Minister "doesn't know" whether Seselj will show up in Hague

Minister "doesn't know" whether Seselj will show up in Hague

"What's going to happen by March 31, I neither can, nor know to speak about that. This case is in the hands of the court and we will see how it will proceed further," Selakovic told reporters after visiting the District Prison in Belgrade.

According to him, there are "questions that cannot be given an exclusive answer - such as, 'to extradite Seselj or not," and, 'are you for NATO or for Russia'."

"This is Serbia, I guess. The first task is to be for Serbia, and so it is in this case," remarked the minister.

He noted that his Ministry has been regularly informing the Hague Tribunal (ICTY) about the reports it requested regarding the extradition of three members of Seselj's SRS party - who are wanted on contempt of court charges - but added that these responses are labeled confidential, and that he cannot discuss them.

Selakovic also said that the Justice Ministry has not received any response from the Hague Tribunal to their letters.

"Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic received a response from ICTY President Theodor Meron, on which he has already commented, but that answer provides us with no explanation for the deaths of Zdravko Tolimir, Mile Mrksic and others," Selakovic said.

"It is stated that death occurred due to natural causes," said Selakovic and recalled that the government had repeatedly warned about the poor health of the persons in question, "but the tribunal took no action."

"No voluntary return"

Speaking on Wednesday, Seselj said he would appear before the Special Court in Belgrade on Thursday where he has been summoned for questioning, but that he would not voluntarily return to the Hague Tribunal.

"I'll go to the Special Court, I expect a large number our party's supporters to go there too. I will present what I have to say, as a way of my opposition to the 'delivery'," Seselj told a news conference in Belgrade.

He repeated he would not return to the Hague Tribunal voluntarily, and that the authorities, if they decide to extradite him, "will have to carry him."

"What I say in front of the judge tomorrow, I will tell you when I leave the court," Seselj told reporters.