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CNN Live At Daybreak

Milosevic Continues to Defy International Tribunal

Aired October 29, 2001 - 06:02   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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And we want to go ahead and check in in London with Christiane Amanpour giving us the latest -- also the latest on what is happening at the Hague today and the fate of former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic.

Christiane, hello.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, this is a very prolonged affair. Slobodan Milosevic continuing to defy the international criminal tribunal in the Hague, continuing to say that he does not recognize its jurisdiction nor does he recognize the indictments that have been lodged against him.

What's happening today is that the prosecutor is asking the judges, in fact has asked the judge, to expand the indictment for crimes committed during Kosovo, which include crimes against humanity and the violations of the laws and customs and war based on the allegations of prosecution, deportation and murder along ethnic, racial and religious ground.

Milosevic again says that he doesn't recognize this, that what he was doing, he claims, was legitimately and legally defending his country against what he called a -- crimes of aggression and let's hear what he just said in the courtroom a few moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC (through translator): I know very well what I'm being accused of. I have been accused because in a legal way and with legitimate means on the basis of the right to self-determination that belongs to every nation, I defended my nation. I had the honor to defend my nation from the criminal aggression carried out against it and to defend my people from terrorism whereby the Clinton administration cooperated closely with and this is also something that no one will be able to deny. The truth can not be sunk by any kind of flood or false accusations.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

AMANPOUR: Now Milosevic has refused or says he's refused to read the indictment and so right now what's happening at the Hague, the judge has asked for the entire indictment to be read out so that he can hear it in court. Then they're going to read another indictment -- this is a new indictment that the prosecutor brought down about two or three weeks ago, alleging that he committed and was responsible for crimes committed during the Kuwaiti War, which was in 1991 and at the end of today's proceedings, the prosecutor at the Hague is going to announce that next week she will bring down a third and final indictment for alleged crimes committed during the Bosnia War.

And in that indictment, she will ask the judge to confirm the charge of genocide against Slobodan Milosevic. He has not been charged with that and this is the highest and most serious crime under international law -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Christiane, I also understand up to this point, Mr. Milosevic has represented himself, refusing legal counsel, yet today there were three attorneys, friends of the court. What's their significance and does this mean he now has legal representation?

AMANPOUR: Well yes and no, essentially Milosevic still refused to appoint a defense attorney for himself and a few moments ago, he said I have nothing to do with those three friends of the court known as amicus curiae. Basically, what the court has done is appoint these three lawyers to ensure that the court proceedings are fair, that Milosevic gets a fair and -- quote -- "expeditious trial" and that their proceedings are transparent and immune, they hope, from any -- from any challenge in the future.

So these three amicus curiae are working on behalf of the court, but at the same time, presenting Milosevic's case, although they're not fully defense lawyers for Milosevic.

KAGAN: Got it, friends of the court, yet no friend of Milosevic according to him. Christiane Amanpour in London, thank you.

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