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Court imposes lawyer on Milosevic
Posted 03.09.2004

THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Judges at the U.N. tribunal has imposed a defense lawyer on former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to avoid further delays in his war crimes trial caused by poor health.

The court, sitting in the Dutch city of The Hague, made its ruling on Thursday but did not immediately name the attorney who will act as defense counsel or say when he or she will be assigned.

Judges and prosecutors said Milosevic could choose his own lawyer and that he could continue to be involved in conducting his defense. At the moment his legal research is being handled by three assistants from Belgrade.

"It is plain from the medical reports that the accused is not fit enough to defend himself," said presiding judge Patrick Robinson, according to The Associated Press.

Milosevic, who opened his defense earlier this week by protesting his innocence, protested against the decision and said he would appeal.

"I want the appeals chamber to consider this decision of yours, illegal, which violates international law , which violates every conceivable covenant on human rights," Milosevic told the three-member panel of judges.

"At a moment when I am supposed to exercise my right to defend, you decided to deprive me of that right. That's a scandal. You cannot deny me the right to defend myself," he said, seated alone at the defendant's table.

Robinson cut off Milosevic's microphone, AP said, and said the decision of the judges was final.

If Milosevic refuses to appoint his own lawyer, the court could call on the team of independent lawyers, known as "friends of the court," who have been watching the case to ensure fair proceedings.

The court also rejected Milosevic's request for a new round of medical tests by independent doctors.

The 63-year-old former Serb strongman suffers from a heart condition and high blood pressure. His many absences due to his illnesses have caused months of delays.

Milosevic wrapped up his opening defense statement on Wednesday, calling his trial a "farce, pure and simple."

He condemned the indictments against him as "a sheer mutilation of justice" and challenged prosecutors' suggestions that he sought to create a "greater Serbia" as Yugoslavia broke apart in the 1990s.

Milosevic also laid out a series of conspiracies against his Serb people involving Osama bin Laden, the Vatican, neo-Nazis, the CIA and others, The Associated Press reported.

"This indictment represents a sum of unscrupulous manipulation, lies, crippling of the law, and an unjust presentation of the history," he said. "What it says there are empty words."

"Thanks to the nature and contents of this false indictment (the trial) has turned into a farce, pure and simple. However the amount of money is not insignificant. It is not a cheap farce," Milosevic said. The tribunal has an annual budget of more than $270 million, Reuters reported.

Milosevic said he sought peace while defending the Serb people.

"Our greatest wish was to establish peace," he said. "During all of those 10 years, there was no discrimination against anyone" inside Serbia.

He accused the former Bosnian president Alija Izetbegovic of planning to wipe out the Serbs and create an Islamic state in Europe with the assistance of Middle Eastern fundamentalists, AP said.

"What they (U.N. prosecutors) fail to say is that the activities of the Serbian people were activities aimed at defense," Milosevic said.

Milosevic opened his defense Tuesday by calling his case against him a "treacherous distortion of history" and saying prosecutors had "presented everything in a lopsided manner" to fit their version of events.

Milosevic faces 66 war crimes charges -- including genocide -- for allegedly starting three wars during the breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s when more than 200,000 people were killed.

The prosecution, which wrapped up its case in February after testimony from nearly 300 witnesses, has tried to link Milosevic directly to the Balkans wars.

Milosevic has said he would call more than 1,000 witnesses, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in the 150 days allocated to him. But the court has said he must provide good reason as to why any witness should appear.

He also refuses to recognize the legality of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and observers say he could run into procedural difficulties while conducting his own defense.

A defiant Slobodan Milosevic has wrapped up his opening statement against war crimes charges, calling his trial at The Hague a "farce, pure and simple."

The former Yugoslav president on Wednesday condemned the indictments against him as "a sheer mutilation of justice" and challenged prosecutors' suggestions that he sought to create a "greater Serbia" as Yugoslavia broke apart in the 1990s.

More than two years after his trial began at the U.N. tribunal, Milosevic also laid out a series of conspiracies against his Serb people involving Osama bin Laden, the Vatican, neo-Nazis, the CIA and others, The Associated Press reported.

"This indictment represents a sum of unscrupulous manipulation, lies, crippling of the law, and an unjust presentation of the history," he said. "What it says there are empty words."

"Thanks to the nature and contents of this false indictment (the trial) has turned into a farce, pure and simple. However the amount of money is not insignificant. It is not a cheap farce," Milosevic said. The tribunal has an annual budget of more than $270 million, Reuters reported.

Milosevic said he sought peace while defending the Serb people.

"Our greatest wish was to establish peace," he said. "During all of those 10 years, there was no discrimination against anyone" inside Serbia.

He accused the former Bosnian president Alija Izetbegovic of planning to wipe out the Serbs and create an Islamic state in Europe with the assistance of Middle Eastern fundamentalists, AP said.

"What they (U.N. prosecutors) fail to say is that the activities of the Serbian people were activities aimed at defense," Milosevic said.

Milosevic opened his defense Tuesday by calling his case against him a "treacherous distortion of history" and saying prosecutors had "presented everything in a lopsided manner" to fit their version of events. (Full story)

Milosevic has pleaded innocent and insists on defending himself despite his poor health.

Originally set for April, the defense has been postponed repeatedly after doctors determined that Milosevic's blood pressure was dangerously high.

The three-judge panel is expected to hear submissions from prosecutors and Milosevic on his health and the issue of defense lawyers later on Wednesday.

Prosecutors want judges to impose a defense counsel on Milosevic, despite his objections, to avoid trial delays. Milosevic has said he would not cooperate with court-appointed counsel.

Milosevic, 63, faces 66 war crimes charges -- including genocide -- for allegedly starting three wars during the breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s when more than 200,000 people were killed.

The prosecution, which wrapped up its case in February after testimony from nearly 300 witnesses, has tried to link Milosevic directly to the Balkans wars.

Milosevic has said he would call more than 1,000 witnesses, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in the 150 days allocated to him. But the court has said he must provide good reason as to why any witness should appear.

The former Serb strongman also refuses to recognize the legality of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and observers say he could run into procedural difficulties while conducting his own defense.