International Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia Developments

On January 16, 2003, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djinjic announced former Serbian President Milan Milutinovic agreed to surrender to the International Tribunal for the Trial of Crimes in the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to face the indictment for his conduct in the Kosovo conflict. In 1999, Milutinovic, then Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and three other former senior officials were indicted for crimes against humanity against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. Djindic said Milutinovic at his request would voluntarily go to the ICTY in the next few days without an official escort. The ICTY has aleged that Milutinovic, 60 years of age, was responsible for the killing of hundreds of ethnic Albanians and the expulsion of hundreds from their homes. Milutinovic has denied responsibility and said that, although he was president of Serbia at the time of the conflict, he was a mere figurehead and the power resided in Mr. Milosevic. On January 20, 2003, Mr. Milutinovic actually surrendered. His health may be important because he has already had heart surgery and requires medical supervision.