Former Serbian President Milan Milutinovic passed away this Sunday at the age of 81.As Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic reported on his Instagram account.
head SerbianAleksandar Vucic expressed his condolences on the death of the former leader, claiming that he was “a man of dedication, seriousness and great self-sacrifice”. “Fulfilled some of the most responsible tasks in difficult times and historical exams” for the country
“As a witness and direct participant The turning points in which the fate and future of Serbia were determined, “Despite unprecedented pressure, Milan Milutinovic has honorably and consistently defended the interests of the State and the principles of International Law and justice.”
Likewise, the former president underlined. Defended Serbia “honourably and vigorously” against “unjustified” accusations before prosecutors in The Hague, taking into account the interests and welfare of the country. “People will remember him as a patriot who lived to help Serbia return to the place it deserves,” Vucic said. said.
Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik sent a condolence message to Vucic, Serbian citizens and the family of the deceased: “The news of Milan Milutinovic’s death touched me deeply.In the message gathered by the Tanjug news agency, it was stated that Serbia is a great fighter for the truth and the former president who led and fought for him in the most difficult times.
Milutinovic was President of Serbia from December 1997 to December 2002. voluntarily surrendered to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and where he was charged with war crimes during the conflict against Kosovo.
Although the former president was acquitted in 2009, five other former senior government, army and police officials with whom he shared the case were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 15 to 22 years for killing and deporting Kosovar Albanians. in the first half of 1999.
Milutinovic became President of Serbia in December 1997. Replaces Slobodan Milosevicwas appointed as the new president of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). He remained in office until December 2002, but since 2000, after Milosevic’s ouster and disgrace, he was forced to “live with” a government openly opposed to his former mentor, earning him the hostility of Milosevic’s supporters. to break.
Milosevic himself was the first leader to be indicted for crimes in Kosovo.Although he only had time to prosecute himself between 2002 and 2006 for crimes committed in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1991 and 1995, he died “of natural causes” “on the eve of the end of the trial and before a verdict was announced,” according to the Court.