MILOSEVIC TRIAL DISCUSSION ARCHIVE

Is Slobodan Milosevic getting a fair trial?
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• discussion archive

• Sunday September 14, 2003 at 1:52 am
  

  ICDSM-US

  U.S. National Section of the International Committee to Defend Slobodan Milosevic Press Release #1

  September 13, 2003

  Telephone: 212-726-1260

  Email: icdsm_us@yahoo.com

  For Immediate release:

  PRESS RELEASE: PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FORMATION OF THE U.S. SECTION OF THE ICDSM AND A STATEMENT AGAINST THE ICTY'S MOST RECENT VIOLATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS

  Today some two dozen writers, academics, attorneys and peace and human rights activists announce the formation of a new organization to fight for an immediate end to the disgraceful show-trial of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague.

  The new committee shall be known as the U.S. National Section of the International Committee to Defend Slobodan Milosevic, and it shall work in full cooperation with the leadership of the ICDSM in Belgrade and Europe as its official representative in the United States. The Chair of the Committee is Dr. Michael Parenti of Berkeley, California a leading international scholar and the author of To Kill A Nation: The Attack on Yugoslavia.

  The U.S. Section of the ICDSM rejects the legitimacy of this trial and that of the ICTY as well. But at the same time we cannot stand by without protesting the gross violations of fundamental legal, democratic and human rights visited upon Mr. Milosevic by this court. We view this trial as an act of political warfare against the people of Serbia and against the basic democratic rights of the whole of humanity that cannot be allowed to succeed.

  The U.S. Section of the ICDSM charges the ICTY and the American government with falsifying war crimes charges against President Milosevic solely for the purpose of manipulating public opinion against the people of Serbia and justifying NATO's barbaric 78-day campaign of terror against Yugoslavia in 1999, as well as to deflect attention from the real crimes against the people of Yugoslavia committed by the US and its NATO allies over the course of the last thirteen years. These include but are not limited to the break up of Yugoslavia and the imposition of neo-colonial regimes in each of the former republics. The ICTY represents a continuation of this policy of aggression and occupation and a dangerous precedent for all nations who dare to oppose U.S. or Western foreign policy.

  As its first act the US Section of the ICDSM is issuing this urgent public protest against the ICTY's most recent violations of the norms of international law and human rights.

  In recent weeks the ICTY has flagrantly violated some internationally accepted legal norms by failing to provide adequate medical attention for President Milosevic, by denying visitation rights to President Milosevic's closest advisors, and, most recently, by denying Mr. Milosevic's request for a two year break in the trial for adequate preparation for his defense. In all three of these cases, the actions of the tribunal are designed to prevent President Milosevic from conducting his defense.

  Above all the ICTY has deliberately undermined the health and physical capacity of President Milosevic by refusing to grant adequate medical assistance and an adjournment. The past two years of imprisonment have severely damaged his health and threatened his very life. In addition, the tribunal's persecution of Mr. Milosevic's family and his forced isolation from them is an outrage that must end.

  By not granting Mr. Milosevic an adjournment and adequate medical care the tribunal has exposed its own brutality while violating fundamental norms of international law such as the presumption of innocence and due process. Article 9 (3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states: "It shall not be the general rule that persons awaiting trial shall be detained in custody, but release may be subject to guarantees to appear for trial, at any other stage of the judicial proceedings, and, should occasion arise, for execution of the judgment." And in regard to due process, Article 9 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states: "No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law."

  The recent decisions of the ICTY also disregard the principle of "equality of arms," a fundamental norm of international law that is intended to create credible conditions for the defense. According to Article 14 (3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR):

  A defendant is entitled (b) to have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence and to communicate with counsel of his own choosing; (d) to be tried in his presence, and to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing; to be informed, if he does not have legal assistance, of this right; and to have legal assistance assigned to him, in any case where the interests of justice so require, and without payment by him in any such case if he does not have sufficient means to pay for it; (e) to examine, or have examined, the witnesses against him and to obtain the attendance and examination of witnesses on his behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him."

  The ICTY at The Hague makes a mockery of such standard international legal principles in its total disregard of President Milosevic's ill health and request for an adjournment.

