SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC: I said that I would like to make certain requests before we go on to the witness, and the first of them is this: I ask that you enable me to be heard with respect to a media campaign unprecedented thus far which is being waged in Belgrade. It started just before the weekend under conditions of complete lawlessness and terror exercised by the authorities there, and it is being waged --

RICHARD MAY: The only matters we have to deal with are those in connection with this trial, and at the moment I can see nothing in relation to this trial in what you're saying.

Now, you -- if you are concerned -- if it was your concern that it may in some way prejudice the Trial Chamber, you need set your mind at rest on that score. There is no consideration given and not much read of what is said in the press. So we try this case on the facts.

Now, if there is some relation in what you're saying to the trial, then you can raise it. Otherwise, as you know, it's not a matter that we can hear.

SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC: It does have to do with this trial, Mr. May, and that is why I consider that you're duty-bound to hear me, because I also consider, and I shall insist upon this, that the link be established between the activities of that so-called Prosecution over there and the media campaign and accusations being hurled through that media campaign and being waged in these past few days. They're being waged against my wife and myself in a way to place this via the media and accuse me, try me, and judge me. It is not a legal proceedings, it is a media proceedings. And the best evidence of this is that they haven't come to question me at all, although they said this loud and clear, that they would do so. And your porte-parole has said, as far as I was able to see -- he made a statement on television, actually, and said that it was being made possible for them to come here, to appear here, and to interrogate me.

They know full well that I had the power and authority and not my wife, but they did not come and contact me, but they have launched their efforts against my wife which is best proof that they are not actually interested in any kind of investigation, but they are waging --

RICHARD MAY: The matters we can deal with are those, as I've told you, concerned with this trial, and matters concerning your wife are not matters with which this trial is concerned.

I'm going to consult a moment as to whether we need to hear you any further on this topic. What is the connection that you allege between the Prosecution? If there is a word in this of coherence, we will listen to it, but at the moment it's simply a wild allegation of some sort.

SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC: Mr. May, I consider, and I'm going to prove this, that the revenge against my wife and against my children is being launched because of me and the struggle that I am waging here, and I claim that it was orchestrated with this illegal Prosecution over there.

RICHARD MAY: Just a moment. Just a moment.

[Trial Chamber confers]

RICHARD MAY: Yes, Mr. Milosevic, we're not going to hear any more of this.

[...]

EXCERPT 2 - March 31, 2003 - TRANSCRIPT Page 18250 - Line 19

SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC: In view of the fact that we're in open session again and the new witness hasn't been brought in to the courtroom yet, may I have the floor with respect to my request, the request which I wish to make?

RICHARD MAY: Yes.

SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC: First of all, let me reiterate that I ask you to enable me to be heard and to be questioned publicly with respect to the media campaign that is being waged publicly too, because revenge against my wife and child come -- date back to the worst years of the last century. And I should also like to have investigated the involvement of this illegal Prosecution into the fabrication of untruths that are being launched.

Apart from that --

RICHARD MAY: Now, Mr. Milosevic, I've stopped you before. Events in Belgrade are not a matter for this Tribunal. If it has any direct impingement on this trial, we'll of course deal with it. But it -- nothing you've said shows that it does.

Now, I thought you wanted to say something about your health. That we will listen to.

SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC: I'll tell you about my health, but it does have direct bearing. It is the desire to make it impossible for my wife to lend me support and assistance. And in addition to that, I wish to inform you that several members of the national committee have been taken into custody, the committee for the defence of my liberties, although they have no grounds for doing so. Therefore, it is an orchestrated endeavour to exert pressure upon me and my family because this false indictment is undergoing a fiasco here every day. And I consider it to be your duty to establish the degree to which they are involved.

RICHARD MAY: That is matter of comment by you. There's absolutely no evidence to support what you're saying. There may well be reasons why people have been arrested. But at the moment, we're not going to act on that sort of allegation.

Associated Press material posted for Fair Use Only