[www.ANTIC.org] Duma Demands

[Miroslav Antic]

Title: Message

Resolution of the State Duma of Russia's Federal Assembly   "On the Necessity of Establishing Time Limits for the Activity of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed on the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia Since 1991" 18 February 2002   The State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation expresses profound concern over the activity of the International Tribunal for the prosecution of persons responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law committed on the territory of the former Yugoslavia since 1991 (ICTY). ICTY ignores the serious violations of international humanitarian law committed by member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the course of the aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The ICTY has not given a legal assessment to the aggression, and refused to bring to justice the leaders of the states that are part of NATO and which participated in the aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. It is deeply disconcerting that the character of political trials is being imparted to the prosecution of persons on ICTY charges. ICTY has never given a proper assessment to the activities of Albanian extremists and terrorists who committed in Kosovo crimes against humanity that fall under the jurisdiction of the ICTY. In addition, the ICTY violates the rights of the accused, including the right to defense. On the territories of sovereign states in violation of the generally recognized principles and rules of international law the vicious practice is continuing of detaining people according to the so-called closed lists of the accused. Responsibility for the administration of justice, including with respect to crimes against humanity, should be laid upon the national judicial systems of the sovereign states that have formed on the territory of the former SFRY. In view of the foregoing the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation hereby resolves: 1. To ask President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to consider the possibility of initiating in the Security Council of the United Nations the discussion of the questions of establishing the time limits within which the ICTY could exercise its jurisdiction, as well as of changing the measure of restriction against former President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic for full-fledged participation in the defense of his own position. 2. To send the present Resolution to President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. 3. To send the present Resolution to Parlamentskaya Gazeta [Parliamentary Gazette] for official publication. 4. The present Resolution shall enter into force the day it is adopted.   Gennady Seleznyov Chairman of the State Duma Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation     To join or help this struggle, visit: http://www.sps.org.yu/ (official SPS website) http://www.belgrade-forum.org/ (forum for the world of equals) http://www.icdsm.org/ (the international committee to defend Slobodan Milosevic) http://www.jutarnje.co.yu/ ('morning news' the only Serbian newspaper advocating liberation)