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29. December 2002 - Sunday |
Milutinovic steps down
BELGRADE – Serbian President Milan Milutinovic's term of office expires today, the Election Commission announced this week.
Milutinovic took his oath of office on December 29, 1997. His term has now lasted for the prescribed five years.
According to the Commission, the speaker of the parliament, Natasa Micic, will act as president of Serbia from tomorrow until a new president is elected.
The Hague Tribunal has renewed its call for Milutinovic's arrest and extradition once he steps down.
Tribunal representative Florence Hartmann said today that the court had been seeking the president's extradition since 1999, when he was indicted.
"Up to now the government in Belgrade has maintained that they can't extradite Milutinovic because he his position as president of Serbia carries immunity from prosecution," she added.
Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic said last week that he expected Milutinovic to present himself to the Hague's Belgrade representatives once his term expired.
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