PRIMAKOV REFUSES FROM PARTICIPATION IN THE MILOSEVIC PROCESS RIA Novosti

PRIMAKOV REFUSES FROM PARTICIPATION IN THE MILOSEVIC PROCESS
RIA Novosti - September 21, 2004

MOSCOW, September 21 (RIA Novosti's Alla Isayeva ) - President of the Russian Commerce and Industry Chamber and ex-Premier of Russia Yevgeny Primakov refuses to appear at the Slobodan Milosevic process as a witness for the defense because of the violations of the norms of international law by the Hague Tribunal .

Primakov told RIA Novosti that the Hague International Tribunal for former Yugoslavia deprived the former Yugoslav President of the right to defend himself and appointed advocates against his will.

"In my opinion, it is a direct deviation from the letter and spirit of the international law, " Primakov said. "Under the obtaining circumstances I have to refuse from appearing at the trial as a witness for the defense."

He noted that he was ready to change his decision in case the established norms are observed by the Hague Tribunal." As before, I am ready to participate in the process but on the condition that Mr Milosevic is given back his inalienable right to defend himself," Primakov stressed.

In March 1999 when air strikes on Yugoslavia began, prime-minister of the Russian Federation Yevgeny Primakov, who was flying to the USA for talks with vice-president Albert Gore, ordered the plane to be turned around over the Atlantic and returned to Moscow in protest against the air strikes .

Over the last month, according to unofficial data, 20 out of 23 witnesses refused to give testimony at the process in solidarity with Milosevic. Among them is Nikolai Ryzhkov, member of the Federation Council (upper chamber of the Russian parliament), and General Leonid Ivashov, vice-president of the Academy of geo-political problems.

Ivashov who took part in the settlement of the Kosovo crisis as the representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, pointed out that an advocate appointed against the will of the defendant gets the right to determine who of the witnesses will appear at the process." In this case it is not Milosevic that I will defend, and besides, I can become the object of manipulation. I wanted to defend that man and be objective," Ivashov said.