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CNN Live Saturday

Slobodan Milosevic to Stand Trial Before the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal

Aired June 30, 2001 - 15:24   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.
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: In Yugoslavia, the hand-over of former President Slobodan Milosevich to the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal has turned the government there upside down. A top Yugoslav official and supporter of the former president resigned yesterday in protest of the move. And the president, Vojislav Kostunica, also criticized the transfer, stating that he had not been informed of the decision beforehand.

As for the fate of Milosevic, we get the latest now from CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the darkness of the pre-dawn hours, the former head of state Slobodan Milosevic was airlifted by helicopter to a special detention center in The Hague. Then, he was walked inside, hands cuffed behind his back, a guard at each arm.

Thus began the long-awaited arrival of the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal's most wanted suspect, indicted on charges of crimes against humanity, specifically murder and deportations, these stemming from his command responsibility during the Kosovo war, an indictment the chief prosecutor has now amended to include more facts and more victims.

CARLA DEL PONTE, CHIEF WAR CRIMES PROSECUTOR: It is a great moment, because one of the most responsible for horrendous crimes committed in the Balkans are now here and will face trial.

AMANPOUR: Eight years after the tribunal was established, Del Ponte says Milosevic's transfer finally proves that not even the most powerful are beyond the law.

At a press conference earlier, she said the most notorious under criminal indictment still at large, must now be brought to The Hague. Del Ponte acknowledged that not all in Yugoslavia agreed with Milosevic's transfer, but she insisted that this would remove the burden of collective guilt.

DEL PONTE: The Serbian people are not on trial here. The history of Serbia is not under examination. It is Slobodan Milosevic as an individual who will now face trial on the charges brought against him for his actions.

AMANPOUR: In the meantime, behind these walls, Milosevic joins 38 others facing charges and trials on crimes relating to the Balkan wars. He will initially be kept isolated from them, pending an assessment of his physical and mental state, and he will be summoning his defense team.

(on camera): Slobodan Milosevic will make his initial court appearance on Tuesday morning, where he will be formally read the charges against him, asked whether he understands them and then given the opportunity to enter his plea, guilty or not guilty.

Christiane Amanpour, CNN, at the War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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