Since you're now into looking back, penny ... let's look at some more stuph from the old days, back in 2000. Have you ever seen these before? What do you make of them? Who introduced VV to Loch/ChemTech, do you know? Since you go back soooooooooooo far, I"m sure you do.
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Dear Dr. Nikola Zovko:
I have been interested in Loch Harris, Inc. for over a year, an interest initially created by its highly publicized efforts to use its ELF technology to eliminate landmines. In March of this year I sold shares I bought on the open market in 1999; for a month or two I have been considering reinvesting in the company. That said, however, negative publicity about the company and some unexplained "anomalies" in its SEC filings have made me extremely cautious. Thus this e-mail.
In a September 6, 2000 press release (PR) carried on Business Wire, it is noted that Rodney Boone, President and CEO of Loch Harris, mentioned on a national (USA) radio talk show "plans to return to Croatia for further validation [of ELF] in the next few weeks." To me, the implication is that your Institute is to be involved, as it was earlier this year. This is not the first I have heard of the company's plans to return to Croatia, but it is the first time it has been officially announced in a company PR.
Can you confirm (or deny) that such a return trip is indeed planned for testing in your Institute, and if so, when? What will be the testing parameters? That is, how will the "validation" differ from the earlier tests -- are laboratory or field tests anticipated, or both? Who will witness the tests?
If your Institute is not involved, are you aware of another venue?
Furthermore, it is rumored that Mr. V. Valkovic resigned from Cromac under a cloud of suspicion regarding preferential shares of Loch Harris stock he received in connection with his earlier participation in RBI testing of ELF. Is this rumor true? If so, can you indicate the impact this had on the scientific community in Croatia and on your Institute? I have to believe it was serious. (If you do not want to discuss the fall-out, I will understand, since it may have nothing directly to do with Loch Harris.)
Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule for my questions. I very much look forward to hearing from you.
Cordially,
Dear ____________
I have no any idea about the return of Mr. ELF to Rudjer Boskovic for "further tests". It may be elswhere.
I would also like to add that the "job" done by Mr V. Valkovic in our Institute was his private and it was ilegal to use the name of the Institute for publicity of the demonstration. In short: the Institute Ruder Boskovic does not stand scientifically behind that demonstration. The rumor you maintained is true.
I have a copy of an e-mail in which Mr. Valkovic resigned from CROMAC and appologized to people there.
It is true that "jobs" like that of Mr. Valkovic cause damage to the reputation of the Institute if done in the name of the Institute! This is not the case! There is no slightest indication of some collaboration agreement between RBI and LOCH HARRIS. Therefore, the case Valkovic is, for the beginning, under consideration by the Ethical Commitee of our Scientific Council. I also did the necessary steps outside the Institute.
I understand your worries and thank you for asking those questions. I have to protect the image of our Institute and the ethics of our scientists from singular cases like this one that happened.
Sincerely, Nikola Zovko.
Dear Dr. Zovko:
Thank you very much for your quick and candid reply. I appreciate your clarifying both the Institute's passive role in the demonstrations last winter and "l'affaire Valkovic" -- nasty business, to be sure, but it sounds as if it is being dealt with appropriately. I have no doubt that the Institute's reputation will remain untarnished. As for Mr. Valkovic's ...
another story entirely.
I wish you and your colleagues continued success.
Cordially,
Dear Dr. Zovko:
I apologize for imposing on you again, but I have just reread the following PR (dated June 24, 1999), cut and pasted here in its original form, complete with typos. I had read it last year but didn't remember it in detail. In light of subsequent revelations about Mr. V. Valkovic, I would appreciate it very much if you would comment on it, to the extent you feel you can. My specific questions follow.
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Loch's Physicist Introduces ELF Landmine Technology to International Nuclear Conference in Greece
AUSTIN - Renowned physicist Dr. Henry Blair introduced the new ELF landmine detector technology to the international nuclear community yesterday morning on the Greek island of Crete, according to R.B. Baker, chairman of Loch Harris, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: LOCH). Today, Blair presented his formal paper, "A Man Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Based Landmine Detection and Location System," to the 6th International Conference on Applications of Nuclear Techniques and fielded questions afterward. More than 100 scientists have registered for the conference, which is under the auspices of The Office Of National Drug Control Policy -- The White House, NCSR Demokritos, and Western Kentucky University. Rodney Boone, CEO of both Loch Harris and ChemTech, accompanied Blair to the conference, along with Loch's Chief Financial Officer Mark Baker, who reported on Blair's introductory speech in an international conference call yesterday afternoon. Blair, who developed the ELF for Chemical Detection Technology, Inc. (ChemTech), subsidiary of Austin-based Loch Harris, was invited to the already closed conference program at the insistence of Dr. Vlado Valkovic, chairman of Croatia's Ruder Boscovic Institute. Valkovic executed an agreement last month between Croatia and ChemTech to collaborate on development of the ELF through the live field test phase, scheduled in Croatia in January. Chairman Valkovic introduced Blair to the group, saying, "We're excited to be working with Loch's ChemTech in the laboratory and field testing of the ELF system."
