Speaking at a status conference dedicated to the presentation of evidence by defence counsel, both the prosecution and the judges stated that Milosevic, who is defending himself, is spending allocated time irrationally and that he would manage to question only a hundred witnesses if he continued at the current pace.
"I request more time to question relevant witnesses. That is in the interest of justice and fairness," Milosevic said.
Responding to Nice's accusation that he wanted to procrastinate the trial for promotional purposes, Milosevic said that the claim was incorrect and that he was not enjoying Nice's company in the courtroom in the least.
The marathon trial of the former Yugoslav president for genocide and war crimes in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo began on February 12, 2002. In the first two years of the trial the prosecution presented its evidence, while the defence started the presentation of evidence on August 31, 2004. Only 28 witnesses have been questioned since then, and Milosevic has already used almost one-third of the 150 allocated days, the judges warned today.
Asked by Judge Iain Bonomy how much time he would need for defence in the part of the indictment referring to Kosovo, Milosevic said he had planned to spend slightly more than one-third of the allocated time.
Chief prosecutor Nice suggested that the trial chamber again be in session five days a week instead of three, as is the case now, because it was obvious that Milosevic's condition had improved.
In the first part of the trial, the proceedings were interrupted 15 times due to Milosevic's heart condition. Since he started conducting his defence, Milosevic was absent only once due to a flu.
Presiding judge Patrick Robinson confirmed that the trial chamber was considering extending its working week in consultation with doctors.
Milosevic responded by suggesting that he be allowed to have breaks to rest while conducting his defence, adding that his heart and high blood pressure problems were chronic.
Milosevic's court-appointed defence attorney Steven Kay told the trial chamber that he had sent through diplomatic channels requests to testify in the trial to British PM Tony Blair, former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, former US President Bill Clinton and ex-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. He said he expected their replies in a couple of weeks.
Milosevic previously requested that the trial chamber subpoena the said state officials to testify, but Judge Robinson recalled that such a request must come in writing for the trial chamber to consider it.
Milosevic has been refusing from the start of the trial to file written submissions as a way to express his nonrecognition of the tribunal.
Milosevic said today that he did not intend to testify as a witness, but would present a closing statement once all witnesses had been heard.