Milosevic makes his initial appearance at War Crimes Tribunal

The Hague, 3 July (Beta) - The former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic declared before the war crimes court that he considered the Hague Tribunal a false tribunal and refused to plead to the indictment for atrocities against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.

"I consider this a false tribunal and the indictments are false indictments," Milosevic said in English at his first appearance before the Hague tribunal.

"I have no need to appoint counsel for an illegal institution," Milosevic replied to the Judge's question whether he wanted to reconsider being represented.

Milosevic appeared in court without defense lawyers, and to Judge Richard May's question whether he wanted to have the indictment read out, Milosevic replied "That's your problem."

As the former president refused to enter a plea to the indictment, the trial chamber entered pleas of innocent to each count of the indictment.

When Milosevic said that "this trial's aim is to produce false justification for the war crimes of NATO committed in Yugoslavia," Judge May cut him off:

"Mr Milosevic, this is not the time for speeches. As I have said, you will have the full opportunity, in due course, to defend yourself and to make your defense before the tribunal. This is not the moment to do so. This matter is now adjourned."

Judge May admonished Milosevic to reconsider having counsel, as the proceedings would be long and complicated and it was in his best interests to reconsider being represented.

The arraignment hearing of the former Yugoslav president, who faced his prosecutors completely calm and controlled, was finished after 12 minutes. The next hearing, a status conference, is adjourned until the week commencing August 27.

Milosevic's first appearance before the Hague Tribunal took place in the largest courtroom, which was crowded, while hundreds of reporters covered Tuesday's hearing via a video beam in the adjacent building.

Serbian Government's decision on cooperation with the ICTY

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