WASHINGTON DC -- Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Jennifer Brush: Former PM Vojislav Kostunica was to blame for setting fire to the US Embassy in 2008
Former US Deputy Chief of Mission: Kostunica to blame for setting fire to US Embassy
WASHINGTON DC -- Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Jennifer Brush: Former PM Vojislav Kostunica was to blame for setting fire to the US Embassy in 2008
Source: Tanjug
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Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Jennifer Brush, told Voice of America that Kostunica had been notified of the attack, but had issued a police order not to respond.
"There was no reaction, which was astonishing. Later, I learned from eyewitnesses that the then Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica attended a service at Saint Sava Temple during the attack, where he received information about the attack on the US Embassy. He responded by saying: 'Don't react'. So, Kostunica ordered the police to do nothing", Brush told Voice of America.
She said it is fine that several police officials at the time are preparing for the trial in Belgrade, but reiterated that "the main responsibility for the attack lies with the then Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica".
Jennifer Brush states that no one has yet been held responsible for the attack, she claims due to the Serbian government's unwillingness to resolve the case, which has been delayed for 11 years. "It began with the administration of Prime Minister Kostunica, through the administration of the Democratic Party of Boris Tadic, followed by Tomislav Nikolic and Aleksandar Vucic. So, it is a series of political parties that haven’t taken any steps on these international offenses", Brush said.
The former deputy chief of mission stressed that the protection of foreign diplomatic establishments and diplomatic personnel are provided for by the Vienna Convention, to which Serbia was a signatory, adding that the embassy security staff maintained very good relations with the Serbian police and with Serbian special forces.
The former US diplomatic mission building in Kneza Milos Street in Belgrade was set on fire during 'Kosovo is Serbia' protests in February 2008, days after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.
No one was held responsible for the violence in which one person lost his life, as the suspended sentence abolished four convicted offenders - while three were acquitted due to lack of evidence.
Slobodan Vukolic, Mladen Kuribak, Stevan Bjelic, Zoran Raskovic and Bojan Markovic, former senior police officials are due to appear in court in October - at a preliminary hearing in the case against them for not preventing attacks on the US and German embassies.
A hearing was scheduled in July, to be adjourned again. In an interview for Voice of America, Ambassador Brash reiterated that the United States is committed to Serbia's European integration, but added that there are some outstanding issues in this regard, such as the case of the Bytyqi brothers, who were killed during the NATO bombing, whose murder remained unpunished.
The US is to blame for the burning of its embassy in Belgrade, no-one else. The US and its actions against Serbia is 100% at fault!
(Zoran, 1 August 2019 17:01)
And Who's to blame for bombing of the rep China embassy in BELGRADE át the similar times and killing of their employees?
Same USA that is exacting in this case some Kind of standard?
That has no regard for lives, destruction.How can bombing of rep China embassy is an acceptible act But setting fire to USA embassy is a big deal.
(British, 1 August 2019 15:53)
Correction
“who were killed during the NATO bombing”.
They were killed one month AFTER the NATO bombing. I time of peace – remember….
Bombing 24. marts 1999 – 10. juni 1999
The Bytyqi brothers last seen alive July 8, 1999
(Correction, 1 August 2019 14:52)
It makes no sense.
If Mr Kostunica was át the church, praying, how can he be in another place, or dealing with situation.
Anyhow same USA have bombed the rep of China embassy át similar times but you think that was okay,why can't embassy of America go into the flames? After áll what good for Chinese its good for Americans.
(British, 31 July 2019 20:48)
It's all good and fine if Serbia punishes those responsible for the attack on the embassy. But you Americans should also investigate, detain and punish those responsible for ... bombing Serbia.
(Abe, 31 July 2019 16:06)
Typical American attitude. Whenever something bad happens to their selfish and always greedy interests abroad, it is always somebody else's fault. They will never accept that their bribing and corruption of "friendly" nations, or even their direct support for criminal opposition elements if the former fails, shares any blame. The country got exactly the president they deserve, for he perfectly matches the spoiled, arrogant and infantile behavior they have demonstrated for decades. If (or more likely when) the USA will gradually lose their influence around the globe, when they no longer have foreign resources to plumder, pandemonium will the destroy them from the inside out.
(crime.inc, 31 July 2019 14:45)
Wrong little lady. Its the Americans fault. You crap and bomb an entire nation, then expect them to help you when your embassy is burning? Did you help the poor people that are effected every day from the bombs you used all over the world? American nation is a posion. Hope you all go to hell.
(Mike_Canada, 31 July 2019 13:59)
At least for what's it worth that there was no tit for tat response against the Serb embassy in Washington,D.C. nor Serb consulate offices located in other parts of America,in fact, I'm pretty certain that local police perhaps even the FBI would have made some arrests if that were the case so therefore in my opinion Belgrade authorities or the Serb government should lay charges against the perpetrators responsible for setting fire to the U.S. embassy especially if some Serbs feel that it's imperative to restore diplomatic relations with America.
(resident of Fredericton,New Brunswick,Canada, 31 July 2019 13:48)
It's all good and fine if Serbia punishes those responsible for the attack on the embassy. But you Americans should also investigate, detain and punish those responsible for ... bombing Serbia.
