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CNN Live At Daybreak

Milosevic's Opening Statements Wrap Up

Aired February 18, 2002 - 06:11   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: At The Hague, the war crimes trial of Slobodan Milosevic enters its second week now. The former Yugoslav president is facing a deadline and some of his alleged victims too.

More on the trial from Walter Rodgers, our senior international correspondent -- good morning, Walter.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Slobodan Milosevic is supposed to conclude his opening presentation to The Hague war crimes tribunal within the hour. He has been extraordinarily belligerent this morning, declaring vehemently, "I have nothing to defend myself against. I'm a free man even as I sit in jail." Of course, Milosevic's entire defense throughout this proceeding so far has been that he is a victim. His country Serbia is a victim. NATO is the aggressor. And he says the war crimes tribunal has no jurisdiction over him.

Now, of course, Milosevic is accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, murder and many other crimes. He is specifically accused of being responsible for the death of over 200,000 people in the Balkans, yet he complained because NATO tried to kill him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC, FMR. YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT (through translator): ... NATO aggression. They tried to kill both me and my entire family. They bombed the residence with a few cruising missiles in a wave of seconds. And you know full well that according to international law and according to U.S. law, the murder of a foreign head of state is a crime.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RODGERS: Milosevic has avoided and evaded any discussion of the charges against himself. Again, he's tried to turn NATO into the perpetrator and the boogeyman throughout all of this. One interesting thing about Milosevic's defense, the judges were yawning this morning. That is a very bad sign. Another thing, of course, there's the old legal chestnut which is that any man who has himself for a lawyer has a fool for a client. Milosevic has not been exactly spectacular in defending himself to date -- Carol.

COSTELLO: He's been talking a long time, hasn't he?

RODGERS: Several days, yes. We're expecting the first witness to be called later today. And, of course, Mr. Milosevic, representing himself has his own attorney, will have the right to cross examine all of the witnesses throughout the trial -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Should be interesting. Thank you, Walter Rodgers, reporting live for us this morning.

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