Weapon Producers Still Protesting

WEAPON PRODUCERS STILL PROTESTING

B92, Serbia
Dec 26 2006

KRAGUJEVAC — About 100 workers of the Zastava weapons factory are
protesting in front of the local municipal building.

They are protesting the fact that the state has prohibited weapons
exports to Armenia.

The workers are demanding that the Serbian Government pay reparations
for the prohibited exports and the implementation of the investment
plan worth 279 million dollars.

Union President Jugoslav Ristic said that the strikers are doing
alright.

"Because of the lack of space, only 71 protesters spent the night
in the municipal building. Now there are more than 100 of us, but at
night we will have to cut down the number because we do not have the
conditions to keep more people here. We will stay overnight here as
long as it takes." he said.

He said that he talked unofficially with Labor Minister Slobodan
Lalovic, who said that the government has understanding for our
problem.

"The government can certainly fulfill our demands, we are owed
58 million dollars for exports. Also, this factory has specific
products which operate on a rigid system of licenses, the state can
always stop the export of weapons, but that means that it must take
responsibility. We respect the list of sanctions and prohibitions,
but Armenia is not on any of those lists." Ristic said.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/economy-article

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS