The Hague tribunal said today it wants Slobodan Milosevic's defence to end by October 2005.
The court also took a step towards imposing defence council on the ailing former Yugoslav president to help meet that deadline.
Former Yugoslav president, Mr Slobodan Milosevic
The UN court said it was determined to conclude the defence case by October 2005, given the 150 days allocated to Milosevic for his defence and the fact the court sits only three days a week due to the defendant's poor health.
The tribunal said in a statement Milosevic might not be well enough to continue to defend himself, to fit that schedule, and ordered prosecutors to make submissions by next Monday on the issue of imposing defence counsel of the 62-year-old.
The much-delayed trial is due to resume on August 31st.
A lawyer appointed to ensure Milosevic gets a fair trial has questioned whether the case could continue given his worsening health but the trial's three judges declared him fit enough to proceed although they said they might impose a defence lawyer on him.
The defiant former Serb strongman, who has been defending himself in a trial that started in February 2002, has said he would never accept the imposition of a defence counsel.
Presiding Judge Patrick Robinson asked the prosecution, which has asked the court to force a defence lawyer on Milosevic, to say how they think that could work if Milosevic declined to cooperate or give instructions to his counsel.
The court said it would then decide how to proceed after receiving submissions from the prosecution and might demand a response from Milosevic and the lawyers appointed to insure he gets a fair trial.
Milosevic was due to open his defence earlier this month against charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in during the 1990s breakup of Yugoslavia, but the trial was adjourned due to concerns over his health.
Since the prosecution wrapped up its case in February after calling 290 witnesses, Milosevic has been working on his defence from the tribunal's detention centre. He wants to summon more than 1,000 witnesses, including former US President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
He has declined to enter a plea to the charges. Pleas of not guilty were entered on his behalf by the court.