  Basic decency and justice demands that the U.S. Section of the ICDSM call upon those orchestrating the tribunal's process against President Milosevic to adjourn the process for a period of at least two years and end the ban on visitation rights. But above all the U.S. section seeks the immediate release of President Milosevic from his unlawful imprisonment and an end to the sinister proceedings organized by the ICTY show-trial at The Hague. The ICDSM calls upon the citizens of all nations concerned with the violation of human rights to join in this protest. The U.S. National Section of the ICDSM shall, in the near future, publish a pamphlet on the illegitimate and sinister nature of The Hague tribunal, hold press conferences, and create a website to educate and engage the American public about the outrages of this court funded by U.S. taxpayers' dollars.
  
  George Szamuely
  New York
  N.Y.

• Sunday September 14, 2003 at 1:46 pm
  To: M P, Panama

  Re.: How Annan got his job

  ... largely by drooling to please his masters in the Clinton administration. This is confirmed by none other than Richard Holbrooke, who in his book openly praised him for allowing bombing of the Bosnian Serbs behing Boutros-Ghali's back. For an insightful portrait of Annan (including quotes and references to Holbrooke's comments), see George Szamuely's "Kofi Annan: Drooling Visionary".
  
  Pythagoras C
  Greece

• Sunday September 14, 2003 at 4:33 pm
  I wish to hail the formation of

  THE U.S. NATIONAL SECTION OF THE ICDSM

  as announced by George Szamuely

  (on Sunday September 14, 2003 at 1:52 am)

  While fully endorsing the accompanying argument on the illegitimate and sinister ICTY "trial" against mr. Milosevic, I wish to suggest, that this U.S. Section engages itself also in the "trial" against mr. Milutinovic, mr. Sainovic and mr. Ojdanic, which is based on the very same Indictment of May 22, 1999 (ref. my posting of Monday September 01, 2003 at 10:59 am).
  
  Godfred Louis-Jensen
  Copenhagen
  D E N M A R K

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 5:57 am
  
  ‘Egad Sir, ‘tis a triumph of hope over experience’

  Serbian justice minister Vladan Batic expressed satisfaction with the statement of Hague tribunal chief prosecutor Carla del Ponte that she will issue indictments against the leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army by the end of the year.

  Madame del Ponte has repeatedly made such claims during the past four years. What makes Vladan Batic believe this claim is any less hollow than its predecessors all of which have failed to materialise.

  Does he really believe that Blair, Robertson, Clinton and even Bush - Tony’s new best mate - are going to allow the exposure of their KLA thugs in the Hague!

  Dream on.
  
  Peter Taylor
  Herts/UK

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 6:32 am
  According to Peter Taylor's source of information (September 15, 2003 at 5:57 am) the Serbian justice minister Vladan Batic yesterday at 20:20 hrs. stated that he "hopes that Carla del Ponte, once presented with relevant evidence, will issue indictments against the leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army."

  The justice ministers statement followed shortly - actually about two and a half hours - after his having expressed "satisfaction with the statement of The Hague tribunal chief that she will issue indictments against the leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army by the end of the year."
  
  Godfred Louis-Jensen
  Copenhagen
  D E N M A R K

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 8:20 am
  I mean:

  Wonder what happened in between the Serbian justice minister's two statements quoted above (September 15, 2003 at 6:32 am) - taking into account that the justice ministry has alledgedly been attempting for two and a half years to prove that the leaders of the KLA are "the biggest war criminals in Europe since World War II"?

  Maybe mrs. del Ponte merely called mr. Batic from The Hague to explain, that she had yet to be presented with "relevant evidence" against the leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army? Would mr. Batic maybe kindly send it to her?

  And maybe mr. Batic then - within two hours and a half - send the evidence which the Serbian justice ministry has already collected - thus giving even mrs. del Ponte "enough proof" to issue indictments against the leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army?

  I just wonder...
  
  Godfred Louis-Jensen
  Copenhagen
  D E N M A R K

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 11:39 am
  And I wonder about this -

  http://www.cij.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewReport&reportID=395&tribunalID=1&languageID=1
  
  Nico Neznanovic
  JUG

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 12:36 pm
  Today's "Trial" Report:

  http://www.slobodan-milosevic.org/news/smorg091503.htm

  Nico Neznanovic,

  I wonder about those transcripts too. First of all, their accuracy. A number of errors were revealed with regards to Milosevic's 2 speeches to the R.S. Assembly.

  According to the transcripts he addressed them in Zvornik, but he really addressed them in Pale.

  The transcript also said that he addressed them in a closed session of parliament, but in reality it was an open session. The newspapers were carrying the texts of his speeches the next day.

  Thirdly, Serbian is not the native language of Dr. Donia. It is possible that he misinterpreted.

