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DATE=8/9/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=YUGOSLAVIA/TRIAL
NUMBER=2-265300
BYLINE=STEFAN BOS
DATELINE=BUDAPEST
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Two British citizens and two Canadians have 
pleaded innocent at a pre-trial hearing before a 
Yugoslav military court which is considering whether 
to bring terrorism related charges against them.  
Stefan Bos reports British officials have expressed 
frustration about the lack of consular access to the 
men who were arrested last week in Montenegro.
TEXT:  British and Canadian diplomats had hoped to 
attend the pre-trial hearing of the four men who they 
have only seen on a controversial video tape shown on 
Yugoslav state television.
A lawyer for the British policemen told reporters in 
Belgrade the Britons and the Canadians had all entered 
a plea of not guilty in the preliminary hearing.  He 
says it is now up to the public prosecutor to decide 
whether to indict the men on charges of spying and 
attempted terrorism.
It is believed the military judge wanted to know more 
about the maps, wire and detonators, which the 
Yugoslav army says were found in the trunk of their 
car.
Canada has suggested the equipment belongs to a 
Canadian detainee who owns a construction firm in 
Kosovo and was on a holiday break with friends in the 
nearby coastal republic of Montenegro. Britain has 
also denied its nationals were on a spying or 
terrorism mission.
The Head of the British Interests Section in Belgrade,   
Robert Gordon, expressed his frustration about a lack 
of consular access to the men and the way the  
procedures are being carried out.
            /// GORDON ACT ///
      We understand that we will have consular access 
      tomorrow morning (Thursday). But at the moment 
      the lawyers are upstairs and they are discussing 
      the case. There is no formal charges have yet 
      been made.  And the lawyers are investigating 
      with the military.
            /// END ACT ///
Western diplomats and legal analysts fear the group 
could face up to 15 years in jail,  if the military 
court decides to press the charges.
/// REST OPT ///
The lawyer for the British defendants, Djordje 
Djurisic, who attended the hearing on Wednesday,  
suggested in an interview that the legal fight is far 
from over.
            /// DJURISIC ACT ///
      We have to see what remain of the charges.  They 
      have denied all the charges.  This is not a 
      trial.  This is only a preliminary 
      investigation, not a trial.
            /// END ACT /// 
The procedures are also being closely monitored by 
Dutch diplomats who have expressed concern about four 
Dutch men arrested in a separate incident last month.  
Dutch officials say the group could face the same or 
even tougher sentences.  They are accused of wanting 
to kill Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.
Opponents to the Yugoslav leader say the arrested 
foreigners are being used as propaganda tools by the 
government of President Slobodan Milosevic ahead of 
next months elections. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/KBK 
09-Aug-2000 15:20 PM EDT (09-Aug-2000 1920 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.