07 March 2003
Text: U.S. Moves Against Balkan War Criminal Karadzic's Support Network
(Mandic, Bjelica, ManCo Oil, Privredna Banka Sarajevo targeted) (680)
The United States has designated two men, an oil company, and a bank
for providing financial and material support to Radovan Karadzic, who
was indicted in July 1994 by the International Criminal Tribunal for
the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for war crimes, including genocide and
crimes against humanity.
The action was taken under Executive Order 13219 of June 26, 2001,
which blocks the assets of persons who threaten international
stabilization efforts in the Western Balkans.
Following is a March 7 Treasury Department press release on the
action, called "Operation Balkan Vice":
(begin text)
Department of the Treasury
Office of Public Affairs
March 7, 2003
OPERATION BALKAN VICE: CRIPPLING THE SUPPORT NETWORK OF RADOVAN
KARADZIC, BALKAN WAR CRIMINAL
At 8:00am EST Momcilo "Momo" Mandic, Milovan "Cicko" Bjelica, ManCo
Oil Company and Privredna Banka Sarajevo ad were designated under the
Western Balkans Executive Order 13219 for their financial and material
support of Radovan Karadzic a Person Indicted for War Crimes (PIFWCs)
by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
(ICTY). This assistance has enabled Radovan Karadzic to elude
prosecution by the ICTY, thereby obstructing implementation of the
Dayton Peace Accords.
In July 1995, Radovan Karadzic was indicted by the ICTY on 16 counts
including genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes that were
perpetrated against the civilian population and against places of
worship throughout the territory of the Republic of
Bosnia-Herzegovina, crimes relating to the sniping campaign against
civilians in Sarajevo and crimes relating to the taking of UN
peacekeepers as hostages. Radovan Karadzic led the slaughter of
thousands of Bosnian Muslims and Croats. The UN reported that his
murder squads killed up to 6,000 Muslims at Srebrenica in July 1995
"in order to kill, terrorize and demoralize the Bosnian Muslim and
Bosnian Croat population." He shelled the city of Sarajevo and used
284 UN peacekeepers as human shields in May and June 1995. After the
Dayton accord in November 1995, which ended the Bosnian war, the
former nationalist president went into hiding - possibly in the
mountainous south eastern area of the Serb-controlled part of Bosnia,
and protected by paramilitaries.
Momcilo Mandic is a major funding source for Radovan Karadzic through
Mandic's control of an elaborate network of criminal enterprises
engaged in embezzlement, business fraud, fictitious loans, and various
other activities that generate funds to financially support the
protection of Karadzic. Mandic's influence in the Republic of Srpska,
BiH allows him to control the privatization process which he uses to
support the protection of Karadzic.
Mandic supports the protection of PIFWCs through his control and
influence over the RS Judiciary, the RS Ministry of Internal Affairs
(MUP), and the RS Intelligence Service. A former RS Justice Minister
and Deputy MUP Minister, Momcilo Mandic commanded and gave orders to
special police units and other forces involved in ethnic cleansing
operations against non-Serbs. Momcilo Mandic has coordinated with the
present RS Intelligence Chief to facilitate OBS operations and to fund
the movement and protection of Persons Indicted for War Crimes.
Momcilo Mandic owns ManCo Oil Company and Privredna Banka Sarajevo ad.
Mandic uses ManCo Oil Company to provide funding for the protection of
Karadzic. Mandic also uses Privredna Banka Sarajevo ad to provide
financial support to Karadzic and Karadzic's security detail. Radovan
Karadzic uses Privredna Banka Sarajevo ad to launder money in and out
of BiH.
Milovan Bjelica is also a major source of money and manpower for the
protection of Radovan Karadzic through Bjelica's key part in the
channeling of funds from privately owned businesses toward the
protection of Karadzic. Bjelica, a long time friend and business
associate of Karadzic, presides over a network of legal and illegal
businesses that are also used to provide for the protection of
Karadzic.
Milovan Bjelica controls special security and intelligence units
charged with protecting Persons Indicted for War Crimes. Karadzic is
still believed to control political and illegal activities in the RS,
and both Karadzic and Bjelica are said to directly control parts of
the RS Intelligence Service.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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