Roma 24 May 2006: "We have today received a letter from H.E. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad in response to our application for Mr Aziz to be transferred to the Bakulev Institute for medical treatment.
We are informed, for the first time, that last month the IRAQI HIGH TRIBUNAL issued a new arrest warrant against our client for violations of Art 12 namely crimes against humanity. There are no specifics and no particulars of the said warrants and thus we are unable to comment. We are also informed, for the first time, that in June 2004 a warrant was issued against Mr Aziz for similar violations namely crimes against humanity Art.12 violations. This is something totally new to us and our Iraqi counterparts who have confirmed that the only arrest warrants holding Mr Aziz in custody that they were notified were violations of Art.14 namely financial irregularities.
Mr Aziz will be testifying in the defence of Saddam Hussein although his evidence we are not at liberty to disclose. Mr Aziz remains ill and despite assurances from Ambassador Khalilzad that the MNF-I physicians "continue to provide Mr Aziz with regular medical care" it was exactly the same wording that was received from the ICTY regarding President Milosevic who died because he was refused attendance at the Bakulev Institute. Mr Aziz is not well and his health deteriorates whilst facing conflicting arrest warrants. Those that attend the hearing of Saddam Hussein will see for themselves the state of health of Mr Aziz.
We have replied to Ambassador Khalil and written to the new Iraqi Government to allow Mr Aziz to attend the Bakulev Institute shortly after he has completed his evidence this week at the Saddam Hussein trial to be cured in Russia. We have also obtained the medical diagnosis and we do thank Ambassador Khalilzad for his frank disclosure in this matter."
Giovanni Di Stefano of Studio Legale Internazionale. +39 340 1537770
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