Slobodan Milosevic Must Pay For Actions

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX) today introduced legislation to block U.S. reconstruction money for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until President Slobodan Milosevic is removed from power and presented to The Hague for trial.

"Slobodan Milosevic must be held accountable for his actions," stated Brady. "Justice demands he stand trial for his crimes against humanity."

Milosevic and four of his subordinates were indicted as war criminals on May 27, 1999 by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Accused in the 42-page indictment with Slobodan Milosevic are Serbian President Milan Milutinovic, Chief of Staff of the Yugoslav Armed Forces and former Commander of an Army Corps active in eastern Bosnia Dragoljub Ojdanic, Deputy Prime Minister of Yugoslavia Nikola Sainovic, and Minister of Internal Affairs Vlajko Stojilkovic.

"Time is of the essence," said Brady. "Milosevic's indictment is meaningless unless he stands trial promptly. Milosevic knows that out of 89 accused war criminals from the former Yugoslavia, only two have been convicted and punished."

The extent of the rebuilding necessary in Kosovo won't be known until peacekeeping forces secure the region. However, international agencies currently estimate $50 billion to $150 billion will be needed to rebuild war-torn Yugoslavia.

"It is unconscionable that hard working Americans have their tax dollars used to benefit a war criminal," said Brady. "And if Milosevic posed such a dangerous threat to the world that we had to go to war, why would we agree to leave him in power as a future threat?"