  Fourthly, even if what was said in the transcripts was accurately recorded and interpreted it can't be considered as any sort of evidence in any sort of court proceedings against Milosevic.

  If Radovan Karadzic really said things like, "Without Serbia nothing would have happened, we don't have the resources and would not have been able to make war." and if Mladic really said that over 1/3 of the VRS's weapons came from the VJ then it should be Karadzic and Mladic who come and testify about that and not some candy-ass banker from the U.S.A. testifying on their behalf.

  How can an Accused be expected to deal with those sorts of statements if he can't cross-examine the people who allegedly made them? The fact that the so-called "tribunal" even allows that kind of bullshit to take place speaks volumes about the integrity of the so-called "judges."

  Then again Dr. Karadzic and Gen. Mladic can't come, because if they did the "tribunal" would do the same thing to them that they are doing to President Milosevic.
  
  Andy Wilcoxson
  Washington, United States

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 12:46 pm
  All of a sudden Mr.Neznanovic (unknown)"golden evidence by former secretary" gi'me a break¡
  
  M P
  Rep. of Panama

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 4:03 pm
  Andy,

  By "some candy-ass banker from the U.S.Å.", were you referring to Donia?

  I don't know about his banking expertise, but he is an Assistant Research Scientist with the Centre for Russian & Eastern European Studies (CREE) at the University of Michigan. This fall he will be teaching a course titled 'Inside the Yugoslavia War Crimes Tribunal' .

  Dr. Robert Donia received his MA & PhD (1976) from the U. of Michigan. His thesis was 'B&H: A Tradition Betrayed'. In 1994, with John Fine (UofM) he revisited his thesis & published a book by the same title.

  Dr. Donia also was instrumental in a project (April, 1997) to provide the National & University Library in Sarajevo with a bibliography of 2700 titles pertaining to B&H. This project distributed copies of this biblio to libraries & universities throughout American & Europe.

  Jamie Shea is also associated with the UofM via their Study Abroad Program by which he has been giving courses since 1989 in European security challenges.

  This coming term, I believe (if I read my notes correctly) he will be conducting a course titled 'International Relations in Brussels' through the UofM's James Madison College summer study abroad program.
  
  M Donne
  Canada

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 5:24 pm
  Anything Jamie Shea is associated with deserves to be shunned.
  
  Anna P
  California

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 5:25 pm
  "Jamie Shea" you mean "10 tanks and 20 pieces of artillery a day Shea" what credibility this asshole can have . And the way you put it Dr. Donia knows everything "from snakes to assholes" as far as Russia and Eastern Europe . So called "experts" are consulted when Prosecutors and Judges have no idea of what are they dealing with and in their desperation and incompetence take for granted whatever this opinnionated protagonism seeking "scholars" can say .
  
  M P
  Rep of Panama

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 6:38 pm
  BETA (Belgrade) September 2, 2003 HAGUE PROSECUTOR TELLS SERBIAN JUSTICE MINISTER 'NO EVIDENCE' OF KLA CRIMES Belgrade, 2 Sep (BETA) -- Hague tribunal chief prosecutor Carla Del Ponte has told the Serbian Justice Ministry that there is not enough evidence to prosecute the separatist Kosovo Liberation Army, Serbian Justice Minister Vladan Batic's office has announced today. Batic recently sent a note to the Hague tribunal's chief prosecutor, offering the justice ministry's evidence about KLA crimes, but Carla Del Ponte wrote back "to thank him on his offer, at the same time concluding that there is no evidence that emerged in an investigation into the KLA," the justice ministry's statement says. In her later to Batic Del Ponte voiced her readiness "to make an extra effort to bring to justice all war criminals, including the leaders of the KLA, adding that non-punishment cannot be permitted." The justice ministry's statement says that the Hague tribunal's chief prosecutor supports "the processing of crimes before domestic courts, and stresses that this is in line with the tribunal's planned strategy."
  
  S J
  Ohio

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 7:06 pm
  Maybe Peter has already covered these points re Blair, but since it seems likely that Wesley Clark will be running for the Democratic presidential nomination, I thought it might be worthwhile to mention that in his autobiography, WC stated that Tony Blair made an unexpected visit to Brusssels to visit with him. "Are we going to win?" asked TB of WC. "Blair made it very clear that the future of every government in Western Europe, including his own, depended on a successful outcome of the war. Therefore, he was going to do everything it took to succeed. No stopping halfway, no halfheartedness."

