"Hague expected to deliver Šešelj verdict in June"

BELGRADE Serbian Deputy War Crimes Prosecutor Bruno Vekaric stated Monday that Vojislav Seselj's trial before the Hague Tribunal "has been going on for a long time". A trial this long "is beyond all international standards", Vekaric said, and voiced hope that the final verdict will be delivered in June. "Hague expected to deliver Seselj verdict in June" "I hope that the verdict will be delivered, but I cannot predict what it will be like," Vekaric said in an RTS broadcast, adding that the duration of Seselj's trial causes damage to the Hague itself, but also to all others in the region dealing with administration of justice when it comes to war crimes. He also pointed out that meetings with representatives of the Hague Tribunal touch on certain processes from time to time, and that Seselj's case was once mentioned at a meeting with Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz. Vekaric underlined that War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic said on the occasion how strange it is for proceedings to last for such a long time, and that this causes damage to the Hague and all others dealing with war crimes. Pointing out that the duration of the trial against Seselj has beaten the world record, he added that it would be better for the leader of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) to cooperate with the court. SRS Vice-President Nemanja Sarovic said that it is not at all Seselj's fault that the trial lasts for 10 years, and that he has no information on whether presidential advisor Oliver Antic, who is visiting Serbian indictees and convicts in The Hague, has sought to meet with Seselj. "This question can only be answered by Seselj," Sarovic said, but added he believes that the SRS leader should not meet with Antic. The Hague issued the indictment against Seselj in January 2003, charging him with war crimes committed in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia's Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. Seselj voluntarily surrendered to the Hague Tribunal on February 24, 2003 and has been incarcerated ever since. His trial started on November 7, 2007. Radicals mark ten years of Seselj's incarceration (FoNet) RTS Tanjug

"Hague expected to deliver Šešelj verdict in June"

"I hope that the verdict will be delivered, but I cannot predict what it will be like," Vekarić said in an RTS broadcast, adding that the duration of Šešelj's trial causes damage to the Hague itself, but also to all others in the region dealing with administration of justice when it comes to war crimes.

He also pointed out that meetings with representatives of the Hague Tribunal touch on certain processes from time to time, and that Šešelj's case was once mentioned at a meeting with Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz.

Vekarić underlined that War Crimes Prosecutor Vladimir Vukčević said on the occasion how strange it is for proceedings to last for such a long time, and that this causes damage to the Hague and all others dealing with war crimes.

Pointing out that the duration of the trial against Šešelj has beaten the world record, he added that it would be better for the leader of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) to cooperate with the court.

SRS Vice-President Nemanja Šarović said that it is not at all Šešelj's fault that the trial lasts for 10 years, and that he has no information on whether presidential advisor Oliver Antić, who is visiting Serbian indictees and convicts in The Hague, has sought to meet with Šešelj.

"This question can only be answered by Šešelj," Šarović said, but added he believes that the SRS leader should not meet with Antić.

The Hague issued the indictment against Šešelj in January 2003, charging him with war crimes committed in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia's Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. Šešelj voluntarily surrendered to the Hague Tribunal on February 24, 2003 and has been incarcerated ever since.

His trial started on November 7, 2007.