NZ to uphold sanctions on deposed Milosevic

Foreign Minister Phil Goff yesterday called for ousted Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to be tried for war crimes and said New Zealand would not remove sanctions against him and several hundred supporters.

"They are deemed to be people who have grossly abused human rights in Bosnia and Kosovo," Mr Goff said.

"While the Government has changed - and that will improve our relationship with the Government of Serbia - it ought not to alter the smart sanctions we have in place."

In June, New Zealand joined 34 other countries in banning entry to members of the Yugoslav Government at the time, including Milosevic.

Other people covered by the ban included members of Milosevic's immediate family, members of the Yugoslav and Serbian Governments, military leaders, police and security forces, and the Judiciary.

The United States and the European Union have said they will lift economic sanctions once the new Government of President Vojislav Kostunica is in place.

Milosevic conceded defeat on Friday after his attempts to hold power caused a national uprising following Mr Kostunica's victory in last month's presidential election.

Mr Goff said NZ wanted to see the "key perpetrators" of human rights abuse tried by the UN war crimes tribunal in Holland. The world was appalled at the ethnic cleansing that took place in Bosnia and Kosovo.

- NZPA


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Otpor: Serbian Student Resistance Movement