Date: 5.11.2014
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Registry and Chambers:
Magdalena Spalińska, Spokesperson for Registry and Chambers, made the following statement:
Good afternoon,
I’ll turn straight to an update on the upcoming courtroom schedule.
Next week, the Appeal Hearing in the case of Zdravko Tolimir will begin on Wednesday, 12 November from 9:50 to 17:10 in Courtroom I.
Also next Wednesday, a status conference in the Mićo Stanišić and Stojan Župljanin case will take place at 15:00 in courtroom III.
Today in the courtrooms, in the case of Ratko Mladić, the Chamber is currently hearing the testimony of Ranko Kolar, former Republika Srpska Army officer in the area of Sanski Most and Prijedor. Kolar is the 71st defence witness.
Proceedings in the case of Goran Hadžić have been cancelled for this week and information about the recommencement will be provided in due course.
On 29 to 31 October a team of Serbian doctors visited Vojislav Šešelj and Goran Hadžić at the UN Detention Unit (DU), at the request of the accused and of the Serbian Government, and in line with Rule 31 of the Rules of Detention.
DU medical personnel fully cooperated with the Serbian doctors, having received the consent of the detainees concerned to share all available documentation and to answer all of the Serbian doctors' questions.
It is important to note that this visit was requested on exceptionally short notice, and the Tribunal made a special effort to make the medical staff and facilities available as well as to prepare the requested documentation within this limited time frame. The Tribunal has also committed to communicating any additional material which may be relevant to the doctors - such as results of additional diagnostic tests - as soon as this becomes available.
The doctors were informed that the DU implements a fully competent system of health care, based on Dutch standards regarding frequency, types and methods of diagnostic and medical treatment. Additionally, ICTY detainees enjoy accelerated access to medical and diagnostic tests, not available to an average Dutch citizen.
Continuing with the Vojislav Šešelj case, the Chamber filed an order today inviting the governments of The Netherlands and Serbia to provide their opinions on the possible provisional release of Šešelj. In addition, the Serbian government is invited to confirm if they can ensure that the accused does not come into contact with victims or witnesses and that he would return to the Tribunal as soon as the Chamber would order. The Chamber asks both Governments to submit their opinions by 18:00 today.
Finally, President Meron will pay an official three-day working visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 25-27 November 2014 to meet victims of the 1990s conflicts and to visit Ćelebići, Uzdol and Sarajevo where crimes were committed against Serbs, Croats and Bosniaks during this period. Whilst in Sarajevo, President Meron will also meet with the President of the BiH Court, Medžida Kreso and with Deputy High Representative, Ambassador David Robinson. He will also visit a secondary school to meet teachers and students involved in the Youth Outreach project. This will be the President’s second working visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina during the period of his current presidency. Further information on the timings of statements to the press and photo opportunities will be issued to the press in due course.
Questions
No questions were asked.