Serbian leaders pledge to extradite war crimes suspects sought by U.N. tribunal

<br>BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (AP) _ Feeling the pressure of punitive U.S. sanctions, Serbian government officials said Tuesday the first arrests and extraditions of top war crimes suspects sought by the U.N.

Tuesday, April 2nd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (AP) _ Feeling the pressure of punitive U.S. sanctions, Serbian government officials said Tuesday the first arrests and extraditions of top war crimes suspects sought by the U.N. tribunal for Kosovo might come within the next 48 hours.

``It can be expected that the first extraditions take place'' Tuesday or Wednesday, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic told reporters.

Serbia, home to more than 90 percent of Yugoslavs, effectively determines Yugoslav policy. Djindjic was nonetheless strengthened in the wake of a decision Monday by the federal government to endorse cooperation with the U.N. court.

That move _ which saw previous opponents of extraditions switch sides because of internal political reasons _ left Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica isolated among top leaders in his opposition to handing over suspects to the U.N. court.

In any case, Kostunica, whose powers are mostly ceremonial, has little leverage. Serbian authorities delivered former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to the U.N. tribunal last June, despite Kostunica's opposition.

The U.S. Congress had given authorities until March 31 to hand over more suspects to the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, or lose $120 million in financial assistance.

With the deadline passed, no U.S. assistance checks can be written now for Yugoslavia. But Secretary of State Colin Powell could certify compliance with the demands if some of the remaining suspects are handed over.

With the Yugoslav economy on the ropes after a decade of war and isolation under Milosevic, Serbian leaders say the country cannot afford any delays in U.S. aid.

Justice Minister Vladan Batic identified those facing arrest and extradition as Milan Milutinovic, the current Serbian president; Nikola Sainovic, Milosevic's top security adviser and former deputy prime minister; Dragoljub Ojdanic, a former Yugoslav army commander, and Vlajko Stojiljkovic, former Serbian interior minister.

Kostunica has argued that extraditions are illegal because they are not mandated by law. Batic suggested, however that the Yugoslav president, a nationalist who considers the tribunal anti-Serb, was being disingenuous.

Kostunica is ``constantly repeating that he wants a law on cooperation with The Hague tribunal, but at the same time he is praying to God that it is never adopted,'' Batic said at a news conference.

Another top Serbian official, Cedomir Jovanovic, suggested Kostunica was working against Yugoslavia's interests.

``Kostunica's job is to protect interests of citizens and to stabilize the country's position in the international community,'' Jovanovic said. ``That is impossible without the cooperation with the Hague Tribunal and Mr. Kostunica knows that very well.''

Three of the four suspects named by Batic are members of Milosevic's Socialist Party, which threatened to organize nationwide protests if the authorities arrest and hand over the wanted men.

``The fate of the accused is, unfortunately in the hands of the Serbian government,'' said Socialist Party spokesman Branko Ruzic. He said his party will sue the government if it carries out ``the illegal acts.''