President Slobodan Milosevic at The Hague ‘Tribunal’
29 October 2001
SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC:
First of all, I do not submit any motions to this court because I do not recognize this court. If you consider what I say at this microphone a motion, that is your business.
Secondly, regarding amici curiae, I understood your explanation when you appointed amici curiae, that their appointment should contribute towards a fair trial, if in fact in such an illegal procedure it makes any sense to even mention the term ‘fair trial.’ I think that by this appointment, a collection of new concepts is enriched. This situation where two teams work for the same purpose may now be named The Hague Fair Play. As far as this flood of new amendments and indictments is concerned, it cannot drown the truth because the truth is known to millions of people.
I have heard here, as on the previous occasion, expressions of concern because I do not read the documents from this false indictment; supposedly, I should learn what I am accused of. I would wish to state that I know very well what I am accused of. I am accused because I defended my people, in a legal manner and by legitimate means, on the basis of the right of self-defense that belongs to every nation. It was my honour and privilege to defend my people against the criminal aggression committed against it and to defend my people against the terrorism with which Clinton’s Administration closely co-operated, something no one would be able to deny.
The truth can not be drowned by any flood of false indictments. I do not have any intention of getting acquainted with the contents of something that is completely fabricated and very distant from the truth.
Regarding the discourse I have heard here on the issue of who was the appropriate authority and whether some government should have done something before some other government, I am amazed that even the lawyer from Belgrade, a member of the amici curiae, speaks on issues of authority, forgetting that no government could have the authority to enter into any deal that would violate the Constitution of Serbia and the Constitution of Yugoslavia.
I am glad that the gentlemen from the amici curiae are aware that they may not speak on my behalf and that I do not have anything to do with them.