Valkovic is betting heavily on the ELF to help locate the estimated 1.2 million landmines left over from the Croatian civil war. Source: PRNewswire, June 24, 1999
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In your earlier email, you said it was illegal for Mr. Valkovic to have used the name of the Rudjer Boskovic Institute for publicity of the ELF demonstration last winter. As you see, at the end of this PR it states that Blair "was invited to the already closed conference program at the insistence of Dr. Vlado Valkovic, chairman of Croatia's Ruder Boscovic Institute. Chairman Valkovic introduced Blair to the group, saying, 'We're excited to be working with Loch's ChemTech in the laboratory and field testing of the ELF system.' Valkovic is betting heavily on the ELF to help locate the estimated 1.2 million landmines left over from the Croatian civil war."
Specifically, I would like first to know if Mr. Valkovik was at that time Chariman of the Institute. If so, this sounds as if he was acting in an official Institute capacity, not privately, when he insisted that Blair be included in "the already closed conference." A reasonable inference could be drawn that his use of RBI as a venue for ELF demonstrations in February was also within his official capacity as Chairman of the Institute.
Secondly, I find the wording in the next sentence to be very loose, vague and ambiguous: It suggests that Mr. Valkovik had the authority to speak for the Croatian Government, much as (for instance) Madeline Albright might speak for the US Government. Is this an accurate representation of the scope of his authority at that time?
Please understand that I am not asking you to reveal anything that is inappropriate for you to disclose regarding "the case Valkovic" (as you charaterized it in your last email). While I cannot deny my interest in what legal action, if any, is being taken against Mr. Valkovik in Croatia, my primary interest is in the accuracy of this June '99 PR.
As you know, a press release is drafted by a Company spokesperson, usually someone hired just for the purpose of communicating with the press. It generally is reviewed by the Company's legal counsel before it is released.
While press releases often put the best "spin" on facts, especially uncomfortable facts (and almost always include disclaimers) they are generally believed to reflect truth. Current and potential investors in a company's stock depend on them for reliable information regarding that company's progress in meeting its goals. If a PR distorts or misrepresents the truth, many otherwise uninformed current and potential investors are misled and can suffer financial losses on their investments.
If this PR is misleading, intentionally or otherwise -- as others unrelated to RBI, Croatia and/or ELF have been -- I believe it is appropriate to bring that fact to the attention of the FBI who is already interested in certain other activities of Loch Harris.
To clarify who I am (and am not): I was, as I indicated in my first email to you, an investor in Loch Harris last winter and spring. I sold my relatively small number of shares in March. I am a private US citizen neither officially nor unofficially connected with a newspaper or other periodical, nor with Loch Harris, nor with any investigative body in the US or elsewhere. However, the FBI has contacted me regarding another aspect of Loch Harris business practices that I uncovered in my continued research into the company, an aspect that has absolutely nothing to do with tests or demonstrations in Croatia or with the Rudjar Boskovic Institute.
And so a final question: Do I have your permission to convey to the FBI the information you provided in your first email to me and your response to the questions I have raised here?
This is indeed serious business and I thank you again for taking the time to address my concerns. I look forward to your reply.
Cordially,
Dear _________________
It seems that this will be a "continuing story", true?
Unfortunately, the info's we exchanged represent only the top of an eisberg!
Valkovic has been working in Huston, Texas, then shortly at RBI, then he left for IAEA (Internat. At. En. Agency). After 8 (or 7?) years spent there he came back to RBI.
Now he has a postgraduate student and a technician attached to him. Officially he is now even not the had of a laboratory, although he once had one before he left the Institute.
Certainly, he is not a chairman at RBI of any kind.
Finally, whatever I wrote to you including this message of today, is thruth. So, you are allowed to use those informations. Sincerely, Nikola Zovko
AI
