The United States voiced its opposition Friday to Slobodan Milosevic continuing to play any role in Yugoslav political life, the White House said Friday.
While British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook called on the new Yugoslav government Friday to hand over ousted dictator Slobodan Milosevic to stand trial for war crimes, but acknowledged that Belgrade might want to try him first.If Yugoslavia wants to end its isolation, it should honor international obligations, and "that must include its obligations to the International War Crimes Tribunal," Cook told reporters here.
But he appeared to accept that Milosevic, wanted by the International Tribunal in The Hague for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Kosovo, might first have to face justice in his own country.
"There are a lot of crimes within Serbia for which people may wish to hold him to account," he said.
Speaking on BBC radio earlier in the day, Cook had not ruled out that he be tried under Yugoslav law.
"It's an option if they (the Yugoslavs) believe he has committed offences under Serb law. It's a matter for their sovereign right to decide," Cook said.
He later told reporters that a trial in Yugoslavia could not be a substitute for appearing before the international tribunal.
The lifting of international sanctions imposed on Yugoslavia, originally for its role in Bosnia, which could be announced as early as Monday, would not be linked to the handover by Belgrade of Milosevic, Cook said.
"It is important that we get some visible projects to demonstrate to the people of Serbia that things are now different," he said.
"I see no reason why we should not get the Danube clearance up and running very soon," he said speaking of possible western aid to help rebuild bridges bombed by NATO during last year's Kosovo campaign.
And he stressed that as far as London was concerned opposition leader, Vojislav Kostunica, was the legitimate president of Yugoslavia after winning last month's presidential election.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was visiting Warsaw, for his part told reporters Friday he had written to Kostunica to congratulate him on his victory and praise his "responsible and skillful" handling of the crisis -- LONDON (AFP)
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