Ambassador predicts Milosevic arrest

Milosevic: Indicted war criminal

WASHINGTON, United States -- Yugoslavia's ambassador to the United States predicts former President Slobodan Milosevic will be under arrest by the end of March.

But Milan Protic has asked the international community to understand the new "realities" of post-Milosevic Yugoslavia, and be patient over demands the former leader be handed to the Hague war crimes tribunal.

"There is no question about our commitment, and very firm one, to justice and truth. There is no doubt in our minds that Milosevic is accountable for a number of injustices, a number of crimes within our country and outside," said Protic.

"No one in the country is trying to protect anybody who is accountable ... but we want that to be as clear cut a case as it could be. So we are not ready to make any hasty moves which could easily become counterproductive."

As well as being indicted for war crimes by the Hague tribunal, Yugoslav police are investigating reports Milosevic profited from smuggling of hundreds of millions of dollars of gold and Belgrade has resisted demands for his extradition.

The U.S. Congress has set a March 31 deadline for Yugoslavia's new democratic government to show clear signs of co-operation with The Hague tribunal or face losing up to $50 million in aid.

Such a situation where financial help is made dependent on co-operation with the tribunal prohibits "trust, mutual respect and partnership" between the countries Protic said.

"I don't believe that relations based on demands, ultimatums or requirements from one side and obligations to fulfill obligations on the other side is the best way to open up the new page of our mutual relations."

Protic criticized the tribunal as inefficient, holding accused people for more than a year without any sign of putting them on trial and said that if that happened with Milosevic it would have a negative domestic impact.

"Every government has a problem of extraditing its citizens," Protic said.

"So you have to understand we have to deal with that issue very cautiously. We are ready to accept our international obligations but let's not be so impatient about it," he added.

The ambassador denied speculation that earlier remarks by him that Milosevic would be arrested in March had met with disapproval in Yugoslavia.

"It's not a controversy whatsoever. I said, and I repeat again, I am pretty confident that Milosevic will be arrested by March 31"

State Department Producer Elise Labott and Reuters contributed to this report.

Firm denies Milosevic link to gold
March 2, 2001
Abrupt end to Milosevic extradition talks
January 23, 2001
Yugoslav police set to seize Milosevic
February 13, 2001
Milosevic attacks war crimes tribunal
February 3, 2001
Yugoslavia 'opens way for Milosevic trial,' says U.S. official
November 17, 2000

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
U.S. House of Representatives

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.