money, the West wants to "bribe" the new leadership so they would allow the breakup of Yugoslavia.
He said that those "traitors" want to hand the Serbian "national heroes" to the "new Gestapo" - the International War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague.
The Netherlands-based tribunal has indicted Milosevic and four of his top aides for war crimes in Kosovo, and is demanding their extradition.
According to sources within the party, a document prepared and approved by Milosevic for the congress says the Socialists have a "big chance" of a comeback in December's parliamentary elections in Serbia, which is the dominant republic in Yugoslavia.
There are increasing calls for Milosevic's arrest, both in Yugoslavia and abroad, because of the four Balkan wars he triggered with his nationalist policies and because of soaring crime and corruption during his rule.
But Milosevic and his closest associates, buoyed by the refusal of new Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica to hand him over to a war crimes court in the Hague, have been gaining confidence.
The Socialists have been in turmoil since Milosevic's ousting and an overwhelming loss in elections on September 24.
Several top officials quit the once mighty party, mostly because of Milosevic's refusal to relinquish power as party chief.
Several of his former top associates failed to show up at the congress, indicating further erosion amongst the Socialists.
SOUNDBITE: (Serb-Croat)
SUPER CAPTION: Slobodan Milosevic, Former Yugoslav President
SOUNDBITE: (Serb-Croat)
"We all know what kind of violence and lawlessness took place after the October 5 coup and after the burning of the federal parliament and national television buildings. Our contemporaries and even the following generations will be studying the background of these events, the continuation of the occupation of Yugoslavia which started several years ago and was made apparent in Rambouillet and during the war last year. A war being conducted against this country is now conducted with money. There is a lot of bribery going on, the big money is in the game and there are big privileges for those who are supposed to accept everything which is against this country"
SUPER CAPTION: Slobodan Milosevic, Former Yugoslav President
SOUNDBITE: (Serb-Croat)
"...and we shall go on. Thank you."
SUPER CAPTION: Slobodan Milosevic, Former Yugoslav President
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