Athens September 15 2004
To the International Committee for the Defense of Slobodan Milosevic
To the Organization SLOBODA of Serbia & Montenegro
To the International Association of Democratic Lawyers
Dear friends
It is with great concern and anger that we follow the developments around the "trial" of the former president of the FR of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic at the famous "International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY)", where basic rights of the defendant and every sense of democratic and human rights are being violated day by day.
Since two years and around 300 days of trial the accusations being presented are aiming in legitimizing the crimes of NATO during the barbarous and inhuman bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999.
During this period various violations of fundamental rights to which any defendant is entitled to, have been marked. Slobodan Milosevic was hindered systematically in his communication with his family and his advisors, which led (amongst others) to obstacles in the collection of new elements of evidence and means for his innocence. Furthermore the time for his preparation and defense was drastically suppressed along with the fact that the number of defense witnesses was restricted and the list of charges was extended after the trial had already started.
Culmination of the violations constitutes the fact that despite the clear reference of the ICTY-statute (Art.21 Par.4), which is stating that the defendant has the right "to be tried in his presence, and to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choice", we are witnessing the flagrant violation of this right through the imposition of counsel of defence by the court, against the strong and categorical objection of Slobodan Milosevic and his insistence to defend himself.
We believe that this development confirms the political character of the court and trial itself, a procedure that constitutes a provocation for every lawyer but as well for any legal system humanity has experienced. The right Slobodan Milosevic is being deprived of was not refused by the Apartheid regime to Nelson Mandela, or even by the Nazis to Georgi Dimitrof.
On behalf of the Greek Committee for International Détente and Peace and of all peace loving people in Greece, we express our vehement protest to the United Nations Organization, for this parody of trial, which is not serving the slightest guaranty for a free and fair trial.
We express from the bottom of our heart our solidarity to the peoples of Yugoslavia in their struggle for peace and progress, against the imperialist plans on the Balkans
For the Greek Committee for International Détente and Peace (EEDYE)
Evangelos Mahairas
President of EEDYE
President of Honor of the World Peace Council (WPC)
Former President of the Lawyers Association of Athens