  Add Blair's rushing over to pump up Clark to his rushing over to pump up the U.S. congress to attack Iraq, and I think we find , not a poodle on the leash of an American President , but rather the instigator & promoter of both attacks. Why 'Bomb 'em to Bits' (for the right reason, ie, any reason that will fly) Blair is so bloodthirsty & bloodyminded remains , so far, beyond me. Perhaps the fact that his wife is a human rights lawyer figures somehow in the puzzle.

  BTW, I think the question of funding, in all its aspects, is germaine to the question: Is Milosevic getting a fair trial?.

  Oh, I should have added, re Donvia, that he spent 74-75 in Sarajevo as a Fulbright research scholar -- know thy enemy.

  And thanks to Andy for the synopses -- much appreciated.
  
  M Donne
  Canada

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 8:32 pm
  Sorry -- to correct myself -- the quote I attributed to Wesley Clark's autobiography came from an article in the Sept. 2002 issue of the Washington Monthly, titled 'An Army of One?' written by Wesley Clark. He probably hasn't even written an autobiography.
  
  M Donne
  Canada

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 8:48 pm
  

  Nobody in his (or her) right mind would have expected British Petroleum recovering its "claim" on the Iraqi oil without the US armed forces "participation". British propaganda, cultural and otherwise remains strong and decisive in America. It is in fact an old affair.
  
  Gogol Charlemagne
  Shangri-La

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 9:57 pm
  M. Donne,

  I called Dr. Donia a "candy-ass banker" because that is precisely what he was throughout the entire time period that he was testifying about. From 1981 until 1998 he was a financial advisor for Merrill-Lynch. Yet he was testifying about the Bosnian war, which took place between 1992 and 1995.

  He is going to be teaching a course at U of M entitled "Inside the Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal" (SEE: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/honors/deroyf03.html ).

  I wonder if Dr. Donia's students will examine his testimony and the nature of it?

  What Dr. Donia did was to come to the tribunal with transcripts of the RS Assembly sessions. He quoted excerpts from the transcripts and minutes and interpreted their meaning for the court.

  It is amazing that even an institution as illegitimate as the Hague Tribunal would accept a 3rd party reading out of a transcript as evidence of anything. Dr. Donia was not even present when the alleged statements were made. He isn't competent to say anything. Only the people who made the alleged statements are qualified to give evidence about what they were talking about, and if not them then at least somebody who was there, but certainly not some guy who was sitting off in some bank office in New York.

  I repeat, how on Earth can an accused be expected to deal with "evidence" of this nature? All there is, is a statement that is being used against you, but no way to cross-examine the person who allegedly made it. The only thing such "evidence" proves is what sort of slime that Dr. Donia and the so-called "tribunal" are for even attempting such a stupid thing in the first place.
  
  Andy Wilcoxson
  Washington, United States

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 10:18 pm
  As far as the Tribunal's funding is concerned I can tell you that here in the United States it is illegal to donate to the defense of any person who has been indicted by the Hague Tribunal.

  You can't legally donate to the person, and you can't donate to any person or organization that performs a service for the indicted person.

  The U.S. Treasury Department automatically imposes sanctions whenever Carla del Ponte files an indictment against somebody.

  On the other hand, the U.S. Government funds the tribunal to the tune of millions of dollars per year. So the U.S. Government is funding the prosecution while at the same time banning American citizens from funding the defense.

  What was that about "innocent until proven guilty" apprently for the U.S. government, the act of a prosecutor filing an indictment is sufficient for proving somebody guilty, since a conviction is not even required for imposting sanctions.
  
  Andy Wilcoxson
  Washington, United States

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 10:29 pm
  And...if President Milosevic was intent on creating 'a greater Serbia', how was Macedonia able to gain its independence peacefully, democratically, & legally with Milosevic pulling out the Yugoslav forces even earlier than agreed to?

  Gogol, I don't have a reference handy but I read somewhere that Clinton was a 'reluctant participant' in the Kosovo bombing until Blair (passionately, I suppose) convinced him otherwise -- fits your observation of America's infatuation with things British.
  
  M Donne
  Canada

• Monday September 15, 2003 at 11:16 pm
  Remember Madeleine's War?

  Albright, now 66 - and missing it all - has written a 592-page memoir about her life and tenure as a U.N. ambassador and then secretary of State. Did she include her key rôle in the death of maybe half a million Iraqi children?

  Reportedly her greatest achievement was to push a reluctant Clinton to act against 'the Serbian slaughter of Kosovo's ethnic Albanians'...

