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He stated that two years to prepare a response to the allegations made was a bare minimum, that in fact the time required would be endless. In addition, President Milosevic has demanded direct and unsupervised contacts with witnesses and the ability to locate and obtain key documents to refute the lies that have been put forward in The Hague, which can only be done if he is
released.

"I will need the conditions necessary for me to prepare my trial while at liberty," Slobodan Milosevic told the Chamber.

President Milosevic reminded Mr. May that the opposing side, represented by Carla Del Ponte, had filed the Kosovo indictment in 1999, practically three years before the beginning of his Hague "trial", and four and one half years before today. Other issues raised in the subsequent indictments with respect to Croatia and Bosnia date back to 1993.

President Milosevic pointed out that although he does not acknowledge the process as legitimate, Mr. May and his colleagues must provide him with adequate time for preparation, without which it will be clear that the ICTY does not respect the rights it claims to stand for, that in fact at the ICTY there is no defence, only a prosecution.

President Milosevic also demanded direct, unsupervised and unimpeded contact with witnesses under adequate conditions, at liberty. He added that he could not even begin to estimate the number of people working for the opposite side. He demanded to be given the ability to prepare witnesses properly, reminding the Chamber of the extent of preparation carried out by the other side.

President Milosevic stressed that it was the Chamber, not he, who claimed that "rights" were being afforded to him, and therefore they should see that he be given the possibility of realizing those rights. President Milosevic explained that the symbolic value of the equality of arms supported his demands to prepare his witnesses and documents in conditions that were adequate and suitable.

Following President Milosevic's presentation, "Judge" May did not hesitate to immediately deny, yet again, any request for provisional release made by President Milosevic, without stating any justification. Mr. May also summarily dismissed President Milosevic's request for two years to prepare his case.

After lengthy submissions from the "amicus" and opposite side, President Milosevic spoke again, and strongly criticized the "Prosecution's" suggestion that they were equal all on equal footing as absurd. He reiterated, before being cut off, that he did not recognize the "Tribunal" and that the process was not a "trial", but that the Chamber itself had claimed he had rights. After being told to be concrete by Mr. May, President Milosevic responded that he had been speaking in the most practical terms, and asked how it was possible for him to communicate with witnesses without direct and unsupervised contact with them. He stated that two years of preparation was a most modest evaluation of the time required under the so-called "Tribunal's" principles.

President Milosevic concluded his remarks by stating that it was well-known that at the ICTY there is only a prosecution and no defence, nor is there equality of arms.

The "Chamber" has not issued any formal rulings on the submissions heard today, but has already rejected President Milosevic's concrete demands without deliberations. A decision setting out the modalities of resident Milosevic's presentation of evidence is expected soon.