Djuric: More time needed for Ivanovic's defense

BELGRADE - Head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) Marko Djuric said Wednesday that he expects extention of the 30-day deadline set for the presentation of defense of Oliver Ivanovic and other defendants, and reiterated that Serbia requests that the defendants be granted pre-trial release and ensured a fair trial.

Djuric told the Radio and Television of Serbia that he expects the legal team representing Ivanovic, leader of the Citizens' Initiative "Freedom, Democracy, Justice" (GI SDP), to be accorded with sufficient time to gather the required evidence and material for his defense.

"I expect an extension of the 30-day deadline set for the defense preparation, as there is a possibility that another pre-trial hearing will be held,“ said Djuric.

The head of Office for KiM reiterated that he expects a fair trial and demands that Ivanovic and other defendents be released pending trial, stressing that there is no valid political or legal reason why they would continue to be held in custody.

"It is important for the case to be tried in a fair and just manner, and not allow a further division between our people and the judicial institutions,“ said Djuric.

The indictment against Ivanovic and four other Serbs issued by the Kosovo Special Prosecutor's Office cites a war crime committed during the armed conflict in KiM in April 1999 and aggravated murder of ethnic Albanians in February 2000.

In the first hearing held Tuesday before the Basic Court in north Kosovska Mitrovica, the defendants pleaded not guilty on all counts.

Photo Tanjug/Z. Zestic (archive)