  She may have to share the rewards with an equally "passionate" Tony Bliar...

  And her taking particular satisfaction in seeing Milosevic brought to "trial" for war crimes may not prove bright at all...

  http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/reviews/2003-09-15-albright_x.htm
  
  Godfred Louis-Jensen
  Copenhagen
  D E N M A R K

• Tuesday September 16, 2003 at 4:45 am
  
  Did you note all the recent fine words from Bush and Blair about the evil of supporting terrorists?

  Representatives of KFOR Multi-National Brigade Northeast and the Kosovo Protection Corps began joint exercises today in the north of Kosovo in Zubin Potok and Zvecan municipalities, which are inhabited exclusively by Serbs, as part of the military exercise Dynamic Response 2003.

  Nato forces (KFOR) train with KLA (KPC)terrorists.

  And Batic believes that del Ponte is going to indict their leaders in the Hague!

  Nauseating what?
  
  Peter Taylor
  Herts/UK

• Tuesday September 16, 2003 at 6:58 am
  Peter,

  Serbian justice minister Vladan Batic did not say (and may not really "believe"), that "del Ponte is going to indict the KLA leaders in the Hague", - but merely stated that he HOPES that the Hague tribunal chief prosecutor, once presented with relevant evidence, will issue indictments against them.

  "I hope that once we (the Serbian Ministry of Justice!) have presented "the evidence we have" (1)...del Ponte will finally have enough proof...," mr. Batic was quoted as saying (September 14, 2003 at 20:20 hrs. pm)

  According to the posting from SJ of Ohio (September 15, 2003 at 6:38 pm) mrs. del Ponte (who probably never followed the Prosecutions Case at the "trial against mr. Milosevic or did not really grasp the implications?) already weeks ago told the Serbian Justice Ministry that "there is not enough evidence to prosecute the Kosovo Liberation Army - maybe not even a murderer like Hashim Thaqi.

  The question to ask now, if I may suggest, is not about what mr. Batic "believes", - but on whether he has finally provided the ICTY with the proof, that he "has"...
  
  Godfred Louis-Jensen
  Copenhagen
  D E N M A RK

• Tuesday September 16, 2003 at 6:58 am
  Peter,

  Serbian justice minister Vladan Batic did not say (and may not really "believe"), that "del Ponte is going to indict the KLA leaders in the Hague", - but merely stated that he HOPES that the Hague tribunal chief prosecutor, once presented with relevant evidence, will issue indictments against them.

  "I hope that once we (the Serbian Ministry of Justice!) have presented "the evidence we have" (1)...del Ponte will finally have enough proof...," mr. Batic was quoted as saying (September 14, 2003 at 20:20 hrs. pm)

  According to the posting from SJ of Ohio (September 15, 2003 at 6:38 pm) mrs. del Ponte (who probably never followed the Prosecutions Case at the "trial against mr. Milosevic or did not really grasp the implications?) already weeks ago told the Serbian Justice Ministry that "there is not enough evidence to prosecute the Kosovo Liberation Army - maybe not even a murderer like Hashim Thaqi.

  The question to ask now, if I may suggest, is not about what mr. Batic "believes", - but on whether he has finally provided the ICTY with the proof, that he "has"...
  
  Godfred Louis-Jensen
  Copenhagen
  D E N M A RK

• Tuesday September 16, 2003 at 7:11 am
  

  M Donne

  Clinton is a Rohde Scholar, this distinction abounds among US presidents, it links them to the great empire of the English speaking people it puts them on the right churchillian track. I suggest reading Selling War by Nicholas John Cull. You will see how well cultivated this fascination as you called, has been the British in the past 100 years.

  C'est la vie
  
  Gogol Charlemagne
  Shangri-La

• Tuesday September 16, 2003 at 12:38 pm
  A 3 year old lead for mrs. del Ponte:

  http://www.vor.ru/Kosovo/commentaries_338.html
  
  Godfred Louis-Jensen
  Copenhagen
  D E N M A R K

• Tuesday September 16, 2003 at 2:17 pm
  OPEN LETTER FOR "VOICE OF RUSSIA":

  Dear Sir,

  RE: On the responsibility of former KLA-leader Hashim Thaqi >P> In a commentary three years ago (by Yuri Solton, 01. 10. 2000), the "Voice of Russia" highlighted an "action of the international police" in Pristina in the Serbian province of Kosovo involving the leader of the Albanian separatists, Hashim Thaqi - of whom we were then told that in the aftermath he "filed a vigorous protest and even threatened to withdraw from politics" (1).

