THE HAGUE, Oct 29 (Hina) - The former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic on Monday again refused to recognise the competence and legality of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) as well as the
indictments issued against him, qualifying them as false. After the panel of judges summonsed Milosevic to voice his opinion on a report drawn up by three legal experts (amici curae) questioning the Tribunal's competence in the Milosevic'c case, he said "no flood of false indictments can drown the truth". Milosevic said he was glad that the amici curae were aware of their limitations to speak in his name or represent him. Three court-appointed attorneys made a report on the Tribunal's jurisdiction after Milosevic refused to appoint his defence attorneys. They cited a number of arguments questioning the court's competence including the illegal establishment of the tribunal, th
THE HAGUE, Oct 29 (Hina) - The former Yugoslav president Slobodan
Milosevic on Monday again refused to recognise the competence and
legality of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former
Yugoslavia (ICTY) as well as the indictments issued against him,
qualifying them as false.
After the panel of judges summonsed Milosevic to voice his opinion
on a report drawn up by three legal experts (amici curae)
questioning the Tribunal's competence in the Milosevic'c case, he
said "no flood of false indictments can drown the truth". Milosevic
said he was glad that the amici curae were aware of their
limitations to speak in his name or represent him.
Three court-appointed attorneys made a report on the Tribunal's
jurisdiction after Milosevic refused to appoint his defence
attorneys. They cited a number of arguments questioning the court's
competence including the illegal establishment of the tribunal,
the problematic independence of its work as it is exposed to
pressures by the UN Security Council, and the illegal extradition
of Milosevic to the Hague.
Milosevic also stated that he was not making depositions to the
court chamber, and the judges' interpretation of Milosevic's words
as being depositions was exclusively a matter of their own
interpretation.
The panel of judges accepted the Prosecution's request for the
second amendment to the indictment. Milosevic heard the integral
indictment for the first time.
The ICTY Prosecution expanded the indictment to Kosovo crimes
committed in 1999 including the persecution of not only Kosovo
refugees but of displaced persons within Kosovo, and the Kosovar
victims whose bodies had been found in Batajnica near Belgrade.
After he hears the indictment concerning Kosovo, Milosevic should
hear the indictment concerning Croatia and than enter a plea
regarding crimes committed in Croatia.
Milosevic said that his not reading the indictments does not
necessarily mean he does not know what he has been indicted for. He
reiterated his thesis that he had led the self-defence of a nation
by legitimate means.
In his appearances before the Hague Tribunal to date, Milosevic
refused to recognise the court's authority claiming the court had
been founded on illegal grounds and that it was not independent in
its work.
The ex-Yugoslav president has been in the Hague detention since
late June 2001 after Belgrade authorities extradited him for crimes
committed in Kosovo in 1999.
As with Milosevic's previous appearances in the courtroom,
increased security measures are noticeable this time as well,
including an additional protection fence around the court building
and numerous check points.
(hina) np