MILOSEVIC - Accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, the former chair Yugoslavian Slobodan Milosevic who suffered from cardiovascular disturbances been found died yesterday in his cell.

For the ICTY prosecutor “I deeply regret the death of Slobodan Milosevic. It deprives the victims of the justice they need and deserve. In the indictment which was judicially confirmed in 2001, Milosevic was accused of 66 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo between 1991 and 1999. These crimes affected hundreds of thousands of victims throughout the former Yugoslavia.

Milosevic dies and won't escape history's verdict for ICT

During the prosecution case, 295 witnesses testified and 5000 exhibits were presented to the court. This represents a wealth of evidence that is on the record. After the presentation of the prosecution case, the Trial Chamber, on 16 June 2004, rejected a defense motion to dismiss the charges for lack of evidence, thereby confirming, in accordance with Rule 98bis, that the prosecution case contains sufficient evidence capable of supporting a conviction on all 66 counts. The Defense was given the same amount of time as the prosecution to present its case. There were in total 466 hearing days. 4 hours per day. Only 40 hours were left in the Defense case, and the trial was likely to be completed by the end of the spring.

It is a great pity for justice that the trial will not be completed and no verdict will be rendered. However, other senior leaders have been indicted for the crimes for which Slobodan Milosevic was also accused. Later this year, the trial of eight senior leaders accused of the Srebrenica genocide will begin. Furthermore, also this year, six most senior former Serbian leaders will be tried for crimes committed in Kosovo. But the most senior perpetrators are still at large. Now more than ever, I expect Serbia to finally arrest and transfer Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadžic to The Hague as soon as possible.

The death of Slobodan Milosevic makes it even more urgent for them to face justice. Finally, I would like to share a thought for Zoran Ðindic, his wife and his family. Exactly three years ago, he was murdered in Belgrade. He is the man who had the courage to bring Slobodan Milosevic to The Hague so that he could face justice.

For the President of International Criminal Tribunal (ICT), “I would like to take this opportunity to express my regret at the death of Slobodan Milosevic yesterday morning. I would also like to convey my profound disappointment that the trial against Slobodan Milosevic will not be concluded. It is extremely unfortunate that the victims and their families will not have a final answer in this case on the criminal responsibility of the accused.

In addition to the investigation that is being conducted by the Dutch authorities, and pursuant to my authority under the Statute and the Rules, I ordered a full inquiry yesterday. I nominated the Vice-President, Judge Kevin Parker, to head the inquiry. The Vice-President is being assisted by several Tribunal staff and will provide his report to the President as soon as possible. I have requested the Registry and the Commanding Officer of the United Nations Detention Unit to provide the Vice-President every assistance he requires.

According to the Tribunal's Rules of Detention, the authorities of the host state of the Netherlands, are conducting an inquest, pursuant to their law. A Dutch forensic team, including coroners carried out an examination of Slobodan Milosevic and his cell yesterday. Because the Dutch coroners who examined Slobodan Milosevic were unable to establish a cause of death, an autopsy was ordered without delay, as required under Dutch law. The autopsy will take place in the course of today. The Registrar has requested that a full report of the Dutch authorities' investigation be forwarded to the Tribunal as quickly as possible.

Pursuant to a request from the authorities of Serbia and Montenegro, and in concurrence with the Dutch authorities conducting the investigation, the Registrar agreed to have senior pathologists selected by the government of Serbia and Montenegro observe the autopsy. The Trial Chamber will deal with the status of proceedings against Slobodan Milosevic in due course. Because the inquiry into the circumstances of Slobodan Milosevic's death is still on-going, I am unable to take questions at this time.”

This disappearing puts an end to trial river of the key man of the wars of Balkans. This war had made about 300.000 deaths in the nineties. The decease of Slobodan Milosevic deprives the victims of justice. It appears as the big representative for tragedy who covered with blood Balkans and who will stay, in Europe, as the disaster of the second half of the twentieth century.

On Sunday, Dutch and Serbian doctors have to begin in The Hague the postmortem examination of the body of Slobodan Milosevic because the fellows of the ex-president speak about intoxication.

The International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) of The Hague had refused Milosevic to go to Moscow to follow a medical treatment there adaptedto its illness. The Serbians make the ICC responsible. Yesterday the Serbians claimed to be shocked by the news of the decease of the former Serbian president of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic. They returned the International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) of The Hague responsible for its decease.

The press of Belgrade dedicated the one to decease on Saturday of Slobodan Milosevic, the most part of the newspapers accuse the International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) of The Hague d`avoir "slaughtered" l`ancien president of Yugoslavia. « Milosevic died in The Hague », the daily Politika announced adding that « the trial of Slobodan Milosevic s`est ended and it will not be found guilty ». « Fact is qu`aucun court of this world will be able to judge none of the leaders of l`ex-Yugoslavia for their roles in the dismantling of this country », estimated Politika. « After Franjo Tudjman (the late president of the Croatia) and Alija Izetbegovic (the late president of Bosnia-Herzegovinia), Slobodan Milosevic meets in his turn in front of quite other form of justice », concludes the daily. Slobodan Milosevic had been delivered in 2001 in the International Criminal Tribunal (ICT).

Last Monday, the former leader of the Serbians of Croatia, Milan Babic, had committed suicide in his cell of prison of the Hague. The International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) for the Former Yugoslavia was established by Resolution 827 of the United Nations Security Council in May 1993.

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