  An apology that followed from the NATO commander in Kosovo and the head of the UNMIK, - preventing or at least delaying the withdrawal of mr. Hashim Thaqi - according to your commentator "was addressed to a man incriminated in numerous crimes":

  "Hashim Thaqi is responsible for the deaths and kidnappings of hundreds of Serbs, (and) for the plunder of their property," the commentary stated.

  Now I wonder what kind of basis the "Voice of Russia" had then - and hence may still have - for this allegation of murder, kidnapping and plunder? The immediate reason for my interest is, that even today, three years later and towards the conclusion of the Prosecutions case in the "trial against mr. Milosevic, the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, mrs. Carla del Ponte, alledgedly still does not have "sufficient proof" available in The Hague for issuing an indictment against mr. Hashim Thaqi and other Albanian separatist leaders responsible for such actions of the KLA prior to, during and after the NATO aggression against Yugoslavia in 1999.

  Hence your background material may still help justice to prevail.

  I shall post this as an "open letter" at the University of Pittsburgh's web-site (JURIST "Milosevic Trial Discussion") and be most obliged if you would kindly answer me at your earliest convenience.

  (1) http://www.vor.ru/Kosovo/commentaries_338.html

  c.c.: SLOBODA/Freedom Association
  
  Godfred Louis-Jensen
  Copenhagen
  D E N M A R K

• Tuesday September 16, 2003 at 2:21 pm
  OPEN LETTER FOR "VOICE OF RUSSIA":

  Dear Sir,

  RE: On the responsibility of former KLA-leader Hashim Thaqi

  In a commentary three years ago (by Yuri Solton, 01. 10. 2000), the "Voice of Russia" highlighted an "action of the international police" in Pristina in the Serbian province of Kosovo involving the leader of the Albanian separatists, Hashim Thaqi - of whom we were then told that in the aftermath he "filed a vigorous protest and even threatened to withdraw from politics" (1).

  An apology that followed from the NATO commander in Kosovo and the head of the UNMIK, - preventing or at least delaying the withdrawal of mr. Hashim Thaqi - according to your commentator "was addressed to a man incriminated in numerous crimes":

  "Hashim Thaqi is responsible for the deaths and kidnappings of hundreds of Serbs, (and) for the plunder of their property," the commentary stated.

  Now I wonder what kind of basis the "Voice of Russia" had then - and hence may still have - for this allegation of murder, kidnapping and plunder? The immediate reason for my interest is, that even today, three years later and towards the conclusion of the Prosecutions case in the "trial against mr. Milosevic, the ICTY Chief Prosecutor, mrs. Carla del Ponte, alledgedly still does not have "sufficient proof" available in The Hague for issuing an indictment against mr. Hashim Thaqi and other Albanian separatist leaders responsible for such actions of the KLA prior to, during and after the NATO aggression against Yugoslavia in 1999.

  Hence your background material may still help justice to prevail.

  I shall post this as an "open letter" at the University of Pittsburgh's web-site (JURIST "Milosevic Trial Discussion") and be most obliged if you would kindly answer me at your earliest convenience.

  (1) http://www.vor.ru/Kosovo/commentaries_338.html

  c.c.: SLOBODA/Freedom Association
  
  Godfred Louis-Jensen
  Copenhagen
  D E N M A R K

• Tuesday September 16, 2003 at 7:43 pm
  

  Another sad day for the United Nations Organization today.
  
  Gogol Charlemagne
  Shangri-La

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 12:55 am
  September 16th "trial" Synopsis:

  http://www.slobodan-milosevic.org/news/smorg091603.htm

  P.S.: I apologize, I will not be able to watch the "trial" for the next 2 days.
  
  Andy Wilcoxson
  Washington, United States

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 2:18 am
  Did anybody here watch the Carla del Ponte press conference the other day?

  I see that domovina.net has a recording of it at:
  http://2002.xs4all.nl/radio/cdp_030912.ram

  Does anybody know if there is anything useful there?
  
  Andy Wilcoxson
  Washington, United States

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 6:21 am
  Thks for the summary of the ICTY hearings.

  The good Baron's testimony is one more nail in the coffin of the War Party.

  It is in the interest of the truth that these hearings go on as long as possible.

  I can only hope that some undergraduates will start calling Riedelmeyer, Budding, Dionneet. al. to the carpet for making such fools of themselves at the ICTY.
  
