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DATE=10/04/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=MILOSEVIA / WAR CRIMES (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-267450

BYLINE=LAUREN COMITEAU

DATELINE=THE HAGUE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The United Nations human rights envoy to the former Yugoslavia, Jiri Dienstbier, says Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic should be granted immunity in exchange for stepping down. Mr. Milosevic was indicted last year by the War Crimes Tribunal. From The Hague, Lauren Comiteau reports the reaction has not been positive.

TEXT: That one United Nations official should suggest immunity for the Hague's most-wanted

fugitive -- Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic -- has officials angry at the U-N tribunal. Tribunal spokesman Jim Landale.

/// LANDALE ACT ///

If the comments are accurate, they are extremely disturbing indeed and contrary to the mandate given to the tribunal by the Security Council.

/// END ACT ///

The U-N mandate is to prosecute all people indicted for war crimes in the former Yugoslavia -- past and present leaders included. President Milosevic and four of his top aides were indicted last year for crimes against humanity committed in Kosovo.

By law, only the chief prosecutor, Carla Del Ponte, can ask that Mr. Milosevic's indictment be withdrawn. She has not only said she will never do that, but has also let it be known that the charges against Slobodan Milosevic could be expanded to include earlier war crimes committed in Bosnia and Croatia. Prosecution spokesman Paul Risley explains.

/// ACT RISLEY ///

Just to underscore the severity of the tribunal's view of Slobodan Milosevic as an actor in the conflict that was created in Yugoslavia.

/// END ACT ///

While U-N Human Rights envoy Jiri Dienstbier believes that shielding President Milosevic from prosecution could facilitate a peaceful transfer of power in Yugoslavia, yet another U-N official disagrees.

The U-N's Representative in Bosnia, Wolfgang Petritsch, met with tribunal officials Wednesday in The Hague. He says there cannot be any long-term peace in the Balkans without justice.

/// PETRITSCH ACT ///

I strictly believe in the independence of the court and therefore nobody has the right to really suggest there is now a political opportunity to waver from this principle. The rule of law must apply to everybody, whether we like it politically or not. As principle, this must be maintained.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Petritsch says whatever the short-term advantages of such an immunity agreement, in the long run it would only hurt the region's ability to leave the violent past behind. (Signed)

NEB/LC/GE/JWH