Yugoslav president won't testify without guarantees

A former Yugoslav president, who was forcibly taken to the UN war crimes tribunal as a witness, today refused to testify against Slobodan Milosevic without guarantees he cannot be prosecuted for revealing state secrets.

Zoran Lilic, who served as the figurehead president of the collapsing Yugoslav federation from 1993 until Milosevic took over as president in 1997, was detained last week in Belgrade and flown to the Netherlands to appear before the court as a prosecution witness.

The Yugoslav government hastily agreed to release Milosevic’s close associates from the obligations to preserve state secrets when called before the tribunal, where Milosevic faces 66 counts of war crimes in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo.

Those associates include Lilic and Rade Markovic, the former head of the state security service who was taken to The Hague on Friday.

But Lilic said the government had no authority to lift the ban on discussing state affairs. He demanded the approval of Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and the Supreme Defence Council, a state body that commands the army and decides about crucial state affairs.

‘‘Anyone in Yugoslavia can file a complaint against me. I could be accused of revealing state secrets and that is severely punishable,’’ Lilic said, adding he has not received any assurances in writing from Belgrade.

‘‘I am ready to testify before this tribunal should a relevant authority, which means the president, lift the ban on keeping military secrets,’’ he said.

The court postponed Lilic’s evidence until Friday.

The judges also criticised the prosecution for failing to disclose all the details about Lilic’s obligations in Yugoslavia, and said the subpoena for his appearance before the court was issued too early.

‘‘I rather resent being used in this way,’’ said Judge Patrick Robinson.

Prosecutor Geoffrey Nice replied the subpoena was necessary to ensure Lilic’s presence in The Hague. ‘‘This witness is of the great importance.’’

Mr Nice also suggested extending Milosevic’s trial for another week beyond July 26, when it is due to take a three-week recess.

Milosevic has suffered repeated illnesses which has set back the trial schedule by more than a month since it started in February.