(Abe, 31 July 2019 16:06)
And Who's to blame for bombing of the rep China embassy in BELGRADE át the similar times and killing of their employees?
Same USA that is exacting in this case some Kind of standard?
That has no regard for lives, destruction.How can bombing of rep China embassy is an acceptible act But setting fire to USA embassy is a big deal.
(British, 1 August 2019 15:53)
The US is to blame for the burning of its embassy in Belgrade, no-one else. The US and its actions against Serbia is 100% at fault!
(Zoran, 1 August 2019 17:01)
It makes no sense.
If Mr Kostunica was át the church, praying, how can he be in another place, or dealing with situation.
Anyhow same USA have bombed the rep of China embassy át similar times but you think that was okay,why can't embassy of America go into the flames? After áll what good for Chinese its good for Americans.
(British, 31 July 2019 20:48)
Typical American attitude. Whenever something bad happens to their selfish and always greedy interests abroad, it is always somebody else's fault. They will never accept that their bribing and corruption of "friendly" nations, or even their direct support for criminal opposition elements if the former fails, shares any blame. The country got exactly the president they deserve, for he perfectly matches the spoiled, arrogant and infantile behavior they have demonstrated for decades. If (or more likely when) the USA will gradually lose their influence around the globe, when they no longer have foreign resources to plumder, pandemonium will the destroy them from the inside out.
(crime.inc, 31 July 2019 14:45)
Wrong little lady. Its the Americans fault. You crap and bomb an entire nation, then expect them to help you when your embassy is burning? Did you help the poor people that are effected every day from the bombs you used all over the world? American nation is a posion. Hope you all go to hell.
(Mike_Canada, 31 July 2019 13:59)
Correction
“who were killed during the NATO bombing”.
They were killed one month AFTER the NATO bombing. I time of peace – remember….
Bombing 24. marts 1999 – 10. juni 1999
The Bytyqi brothers last seen alive July 8, 1999
(Correction, 1 August 2019 14:52)
At least for what's it worth that there was no tit for tat response against the Serb embassy in Washington,D.C. nor Serb consulate offices located in other parts of America,in fact, I'm pretty certain that local police perhaps even the FBI would have made some arrests if that were the case so therefore in my opinion Belgrade authorities or the Serb government should lay charges against the perpetrators responsible for setting fire to the U.S. embassy especially if some Serbs feel that it's imperative to restore diplomatic relations with America.
(resident of Fredericton,New Brunswick,Canada, 31 July 2019 13:48)
At least for what's it worth that there was no tit for tat response against the Serb embassy in Washington,D.C. nor Serb consulate offices located in other parts of America,in fact, I'm pretty certain that local police perhaps even the FBI would have made some arrests if that were the case so therefore in my opinion Belgrade authorities or the Serb government should lay charges against the perpetrators responsible for setting fire to the U.S. embassy especially if some Serbs feel that it's imperative to restore diplomatic relations with America.
(resident of Fredericton,New Brunswick,Canada, 31 July 2019 13:48)
The US is to blame for the burning of its embassy in Belgrade, no-one else. The US and its actions against Serbia is 100% at fault!
(Zoran, 1 August 2019 17:01)
And Who's to blame for bombing of the rep China embassy in BELGRADE át the similar times and killing of their employees?
Same USA that is exacting in this case some Kind of standard?
That has no regard for lives, destruction.How can bombing of rep China embassy is an acceptible act But setting fire to USA embassy is a big deal.
(British, 1 August 2019 15:53)
Wrong little lady. Its the Americans fault. You crap and bomb an entire nation, then expect them to help you when your embassy is burning? Did you help the poor people that are effected every day from the bombs you used all over the world? American nation is a posion. Hope you all go to hell.
(Mike_Canada, 31 July 2019 13:59)
It makes no sense.
If Mr Kostunica was át the church, praying, how can he be in another place, or dealing with situation.
Anyhow same USA have bombed the rep of China embassy át similar times but you think that was okay,why can't embassy of America go into the flames? After áll what good for Chinese its good for Americans.
(British, 31 July 2019 20:48)
It's all good and fine if Serbia punishes those responsible for the attack on the embassy. But you Americans should also investigate, detain and punish those responsible for ... bombing Serbia.
(Abe, 31 July 2019 16:06)
Correction
“who were killed during the NATO bombing”.
They were killed one month AFTER the NATO bombing. I time of peace – remember….
Bombing 24. marts 1999 – 10. juni 1999
The Bytyqi brothers last seen alive July 8, 1999
(Correction, 1 August 2019 14:52)
Typical American attitude. Whenever something bad happens to their selfish and always greedy interests abroad, it is always somebody else's fault. They will never accept that their bribing and corruption of "friendly" nations, or even their direct support for criminal opposition elements if the former fails, shares any blame. The country got exactly the president they deserve, for he perfectly matches the spoiled, arrogant and infantile behavior they have demonstrated for decades. If (or more likely when) the USA will gradually lose their influence around the globe, when they no longer have foreign resources to plumder, pandemonium will the destroy them from the inside out.
(crime.inc, 31 July 2019 14:45)
