Yugoslav move paves way for Milosevic extradition

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has welcomed a move by the Yugoslav Government that clears the way for the extradition of the country’s former dictator Slobodan Milosevic to the United Nations war crimes tribunal.

In a statement issued by the Foreign Office last night, Mr Straw said: ‘‘I welcome the Yugoslav Government’s intention to co-operate with the UN war crimes tribunal.

‘‘Their decision takes us a step closer towards achieving justice in the Balkans.

"The international community remains committed to the surrender of all those indicted for war crimes, including Slobodan Milosevic, for trial in The Hague.

‘‘Full co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal, including the surrender of those indicted, will bring benefits to Yugoslavia. The people of Yugoslavia deserve to put the Milosevic era behind them and re-enter the mainstream of European political life.’’

Details of a decree agreed by the Yugoslav Government were not immediately available, although a spokesman in Belgrade said it ‘‘includes extradition’’ to the UN tribunal.

The decree is intended to provide a legal basis for cooperation with the UN court, including extradition - a move banned by current legislation.

The issue has moved up the Yugoslav political agenda ahead of a key donors conference in Brussels on Friday, with Yugoslavia facing the potential loss of billions of pounds of foreign aid unless Milosevic - in prison in Belgrade on corruption charges - is handed over to the international tribunal.

It is not known when Milosevic will be extradited to The Hague in The Netherlands, though it is not expected to be immediately.

Ministers from Serbia’s pro-democracy coalition drafted the decree on Friday after abandoning efforts to push a bill through the Yugoslav parliament, where Milosevic’s extradition is opposed by representatives from Montenegro, the smaller republic that together with Serbia forms Yugoslavia.