The Hague, June 17: Former Yugoslav President Zoran Lilic testified today in the war crimes trial of his successor Slobodan Milosevic about the power Milosevic's party wielded in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. "The Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) as the leading party in Serbia was in a position to set up the (Serbian) republican and the federal government, all the ministers came from the SPS or another coalition party," he told the court.
Lilic said that the SPS and the Yugoslav United Left (JUL) Party of Milosevic's wife Mira Markovic "were under the domination and authority of President Milosevic".
Lilic, who was Yugoslav President from 1993-1997, had initially been called to give evidence before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in July 2002. But his appearance at the hearing was postponed as he was not given permission by the Belgrade authorities to divulge state and military secrets to the court. Testifying on these matters would have left him open to prosecution.
In court Lilic had his own attorney present as well as two representatives of the government of Serbia and Montenegro to ensure he would not deal with such confidential matters in court. Lilic confirmed that he had been allowed to testify by Belgrade and was limited in his testimony.
The government representatives made it clear they objected to any document dated between 1993 and 1997 to be dealt with in open court and asked for closed sessions to deal with such papers. Bureau Report