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CNN Live At Daybreak
Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic Gets His Chance to Speak
Aired December 16, 2003 - 05:29 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: Well, today former Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic gets his chance to speak and I guess he is right now cross-examining General Wesley Clark. Clark is testifying in Milosevic's war crimes trial. But as the highest ranking official to testify, what General Clark says in the courtroom may never be heard by the public.
For more on General Clark's appearance at the tribunal, we turn to Walter Rodgers, who joins us live from the Hague.
General Clark on the stand right now.
Is Slobodan Milosevic questioning him -- Walter.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is, indeed, the agenda for today. Remember, General Clark is the witness here. He testified for the prosecution yesterday. The War Crimes Tribunal attorneys trying to build their case against Slobodan Milosevic. He is accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, several other very serious offenses.
But, of course, Slobodan Milosevic, acting as his own defense attorney, is at this hour, and has been for several hours, challenging the credibility of General Clark as a witness. Clark, you'll recall, met with Milosevic more than a few times and was the U.S. official, as the former NATO commander, charged with trying to persuade Milosevic to back down in his war in the Balkans. Indeed, Clark was the one who was also responsible for NATO forces during the bombing of the former Yugoslavia, the NATO bombing of that.
Now, of course, the reason these -- this has been an open trial, but the reason this is closed now, no televised coverage, at least live, has been because the Bush administration does not want General Clark testifying in open court. The Bush administration argues that he has access to security intercepts, other information, intelligence gathering information which the Bush administration does not want public.
Cynics here in Europe, however, note that General Clark is a presidential candidate on the Democratic side and they say that, many cynics here in Europe believe that the Bush administration is merely muzzling General Clark. They don't want to give him yet another venue for campaigning for the presidency -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Walter, I was just wondering, I know you can't get in there, but Slobodan Milosevic acting as his own attorney, how has he been doing?
RODGERS: Actually, he's been doing very well. Now, of course, the chief judge here has lectured him a number of times for "grandstanding and pontificating." But remember, Milosevic himself is an attorney. He's not practiced law, but he's proved very, very skillful as a cross-examiner of his accusers. You can expect General Clark is getting a grilling in there.
Now, remember, Milosevic is not playing to the international audience, not CNN, not Europe, not the United States. This trial, except for today and yesterday, has been broadcast live in the former Yugoslavia, particularly Serbia. That's his audience. Recall, he's running for office there at this time.
So, again, he's very capable and he knows how to play that Serb violin, Serb cello, and he plays it very skillfully -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Interesting.
Walter Rodgers live in the Hague this morning.
Thank you.
You can learn how Slobodan Milosevic came to be on trial on our Web site. The address, cnn.com/world, AOL keyword: CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
u
to Speak>
Aired December 16, 2003 - 05:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Well, today former Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic gets his chance to speak and I guess he is right now cross-examining General Wesley Clark. Clark is testifying in Milosevic's war crimes trial. But as the highest ranking official to testify, what General Clark says in the courtroom may never be heard by the public.
For more on General Clark's appearance at the tribunal, we turn to Walter Rodgers, who joins us live from the Hague.
General Clark on the stand right now.
Is Slobodan Milosevic questioning him -- Walter.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is, indeed, the agenda for today. Remember, General Clark is the witness here. He testified for the prosecution yesterday. The War Crimes Tribunal attorneys trying to build their case against Slobodan Milosevic. He is accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, several other very serious offenses.
But, of course, Slobodan Milosevic, acting as his own defense attorney, is at this hour, and has been for several hours, challenging the credibility of General Clark as a witness. Clark, you'll recall, met with Milosevic more than a few times and was the U.S. official, as the former NATO commander, charged with trying to persuade Milosevic to back down in his war in the Balkans. Indeed, Clark was the one who was also responsible for NATO forces during the bombing of the former Yugoslavia, the NATO bombing of that.
Now, of course, the reason these -- this has been an open trial, but the reason this is closed now, no televised coverage, at least live, has been because the Bush administration does not want General Clark testifying in open court. The Bush administration argues that he has access to security intercepts, other information, intelligence gathering information which the Bush administration does not want public.
Cynics here in Europe, however, note that General Clark is a presidential candidate on the Democratic side and they say that, many cynics here in Europe believe that the Bush administration is merely muzzling General Clark. They don't want to give him yet another venue for campaigning for the presidency -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Walter, I was just wondering, I know you can't get in there, but Slobodan Milosevic acting as his own attorney, how has he been doing?
RODGERS: Actually, he's been doing very well. Now, of course, the chief judge here has lectured him a number of times for "grandstanding and pontificating." But remember, Milosevic himself is an attorney. He's not practiced law, but he's proved very, very skillful as a cross-examiner of his accusers. You can expect General Clark is getting a grilling in there.
Now, remember, Milosevic is not playing to the international audience, not CNN, not Europe, not the United States. This trial, except for today and yesterday, has been broadcast live in the former Yugoslavia, particularly Serbia. That's his audience. Recall, he's running for office there at this time.
So, again, he's very capable and he knows how to play that Serb violin, Serb cello, and he plays it very skillfully -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Interesting.
Walter Rodgers live in the Hague this morning.
Thank you.
You can learn how Slobodan Milosevic came to be on trial on our Web site. The address, cnn.com/world, AOL keyword: CNN.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
u
to Speak>
