THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, Dec 15 (Hina) - A former NATO commander in Europe and US Democratic presidential nominee, General Wesley Clark, appeared as a prosecution witness in the trial of Slobodan Milosevic before the UN war crimes tribunal
in The Hague on Monday and said that the trial marked an end to a decade of wars initiated by the former Yugoslav president.
THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, Dec 15 (Hina) - A former NATO commander in Europe
and US Democratic presidential nominee, General Wesley Clark,
appeared as a prosecution witness in the trial of Slobodan
Milosevic before the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague on Monday
and said that the trial marked an end to a decade of wars initiated
by the former Yugoslav president. #L#
This trial represents the rule of law and is therefore very
important for the people of the region. It's closure with a man who
caused the deaths, or is alleged to have caused the deaths, of
hundreds of thousands of people, the expulsion of two million
people and a decade of wars in Europe, he told reporters outside the
tribunal.
Clark declined to reveal details of the court proceedings because
he is barred under the tribunal's rules from discussing details of
the hearing until it is completed.
The retired general gave testimony in a closed session and a
recording of his testimony will be made public on Friday. The
tribunal gave U.S. government officials 48 hours to review Clark's
testimony and remove any parts that may be detrimental to the
national security of the United States.
Clark also said that the Milosevic trial was an important precedent
for what might happen in future with any other dictator.
Clark was a member of the U.S. negotiating team during the peace
process in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the peace talks in Dayton, Ohio,
in 1995. He commanded a NATO bombing campaign against the Yugoslav
federation of Serbia and Montenegro in 1999. Clark spent more than
100 hours in talks with Milosevic.
The general will continue his testimony behind closed doors on
Tuesday.
(hina) vm sb