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Borislav Milosevic Interview- Transcript
by Steve Rosenberg
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Slobodan Milosevic has made his second appearance before the UN War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague. It's been two months since the former Yugoslav president was handed over to the Tribunal by the Serbian authorities - among the charges he faced are those of war crimes and of crimes against humanity. So far, though, Mr Milosevic has refused to recognise the court - he's refused, too, to appoint a defence team. Steve Rosenberg spoke to Mr Milosevic's brother, Borislav - who's currently in Moscow - about how Slobodan Milosevic plans to fight the charges against him.
STEVE ROSENBERG:
The first time your brother appeared before the UN war crimes tribunal in the Hague, he denounced the tribunal as "illegal" and refused to recognise it. Two months on - has he changed his position?
BORISLAV MILOSEVIC:
He鈥檚 determined as ever to continue his battle against this illegal court - which he believes is nothing more than a NATO puppet aimed against the Serbian people. He will continue to reject the legitimacy of this so-called 鈥渃ourt鈥.
STEVE ROSENBERG:
Mr Milosevic refused to appoint a defence council - will he be defending himself in court?
BORISLAV MILOSEVIC:
He didn鈥檛 accredit his lawyers to the Hague tribunal because that would mean de facto recognising the court - which he doesn鈥檛. I don鈥檛 know what his tactics will be - maybe he will speak in his own defence. I just hope they don鈥檛 turn off his microphone like the last time.
STEVE ROSENBERG:
Has your brother read the indictment before him?
BORISLAV MILOSEVIC:
No, he鈥檚 just not interested. He doesn鈥檛 recognise the court, so - of course - he doesn鈥檛 recognise any of the charges. They may accuse Milosevic of starting the war in Bosnia, they may blame the Serbs for the whole conflict in the former Yugoslavia. And claim that bandits in Kosovo were the victims of ethnic cleaning. But really all the Hague Tribunal is trying to do is justify the West鈥檚 own crimes and evil acts. And to do that they kidnapped Milosevic - in the dead of night - It鈥檚 amazing. Kidnapping was always seen in the West as a crime - now everyone applauds it!
STEVE ROSENBERG:
Have you spoken to your brother recently? How鈥檚 his mood?
BORISLAV MILOSEVIC:
From what he tells me, he鈥檚 keeping his spirits up. He鈥檚 still suffering from high blood pressure, but some of the restrictions on him have been eased. He鈥檚 not watched round-the-clock now, and he gets to mix with other prisoners. He feels good because he鈥檚 sure that he鈥檚 in the right, and that the tribunal is nothing more than an act of aggression against our people.
STEVE ROSENBERG:
Does Mr Milosevic believe he could leave the Hague a free man?
BORISLAV MILOSEVIC:
He does, and I鈥檓 sure - too -he鈥檒l be cleared - but of course, this enormous legal, military, political machine wants Milosevic鈥檚 head, wants to hold him responsible for everything that鈥檚 happened and prove he's committed war crimes. That鈥檚 just pure rubbish.
STEVE ROSENBERG:
Does your brother see a political future for himself in Yugoslavia?
BORISLAV MILOSEVIC:
He does - he鈥檚 still the leader of a party, the biggest in Serbia, it has a future, and Milosevic within it still has a role to play.
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Borislav Milosevic |
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Slobodan Milosevic |
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Slobodan Milosevic in the Hague |
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Witness Today's Milosevic Hearing |
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