Belgrade, 16 January 2003 (RFE/RL) -- Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic says former Serbian President Milan Milutinovic (pictured) will soon be handed over to the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague. The "Blic" daily today quotes Svilanovic as saying that he and Milutinovic agreed on the terms of his surrender to The Hague court. The court has charged Milutinovic with genocide during a government crackdown against Kosovar Albanians in 1999.
Svilanovic said he expects Milutinovic to show up in The Hague relatively soon, but did not give the exact extradition date.
Svilanovic said he hopes the UN tribunal will set Milutinovic free pending the start of his trial partly because of his poor health. Milutinovic has had two heart surgeries in recent years.
Milutinovic, who was Serbia's president from 1997 until last month, has denied he had any role in war crimes in Kosovo.
Svilanovic said he expects Milutinovic to show up in The Hague relatively soon, but did not give the exact extradition date.
Svilanovic said he hopes the UN tribunal will set Milutinovic free pending the start of his trial partly because of his poor health. Milutinovic has had two heart surgeries in recent years.
Milutinovic, who was Serbia's president from 1997 until last month, has denied he had any role in war crimes in Kosovo.