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Yugoslavia: Ally Party Criticizes Kostunica


Belgrade, 16 January 2001 (RFE/RL) -- Allies of Vojislav Kostunica have again criticized the Yugoslav president. The Democratic Opposition of Serbia, or DOS, today criticized Kostunica's decision not to meet with the UN war crimes tribunal's chief prosecutor during an upcoming visit. Carla del Ponte is due in Belgrade next week (23 January). DOS member and designated Serbian Justice Minister Vladan Batic said nobody in the DOS likes the tribunal. But he said Serbia "cannot afford to continue acting in spite." A member of Kostunica's Democratic Party explained Kostunica's decision, saying Del Ponte is "neither president, nor prime minister." The official, Aleksandar Popovic, also said the tribunal "is not a relevant international institution."

Del Ponte wants Yugoslavia to extradite former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic to The Hague to face war crimes charges. Kostunica rejects this. On Saturday, Kostunica met with Milosevic. The DOS also criticized that meeting.

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