Serbia ready to provide guarantees for Šešelj's release

Rasim Ljajic has confirmed that he wrote to the Hague about the possibility of providing guarantees for Vojislav Seselj's temporary release. Ljajic heads the Serbian council for cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Serbia ready to provide guarantees for Seselj's release Seselj is the leader of the opposition SRS party, incarcerated by at the Hague Tribunal since 2003 on charges of war crimes. The tribunal could not verify if the letter had arrived, and a spokesperson for the court said its "rules state that Seselj would first have to submit a written request for a temporary release". Ljajic told Tanjug he had addressed the letter to judge Jean-Claude Antonetti, who presides over Seselj's trial, stating that Serbia was willing to consider a request for guarantees for Seselj's temporary release if the Hague wished it. Seselj has not formally requested the guarantees from the government, Ljajic noted. "However, he did ask the Hague during his closing argument to grant him temporary release," Ljajic added. Based on that request, stated before the trial chamber, and the fact Seselj is in poor health, Ljajic decided to contact the presiding judge. "I said we were willing to consider that request, and we are now waiting for an answer," he remarked. Spokesperson Nerma Jelacic could not confirm if Antonetti had received the letter in which the Serbian authorities indicated the possibility of providing guarantees for Seselj's release. She told Tanjug she could not confirm it because the government usually sent such correspondence through private channels, and not as public documents. The government sends guarantees if the accused requests a temporary release, which Seselj has not yet done in compliance with the Hague regulations, she explained. During his closing argument last week, Seselj requested a temporary release, but the trial chamber denied it on Friday, Jelacic pointed out. According to her, the indictee should file a written request for a temporary release, and the trial chamber, in its deliberations regarding the request, will seek guarantees from the country the accused is going to stay in during the release. She stated she had no information that Seselj was going to repeat his request for a temporary release. The Hague raised the indictment against Seselj in 2003. He turned himself in on February 23 that same year and was extradited the next day, where his trial started in November 2007. Rasim Ljajic (file) Tanjug

Serbia ready to provide guarantees for Šešelj's release

Šešelj is the leader of the opposition SRS party, incarcerated by at the Hague Tribunal since 2003 on charges of war crimes.

The tribunal could not verify if the letter had arrived, and a spokesperson for the court said its "rules state that Šešelj would first have to submit a written request for a temporary release".

Ljajić told Tanjug he had addressed the letter to judge Jean-Claude Antonetti, who presides over Šešelj's trial, stating that Serbia was willing to consider a request for guarantees for Šešelj's temporary release if the Hague wished it.

Šešelj has not formally requested the guarantees from the government, Ljajić noted. "However, he did ask the Hague during his closing argument to grant him temporary release," Ljajić added.

Based on that request, stated before the trial chamber, and the fact Šešelj is in poor health, Ljajić decided to contact the presiding judge.

"I said we were willing to consider that request, and we are now waiting for an answer," he remarked.

Spokesperson Nerma Jelacic could not confirm if Antonetti had received the letter in which the Serbian authorities indicated the possibility of providing guarantees for Šešelj's release.

She told Tanjug she could not confirm it because the government usually sent such correspondence through private channels, and not as public documents.

The government sends guarantees if the accused requests a temporary release, which Šešelj has not yet done in compliance with the Hague regulations, she explained.

During his closing argument last week, Šešelj requested a temporary release, but the trial chamber denied it on Friday, Jelacic pointed out.

According to her, the indictee should file a written request for a temporary release, and the trial chamber, in its deliberations regarding the request, will seek guarantees from the country the accused is going to stay in during the release.

She stated she had no information that Šešelj was going to repeat his request for a temporary release.

The Hague raised the indictment against Šešelj in 2003. He turned himself in on February 23 that same year and was extradited the next day, where his trial started in November 2007.