  AP V
  NY
  NY

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 6:21 am
  Pertti, something more for your delectation: a Classic foul mouthed eXile

  Flashback to Kosovo in 2000. Interesting (yet not suprising) the views of the international community there (which also jives with some of the current Brussels crowd that I know)... Kinda jars with the mealy-mouthed media dribble coming from the Kosovo spokesmen.
  
  Alexei Gorbulski
  Brussels
  Belgium

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 7:20 am
  
  The pits

  Former US president Bill Clinton will pay a one-day visit to Kosovo on Friday to receive an honorary degree from Pristina University, address the province's multi-ethnic assembly and meet with local leaders, an official said Tuesday.

  We expect politicians to be men of little shame but this: ‘Honoured’ by a people who have ethnically cleansed their state of its minority populations, except those confined in KFOR protected enclaves, who are non the less subjected to continual murderous attacks: ‘Honoured’ by a state which has murdered some three thousand of these minority populations and loyal Kosovars: ‘Honoured’ by a state which continually launches attacks upon its neighbouring states.

  There can be no Honour among murderers and thieves.
  
  Peter Taylor
  Herts/UK

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 7:55 am
  
  More ‘evidence’ for del Ponte

  On August 24,2003, the London-based Al-Muhajiroun, bin Laden's primary mouthpiece in Europe, elaborated on this theme in order to explain why the UN building in Baghdad was a legitimate target: "Verily it was the UN soldiers in Bosnia who were recorded to have stood by when the barbaric Serbs massacred Muslims. The UN first decided to take away the weapons of the Muslims (fearing that they might actually defend themselves and establish Islamic rule) and thereby facilitated their massacre, and were then even photographed helping in the mass murder and gang rape of Muslim women and children. The wounds are still fresh."

  Al-Muhajiroun is the London based extremist organisation that celebrated the second anniversary of the WTC atrocity by putting up a banner in Blair’s London celebrating the nineteen terrorists who committed this crime.

  ”Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime” Koran loving Blair couldn’t give a monkey’s. Islamic terrorist supporters in London and in KFOR ‘protected’ Kosovo do just as they like in spite of fine words from Blair and Bush about cracking down on “Terrorists and those who support terrorists”.
  
  Peter Taylor
  Herts/UK

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 10:19 am
  President Milosevic has been given 3 months to prepare his defense.

  He requested 2 years, and only got 3 months. The transcript is nearly 30,000 pages long, almost 200 prosecution witnesses have been called and he only gets 3 months to prepare his defense.

  I think this development answers the primary question posed by this board: "Is Slobodan Milosevic getting a fair trial?"
  
  Andy Wilcoxson
  Washington, United States

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 11:13 am
  An accolade?

  Obviously impressed by his cross-examination of prosecution witnesses the ICTY Trial Chamber has "given" mr. Milosevic but three months to prepare his defence, - in lieu of the two years demanded as a minimum.

  I'd rather see that as an expression of respect and well deserved confidence in the capacity and cause of mr. Milosevic!
  
  Godfred Louis-Jensen
  Copenhagen
  D E N M A R K

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 11:25 am
  It's circus time again!

  Serbia sets early election date

  Let's see how much financial & political support the West's favorites get in an entirely legal manner... I'm sure that with their help, Serbia's most popular politician will continue in the wilderness.
  
  Alexei Gorbulski
  Brussels
  Belgium

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 3:17 pm
  The "WAR" in Kosovo was taken to Belgrade by NATO and turned an internal conflict into an AGGRESSION by the most powerful military alliance known to human history and it took 11 weeks of constant bombardment on civilian targets hundreds of miles far from the battlefields , targets as bridges , schools , TV and radio stations , nursery homes , orphanages , Foreign Diplomatic buildings , hospitals , electric power stations , to name a "few" were accomplished thanks to the "outstanding strategy" developed by the "Commander" of the "Allied Forces" converting Belgrade into another GUERNICA , DRESDEN , HIROSHIMA , NAGASAKI ,LIDICE and other heroic cities . These "extraordinary lesson of "strategy" was inspired by Mrs.Madeleine Albright and showed nothing but "COWARDICE AND NOT COJONES" , REMEMBER YOUR SPEECH AT THE U.N Mrs. Albright? and now she wants to stupidize the world with an abortion of a book justifying her wrongdoing and the "General" that was in charge of the aggression wants to be next President of the U.S. And we wonder "will Milosevic get a fair trial" yeah¡ sure when cows start laying eggs?
  
