BELGRADE, Monday – Opinion was divided today on Slobodan Milosevic’s first performance before The Hague Tribunal this morning.
“It’s typical of him,” said Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic, in reference to Milosevic’s decision to waive his right to legal representation and failure to recognise the jurisdiction of the court.
Goran Vesic, a senior Democratic Party official and DOS colleague of Covic, claimed Milosevic was “addressing his supporters in the country whom he wants to encourage.”
“Milosevic is not aware of where he is. He still thinks he’s a politician, instead of preparing a defence in a best possible way for the charges he is accused of,” said Vesic.
Toma Fila, the lawyer who lead the defence of Milosevic against domestic corruption charges, also questioned the wisdom of his client’s bravado.
“The decision is legally founded but in reality it is not good, since it is better to defend oneself than to give up,” said Fila, suggesting it would be better to appoint a team of experienced international lawyers.
Another of Milosevic’s Belgrade legal team disagreed, hinting that the ousted president could in fact persevere with his lone strategy.
“I think he has chosen the best line of defence and I am proud of him as a man and as a lawyer,” said Veselin Cerovic.
Vojislav Seselj, leader of the ultra-nationalist Radical Party, described the stand as “dignified.” The Radicals have joined Milosevic’s Socialist Party of Serbia in rallying die-hard supporters to protest every day since the dramatic extradition.
Kosovo Albanian political parties were outraged.
“Milosevic showed his criminal arrogance in the hearing,” said Fatmir Lima of the Democratic Party of Kosovo.
“He still acts like the king of Serbia but we hope he’ll soon wise up to the fact that he is in The Hague and not in Serbia,” said Lima.
