Deal With Legija?

As usual, even the most spectacular events in this part of the world are swept under the world media's carpet. I don't doubt that the surprise surrender of Milorad Luković "Legija" (Milorad Lukovic "Legija"), dreaded leader of Serbian paramilitaries and chief suspect in the assassination of prime minister Zoran Đinđić (Zoran Djindjic) would get very little attention in blogosphere.

Yet, how and why this surrender happened would in many ways tell what lies in future for Serbia and this part of the world.

Most people believe that Legija surrendered due to a deal. The only question with whom he made a deal and what he could offer.

The optimists believe that Legija can either offer information on whereabouts of fugitives who are more notorious than him – Ratko Mladić (Ratko Mladic) and Radovan Karadžić (Radovan Karadzic) – or testify in Hague at the expense of his former boss Slobodan Milošević (Slobodan Milosevic).

Pessimists believe that Legija surrendered because he expected more lenient treatment from Koštunica (Kostunica) and his moderate nationalist crowd. His public testimony at the Đinđić (Djindjic) assassination trial could reveal many unpleasant truths about slain prime minister and his Democratic Party. That is something that could serve Koštunica very well during next month's presidential elections.