|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Chemical
Agents in the Former Yugoslavia |
|
|
WASHINGTON
- April 8 - The following was released today by the Federation of American Scientists:
Overview
FAS has confirmed that there are four known Chemical Warfare facilities operating
in the former Yugoslavia, specifically in Serbia. The four known facilities currently
involved in the research, production, and storage of chemical warfare agents in
the Serbia are: Prva Iskra in Baric, Serbia; Miloje Blagojevic in Lucani, near
Casak, Serbia; Milojie Zakic and Merima in Krusevic, Serbia; and the Military
Technical Institute in Potoci near Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The equipment
in the Military Technical Institute in Potoci was disassembled by Serb troops
in February 1992 and moved to the Lucani facility in Serbia. The facility in Lucani
is, until the initiation of hostilities thought to have been producing sarin.
In addition, the JNA (Former Yugoslav Army until the breakup in 1991) and the
VJ (current Yugoslav Army) has worked with Iraqi specialists on CW since 1989.
This raises the concern as yet unreported in the press that Milosevic may be planning
to use or threatening to use, as a last resort, chemical weapons in Kosovo or
in greater Serbia, especially if NATO ground troops enter the conflict, which
is becoming increasingly possible. Considering that Milosevic has a well-established
history of genocide and other crimes against humanity, this is certainly something
to consider. Chemical Warfare may be Yugoslavia's weapon of mass destruction may
be the only "trump card" to even the odds in an asymmetrical ground war with NATO.
FAS has confirmed that the VJ and its predecessor, the Yugoslav Peoples Army (YPA),
also had an extensive and sophisticated chemical weapons program prior to the
breakup of Yugoslavia; that the army of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia
and Montenegro) inherited much of this program and that stockpiles and offensive
and defensive military doctrine exist for its use potentially during the current
crisis.
Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991, the JNA's chemical weapons program
produced the numerous chemical warfare agents to include sarin, sulfur mustard,
the psycho chemical incapacitant BZ and CS. They also, weaponized these agents
in plants in Lucani, Baric and in Krusevic. The VJ has produced sarin and made
it into a weapon (app 50 tons) at the Lucani Facility, and produced smaller quantities
of tabun, soman and VX nerve agents (app 50 tons combined) at the facility in
Krusevic. In addition the VJ forces are thought to have large quantities (app
400 tons) of sulfur mustard and produced smaller amounts of nitrogen mustard and
lewsite (app 30 tons). The VJ is thought to have stored at the Krusevic facility
approximately 15 tons of phosgene.
The development of chemical agents and weapons in the former Yugoslavia began
in the late 1960s. This program did not become overtly offensive until the late
1970s when the JNA developed the offensive doctrine for the use of BZ which was
incorporated in a classified manual published in 1981. Further experimentation,
development and testing continued during the 1980s, and by the time of the dissolution
of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia, the JNA apparently had developed and
produced 122mm, 152mm, and 155mm artillery shells; air-delivered bombs (of an
unknown type); 122mm, 128mm rockets, and 262mm rockets; and chemical warfare mines.
There are unconfirmed reports that the JA has binary sarin munitions fir use with
155mm artillery shells.
According to a public document, "Yugoslav Army Involvement With Chemical Weapons,"
prepared by the Yugoslav Federal President's office in September 1991, thousand
of rockets for the 262mm multiple rocket launcher system, were produced with chemical
weapons warheads filled with phosgene and BZ. In the same document, the Yugoslav
Federal President's office also claimed that several thousands of these rockets
-- it is not indicated what type -- were shipped to Iraq in 1989-90.
Manufacturing was slowed after the dissolution of Yugoslavia but stockpiles which
are in control of the VJ have remained viable and have not been destroyed.
The JNA also, produced hand grenades, rifle-propelled grenades, mortar shells,
and possibly also artillery shells and 128mm rockets filled with irritants CS
and CN. The production of CS- and CN-filled grenades continued at least until
1993. According to Serbian Army manuals, the chemical incapacitant BZ was put
into hand grandes. The principal storage facility for these weapons is thought
to be in Lucani.
###
|
|
|
Common Dreams NewsCenter is a non-profit news service
providing breaking news and views for the Progressive Community.
The
press release posted here has been provided to Common Dreams NewsWire by
one of the many progressive organizations who make up America's Progressive Community.
If
you wish to comment on this press release or would like more information,
please contact the organization directly.
*all times Eastern US (GMT-5:00)
Making News?
E-mail us your news release! news@newscenter.org
© Copyrighted 1997-2000
All Rights Reserved. Common Dreams. www.commondreams.org
|
|
Share This Article With A Friend