The UN war crimes prosecutor expressed confidence yesterday US efforts to get Yugoslavia to hand over former President Slobodan Milosevic for trial in The Hague would produce results soon.
Visiting the UN after three days of meetings in Washington Ms Carla del Ponte said she received assurances from US officials they will "do all that is possible to achieve what we are asking for in getting Milosevic transferred to the international tribunal" in The Hague, Netherlands.
"I am confident that next week, next month, we will have positive results," she told a news conference.
Mr Milosevic was arrested on April 13th and is in prison in Belgrade on corruption and abuse of power charges. He has also been indicted by the Balkan war crimes tribunal for attacks against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo in 1999.
Ms Del Ponte said she agreed with US Secretary of State Gen Colin Powell Belgrade should fix a date - perhaps in six months - for Milosevic's transfer to The Hague.
"I'm sure that our prison is much better and so I invite Milosevic to come as soon as possible," she quipped. "He will have very good accommodation in our prison."
Ms Del Ponte said she asked Mr Powell to discuss the Milosevic controversy with visiting Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, whose statements, she said "give me obviously good hope that it will be done."