Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

Serbia Gets Ready to Extradite Former President Milosevic to Stand Trial at the War Crimes Tribunal

Aired June 23, 2001 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic is a step closer to his trial before an international court on war crimes charges. Yugoslavia's cabinet today approved a decree paving the way for his extradition. Opponents say the decree violates the country's constitution. But the Balkan nation is under tremendous pressure by the West to give up Milosevic. At stake: up to $1 billion in loans to help rebuild the war-torn nation.

From Belgrade, Alessio Vinci with out report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The decree issued by the Yugoslav government goes into effect on Sunday. It sets the terms for Yugoslavia's cooperation with the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal and essentially paves the way for the extradition of war crimes suspects, like former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. His extradition could take place in a matter of days.

MIROLJUB LABUS, DEP. PRIME MINISTER: Everybody will take next steps immediately after the decree takes place. It is really the matter of days.

VINCI: While observers say the decree is a step in the right direction, Belgrade remains under international pressure to actually hand over suspects, such as Milosevic, to the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal. At stake is economic assistance to Yugoslavia worth $1 billion officials here hope to raise next week in Brussels at a donors conference, money desperately needed to rebuild crippled infrastructure and reschedule part of Yugoslavia's $12 billion international debt.

(on camera): But the United States and possibly other countries will not participate in the donors conference unless Belgrade extradites war crime suspects by the end of the month. To give a sense of how much Belgrade needs money at this time, one top Yugoslav official said: "We must choose between Milosevic and the survival of Yugoslavia."

(voice-over): The decree was adopted despite opposition by junior members in the ruling government, whose ministers have threatened to take steps to resign. Other opponents to extradition say the decree is unconstitutional. ZIVOARD IGIC, VICE PRESIDENT, SOCIALIST PARTY OF SERBIA (through translator): Before extraditing Milosevic or any other person, the people in power need to think about the reaction of the people and the consequences on future generations, and what it means to put their signature on the extradition of Milosevic, the former president and a patriot who tried to stop the West and NATO from occupying this country.

VINCI: A few demonstrators protested the adoption of the decree, demanding new elections. But opinion polls indicate the number of people favoring Milosevic's extradition is growing.

Alessio Vinci, CNN, Belgrade.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com