To the International Committee for the Defense of Slobodan Milosevic

To the Organization SLOBODA of Serbia & Montenegro

To the International Association of Democratic Lawyers

Dear friends,

It is with great concern and anger that we follow the developments
around the "trial" of the former president of the FR of Yugoslavia
Slobodan Milosevic at the notorious "International Criminal Tribunal for
Yugoslavia (ICTY)", where basic rights of the defendant and every sense
of democratic and human rights are being violated day by day.

Since two years and around 300 days of trial the accusations being
presented are aiming in legitimizing the crimes of NATO during the
barbarous and inhuman bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999.

During this period various violations of fundamental rights to which any
defendant is entitled to, have been marked. Slobodan Milosevic was
hindered systematically in his communication with his family and his
advisors, which led (amongst others) to obstacles in the collection of
new elements of evidence and means for his innocence. Furthermore the
time for his preparation and defense was drastically suppressed along
with the fact that the number of defense witnesses was restricted and
the list of charges was extended after the trial had already started.

Culmination of the violations constitutes the fact that despite the
clear reference of the ICTY-statute (Art.21 Par.4), which is stating
that the defendant has the right "to be tried in his presence, and to
defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choice",
we are witnessing the flagrant violation of this right through the
imposition of counsel of defence by the court, against the strong and
categorical objection of Slobodan Milosevic and his insistence to defend
himself.

We believe that this development confirms the political character of the
court and trial itself, a procedure that constitutes a provocation for
every lawyer but as well for any legal system humanity has experienced.
The right Slobodan Milosevic is being deprived of was not refused by the
Apartheid regime to Nelson Mandela, or even by the Nazis to Georgi
Dimitrof.

On behalf of the Greek Committee for International Détente and Peace
and of all peace loving people in Greece, we express our vehement
protest to the United Nations Organization, for this parody of trial,
which is not serving the slightest guaranty for a free and fair trial.

We express from the bottom of our heart our solidarity to the peoples of
Yugoslavia in their struggle for peace and progress, against the
imperialist plans on the Balkans

For the Greek Committee for International Détente and Peace (EEDYE)

Evangelos Mahairas
President of EEDYE
President of Honor of the World Peace Council (WPC)
Former President of the Lawyers Association of Athens