"This is the first case referred by the Tribunal to Serbia," the Un war crimes tribunal said on its web site.
The 46-year old Kovacevic is charged with war crimes on six counts because he ordered the shelling of the southern Adriatic city of Dubrovnik in December 1991. Two civilians were killed and three were injured in the attack. He was arrested in Belgrade in 2003. Kovacevic's trial was postponed on several occasions due to his mental condition.
The ICTY has to date transferred nine accused to Bosnia and Herzegovina for trial and referred one case involving two accused to Croatia.