Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

War Crimes Tribunal Denies Release for Milosevic

Aired March 07, 2002 - 05:31   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Slobodan Milosevic, the man accused of genocide in the Balkans, has had his hopes for temporary freedom crushed. The ex-Yugoslav president had asked to be released from custody, so he could do a better job preparing his defense, but judges at the War Crimes Tribunal have rejected that request.

Our Christiane Amanpour has other developments from the landmark trial at The Hague, Netherlands.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We saw Witness 14 in the trial of Slobodan Milosevic, and the pattern is now set. The former Yugoslav president sticking to his defense that NATO caused all of the suffering in Kosovo.

SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, DEFENDANT (through translator): Shager (ph) was never bombed or shelled by the army and police. Is that correct?

QAMIL SHABINI, KOSOVO ALBANIAN WITNESS (through translator): This is not accurate, because the police and the army -- or the Serb police and army have burned down the village of Shager.

AMANPOUR: But at this point in the trial, Kosovo victims appear less intimidated under fierce and lengthy cross-examination by the man they accuse of ordering the rape, deportation or death of their family members. Most simply refuse to look at him as they answer.

In the early days, the pressure forced one witness to excuse himself and others to get flustered. In the face of Milosevic's courtroom style, some accuse the prosecution of mounting a weak case and allowing Milosevic to take the initiative.

CARLA DEL PONTE, WAR CRIMES CHIEF PROSECUTOR: He is doing very well, and he is trying to defend himself, but we are also working very well in heart.

AMANPOUR: While he still rejects the Tribunal's legitimacy, Milosevic is now fully engaged in his defense, well briefed and taking copious notes. A senior American official observing the trial admits that it is playing well to the home crowd back in Serbia.

(on camera): Milosevic received some unexpected assistance from the Bush administration, when its ambassador at large for war crimes told Congress last week that this Tribunal was mismanaged, unprofessional and full of abuse, and should wrap up its work by 2008. That prompted a chorus of criticism here in Europe, with officials accusing the United States of undermining the Tribunal just as its most important suspect is on trial.

(voice-over): So in an effort at damage control, Ambassador Pierre-Richard Prosper came to the Tribunal, saying that his comments had been taken out of context, and that this court will operate until its two most wanted Bosnian Serb indictees are brought to book.

PIERRE-RICHARD PROSPER, U.S. WAR CRIMES AMBASSADOR: Karadzic and Miladzic (ph) will go to The Hague. It could happen tomorrow, it could happen next year or the year after. The Tribunal will not close before they are brought to justice in The Hague.

AMANPOUR: Prosper and the chief prosecutor both insist U.S. support remains strong, but as the Milosevic trial grinds on here, the U.S. wants low and mid-level war crimes suspect to be tried in their home country, the same countries which the U.S. admits show little willingness or ability to conduct such trials.

Christiane Amanpour, CNN, The Hague.

(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.