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Milosevic to Be Extradited Soon, Media and Lawyer Claim - International Justice - Global Policy Forum Serb Leaders Mull Milosevic Extradition
By Stefan Racin
United Press International
June 22, 2001The Yugoslav government looked set to adopt Friday an act that could pave the way for former President Slobodan Milosevic's extradition to The Hague war crimes tribunal, radio B92 reported.
Leaders of the ruling Democratic Opposition of Serbia agreed on a model for cooperation with the tribunal Thursday. They agreed to enact a bylaw allowing Milosevic's extradition to The Hague to answer charges for war crimes in Kosovo.
"Believe it or not, we fully agreed," Federal Interior Minister Zoran Zivkovic told reporters Friday. "The act would apply to everyone, and there isn't anyone who would not be eligible." He declined to comment on whether the move would see Milosevic extradited before the international donor's conference next week, but some local reports suggested that Milosevic could be whisked away to The Hague as early as this weekend.
The Dan newspaper reported Friday that "most confidential state bodies in Serbia have been placed on a state of readiness" for the possible move.
President Vojislav Kostunica and Prime Minister Zoran Zizic were holding talks before a federal government session Friday to discuss future cooperation with the tribunal. The session would involve the Montenegrin Socialist People's Party, a coalition partner, which opposed the draft law on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Milosevic, a perceived atheist, met with a leading member of the Serbian Orthodox Church Thursday and received an inscribed copy of the New Testament as a gift, reports said. Metropolitan Amfilohije Radovic was reported to have stayed less than half an hour in private talks with Milosevic. Radovic, whose diocese is Montenegro, is tipped to become the next head of the church and is a close relative of Kostunica's wife. Analysts suggested the meeting may have been held to deliver a message from Kostunica, who until recently dismissed any idea of Milosevic's extradition as contrary to the national interest.
Milosevic was arrested on April 1. The district public prosecutor was expected to charge him with corruption and embezzlement within the next few days. His lawyers were reported as having offered $109 million as bail for Milosevic's release until his trial starts.
DOS leaders are pressed for time to cooperate with The Hague tribunal because extradition of war crimes suspects is one condition of an international donor's meet for Yugoslavia next week, which includes the United States.
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