Milosovic Reply
After the Prosecution has presented its case, Mr. Milosovic will present his, calling witnesses to appear before the Trial Chamber. In his Opening Statement, however, he has already indicated that he intends to show that he had no real authority over the Serbian forces which have been accused – and some convicted – of War Crimes and that they were all beyond his control.
In the original Indictment for Kosovo, there were four other Serbian officials in addition to Slobodan Milosovic; Milan Milutinovic, Nicola Sainovic, Dragoljub Ojdanic and Vlajko Stoljkovic. All still remain unapprehended and Milan Milutinovic is the current President of Serbia. So much for the much-publicised Serbian “cooperation” with the ICTY.
Overview
The Prosecution case had been considered a fairly simple task, but ever since Slobodan Milosovic began his Opening Statement, the entire process has been transformed. What was once clear is now questionable and what was once justifiable may soon be unacceptable.
Slobodan Milosovic has repeatedly stated that he is being made a victim of the policies of “The West” and NATO to destroy Yugoslavia, as a regional power and to fill the resultant vacuum with an occupying army and a compliant regime.
His rationale is that capitalist countries, with the unrestricted “free trade rules of the World Trade Organisation, wish to eliminate any possibility of a strong socialist state in the Balkans.
After the Prosecution has presented its case, Mr. Milosovic will present his, calling witnesses to appear before the Trial Chamber. In his Opening Statement, however, he has already indicated that he intends to show that he had no real authority over the Serbian forces which have been accused – and some convicted – of War Crimes and that they were all beyond his control.
In the original Indictment for Kosovo, there were four other Serbian officials in addition to Slobodan Milosovic; Milan Milutinovic, Nicola Sainovic, Dragoljub Ojdanic and Vlajko Stoljkovic. All still remain unapprehended and Milan Milutinovic is the current President of Serbia. So much for the much-publicised Serbian “cooperation” with the ICTY.
Overview
The Prosecution case had been considered a fairly simple task, but ever since Slobodan Milosovic began his Opening Statement, the entire process has been transformed. What was once clear is now questionable and what was once justifiable may soon be unacceptable.
Slobodan Milosovic has repeatedly stated that he is being made a victim of the policies of “The West” and NATO to destroy Yugoslavia, as a regional power and to fill the resultant vacuum with an occupying army and a compliant regime.
His rationale is that capitalist countries, with the unrestricted “free trade rules of the World Trade Organisation, wish to eliminate any possibility of a strong socialist state in the Balkans.