BELGRADE, Oct 2 (Hina) - Most Belgrade media report on Wednesday about Croatian President Stjepan Mesic's testimony in the trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic at The Hague without commenting it.
BELGRADE, Oct 2 (Hina) - Most Belgrade media report on Wednesday
about Croatian President Stjepan Mesic's testimony in the trial of
former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic at The Hague without
commenting it. #L#
The "Danas" daily brings an extensive report, quoting Mesic's
statement "Milosevic and Tudjman Agreed to Divide Bosnia" in its
headline and highlighting a part of the testimony on Milosevic's
attempts to establish Great Serbia. The daily notes that "the two
old acquaintances, with long years of service as part of the former
Yugoslav political elite, are today entering a direct verbal duel"
and that the cross-examination will probably be their last
conversation.
Apart from carrying Mesic's testimony, the "Blic" daily also quotes
accusations by the Croatian National Headquarters for the
Protection of Homeland War Values that by testifying Mesic had
violated the Croatian Constitution and the parliamentary
Declaration on Homeland War.
The "Nacional" daily also brings an excerpt from Mesic's book "How
We Broke Up Yugoslavia", where Milosevic is described as a
"stubborn and shrewd man", as well as Milosevic's statement before
Mesic's testimony that Mesic "is a problematic witness in every
aspect, given his personal criminal role in the break-up of
Yugoslavia."
The daily, which is issued in Belgrade, but is financed from
Bijeljina in Bosnia-Herzegovina, notes that Mesic "was preparing
for the testimony in front of a mirror using a makeshift microphone,
with the help of an assistant".
Nacional also brings a statement by Belgrade attorney Toma Fila
that Borisav Jovic, with whom he spoke when Mesic testified about
Jovic's role in breaking up Yugoslavia, "has no intention of
testifying about those events or appearing before the tribunal,
unless the tribunal orders him to do so".
Kosta Cavoski, a Belgrade Law School professor and one of the major
opponents of the Hague-based tribunal, believes that Jovic will be
threatened with arrest to force him to testify against Milosevic
because "The Hague does not need another indictee, but a witness who
will provide the necessary material against Milosevic".
The trial of the former Yugoslav president is broadcast live by
Belgrade's Television B92.
(hina) rml