  M P
  Rep of Panama

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 6:28 pm
  Nobody from the Office of the Prosecutor attended the ICTY Weekly Press Briefing held on 17 September, 2003. When the Spokesman for Registry and Chambers was asked whether a full medical report on Milosevic had been provided as requested by the Trial Chamber, Jim Landale replied that he believed a medical report had been made available to the Judges. Jim Landale added that he could not say whether this contained a psychological evaluation, - and that this medical report was confidential and therefore could not be made public.

  As a reminder, Jim Landale pointed out that "President Meron and the Vice-President, Judge Fausto Pocar, are paying an official visit to Serbia and Montenegro tomorrow and Friday."

  This "official visit" (which will reportedly include a meeting with representatives of the SLOBODA/Freedom Association) follows an invitation from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and Montenegro, Goran Svilanovic, in his capacity as the Chairman of The National Council for Cooperation with the International Tribunal and is the first official visit by a President of the ICTY to Belgrade. President Meron and Vice-President Pocar will meet with the President of Serbia and Montenegro, Svetozar Marovic, the Foreign Minister, Goran Svilanovic, the Prime Minister of Serbia, Zoran Zivkovic, and other high officials.

  (Please note that this is not a verbatim transcript. It is merely a summary excerpt of the Press Briefing, - leaving it to anybody to speculate what Nobody from the Office of the Prosecutor was doing in the meantime).
  
  Godfred Louis-Jensen
  Copenhagen
  D E N M A R K

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 6:48 pm
  

  And to put the frosting on the cake general Wesley Clark (the Nato-hero of Kosovo) wants to be the prez of the United States of Amnesia!

  He now opposes the war on Iraq . . . .
  
  Gogol Charlemagne
  Shangri-La

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 6:50 pm
  

  I forgot, don't you know? general Welsey Clark is a very educated person, he is . . . . yes, he is a Rohde scholar!
  
  Gogol Charlemagne
  Shangri-La

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 6:54 pm
  By the way:

  Nobody from the Office of the Prosecutor seems to have enough evidence to prosecute the separatist Kosovo Liberation Army. Hence it may be an idea for the ICTY President Meron to approach the Serbian Justice Minister Vladan Batic's office about this - while in Belgrade anyway?

  Nobody voiced anything but readiness "to make an extra effort to bring to justice all war criminals, including the leaders of the KLA", when Batic recently sent a note to The Hague offering the Serbian Justice Ministry's evidence about KLA crimes.

  So what is ICTY waiting for?
  
  Godfred Louis-Jensen
  Copenhagen
  D E N M A R K

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 8:29 pm
  Yes, Wesley Clark was a Rhodes Scholar & also was 1st in his West Point class.

  Clark & Clinton have much in common. I've read that they met at Oxford where Clinton was also a Rhodes Scholar. Both grew up in Arkansas, both lost their fathers early in life (age 4-5), & both took the name of their stepfathers when their mothers remarried. They are close in age; I believe Clark was born in '46 & Clinton in '48 .

  Rush Limbaugh is flying the theory that Clark is running for the Pres nomination only in order to become know to the voters & will utimately be the VP running mate for Hilliary .

  Why --only now -- is the Hague demanding minutes from S&M regarding both political & military meetings held at the time of the NATO invasion? Does any of the above answer that question? Or, is it remotely possible that evidence of KLA war crimes is being sought?

  Who are the lawyers who are going to be helping President Milosevic with his defence preparation as reported by B92?
  
  M Donne
  Canada

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 8:30 pm
  

  What the press was saying back then, Cook accused of misleading public on Kosovo massacres

  Kosovo, Iraq . . .what next?
  
  Gogol Charlemagne
  Shangri-La

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 10:21 pm
  Clark & Clinton have much in common , did Clark also had his dessert under the table? or was it sharing the "aroma"of a good Cuban cigar.
  
  M P
  Rep of Panama

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 10:45 pm
  M. Donne,

  I believe that Mr. Ognjanovic and Mr. Tomanovic are the people that B-92 was talking about.

  Mr. Ognjanovic and Mr. Tomanovic have been assisting President Milosevic throughout this so-called "trial."
  
  Andy Wilcoxson
  Washington, United States

• Wednesday September 17, 2003 at 11:19 pm
  Thanks, Andy, glad to hear that.

  Oh, & I made another boo-boo. I meant to say that Clark was born in '46 & Clinton in '48, not that they were 46 & 48. Good Grief!
  
  M Donne
  Canada