Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06USUNNEWYORK669
2006-04-03 14:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:  

YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL BRIEFS ON MILOSEVIC

Tags:  AORC ICTY KJUS UNSC 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0669 0931410
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031410Z APR 06
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8554
INFO RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0093
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0832
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000669 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ICTY KJUS UNSC
SUBJECT: YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL BRIEFS ON MILOSEVIC
INVESTIGATION

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000669

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC ICTY KJUS UNSC
SUBJECT: YUGOSLAV WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL BRIEFS ON MILOSEVIC
INVESTIGATION


1. At the request of the Russian Federation, the President
of the Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal (ICTY) Fausto Pocar
briefed SC members via videoconference on the investigation
of the deaths of Milan Babic and Slobodan Milosevic. After
Pocar's report, Russia's representative asked a series of
questions and then complained that the responses offered by
the Tribunal were inadequate. Other SC members urged support
for the Tribunal's efforts and said the Council should await
the results of the investigations before reaching
conclusions. End Summary.


2. Not satisfied with the "Briefing Note on Deaths of Milan
Babic and Slobodan Milosevic" (faxed to IO and L) which was
distributed to Council members on March 23, the Russian
Federation requested an oral briefing by the Tribunal on the
deaths of Babic and Milosevic. On March 30, ICTY President
Fausto Pocar and the Deputy Registrar briefed Council members
on the steps taken to investigate the suicide death of Milan
Babic and subsequent death from natural causes of Slobodan
Milosevic while both were incarcerated at the ICTY detention
facility.


3. Pocar reported that in both cases Dutch officials were
immediately called and given complete access. Pocar had
ordered an unrestricted investigation under the supervision
of Judge Parker. He noted that 65 persons have been
interviewed thus far, including all Tribunal personnel, legal
counsel and family members who had contact with the
decedents. In the case of Mr. Milosevic, all doctors who
visited him have been asked to provide information. The
Court is waiting for the Dutch government to provide autopsy
and toxicological reports. A careful examination is being
made of reports of the use of unprescribed medication. The
Registrar of the Tribunal has also arranged for an
independent expert evaluation of the detention unit in order
to assess standards. A Swedish team, including a judge and
highly respected experts will conduct the study in the Hague.


4. Russian DPR Rogachev said he had a series of specific
questions to address to the Court. Noting that six detainees
have died while in custody, he said that Russia is especially
concerned about the medical facilities. (Note: The
Registrar remarked that four persons had died while in
custody. In addition to Babic and Milosevic, two had died in
1998.) Why, Rogachev asked, was Milosevic not given adequate
medical services? Why was he refused treatment outside of
the prison at a facility in the Hague? Why was he prescribed
anti-biotics? Had he contracted any diseases while in
custody?


5. Pocar responded that there is a medical officer at the
facility who is qualified as a Dutch General Practitioner and
monitors the health of all detainees. Detainees may consult
practitioners of their choice and a Belgrade cardiologist had
visited Milosevic. In response to the Russian's question
about whether Milosevic had received treatment for
tuberculosis or leprosy while in detention, Pocar said that
he had not but in January a drug was found in his blood that
is used to treat those diseases. This substance can
counter-act the medication that he was taking for high blood
pressure and they are looking into how this happened.
Because Milosevic was acting as his own Counsel, he had
access to many from outside the facility including 70
witnesses and others assisting with his defense. Pocar
assured the Council members that they are reviewing measures
at the facility to ensure that they are adequate.


6. The Russian complained that the responses were not
satisfactory. His questions had been quite specific and the
responses were general. The Tribunal lacks transparency, he
said, and although they welcome the Dutch investigation,
they hope that the results will be made public. In response
to the Russian remarks, France, UK, US, Greece said that the
Council should continue to support the Court in its work and
the way that it is handling its investigation. Pocar said
that the Tribunal will keep the Council informed but must
await the end of the inquiry.
WOLFF