28. 06. 2003

Montgomery: Djindjic told me Popovic was behind PINK attacks

BELGRADE, June 28, 2003 – US Ambassador William Montgomery has paid a visit to NIN following the filing of Vladimir “Beba” Popovic's lawsuit against the weekly over an article composed by journalist Marijana Milosavljevic. Montgomery visited NIN's offices on Tuesday to discuss the media situation in Serbia, and to inform the publication of the American angle to the dispute. According to Montgomery, the Americans watched with careful interest and worry as TV PINK launched a campaign against B92 and its director Veran Matic. The ambassador said that posters carrying Matic's face and the message "Wanted!" appeared in Belgrade streets, followed by a series of attacks in newspaper Publika and on TV PINK. It was at this point that Montgomery, worried for Matic's safety, met then Serbian PM Zoran Djindjic to ask him what he knew of the affair. According to the US ambassador, Djindjic siad without hasitation that Vladimir "Beba" Popovic was behind the attacks.