ICTY Weekly Press Briefing - 16 July 2008

Date:  16.07.2008

Time: 12:00

 

Registry and Chambers:

Nerma Jelačić, Spokesperson for Registry and Chambers, made the following statement:

 

The U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crime Issues John Clint Williamson yesterday visited the Tribunal and met with the President Fausto Pocar, Prosecutor Serge Brammertz and Registrar Hans Holthuis.

Among the decisions to highlight: the Trial Chamber granted yesterday the Prosecution’s request to file a motion for joinder in the cases against Mičo Stanišić and Stojan Župljanin. Both accused are indicted for crimes committed against Bosnian Muslim and Bosnian Croat populations in the northeast region of Bosnia in the early 1990’s.

As for the schedule, the courtrooms are busy for the next two weeks ahead of the summer recess.

Tomorrow, the Appeals Chamber will render its judgement in the case against former Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) commander Pavle Strugar at 9:30 in courtroom I. Strugar was convicted of attacks on civilians and destruction or willful damage of the UNSECO protected Adriatic town of Dubrovnik. He was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment on 31 January 2005. The prosecution and defence both appealed the initial judgement.

 

In addition, a further initial appearance has been scheduled tomorrow at 14:15 in coutroom III for the former senior Serbian police officer Vlastimir Đorđević.  Đorđević will be asked to enter a plea on the amended indictment which includes the addition of a murder incident involving 14 victims in the place of Podujevo in Kosovo and the names of four victims killed during two separate murder incidents.

 

A status conference will be held in the case concerning Ljubiša Petković on Friday at 14:15 in courtroom I. Petković is charged with contempt of court for failing to answer the Tribunal’s confidential subpoena to appear as a Court witness in the case against Vojislav Šešelj.

 

Also on Friday afternoon, a motion hearing will be held in the case of Gotovina and others at 14:15 in courtroom III. The accused will not be present.

 

Next week will be the last week of hearings before the summer recess begins on 26 July until 15 August.

 

A status conference will be held in the case of Momcilo Krajisnik on Monday at 14:15 in courtroom III.

 

Also that afternoon a further initial appearance has been scheduled for Stojan Župljanin. Župljanin was transferred to the Tribunal 21 June and postponed entering a plea at his initial appearance held 23 June 2008. He is expected to do so at 15:00 in courtroom I.

 

Office of the Prosecutor:

 

Olga Kavran, Spokesperson for the Office of the Prosecutor, made the following statement:

 

The Prosecutor will be in Belgrade next Wednesday, 23 July. He will meet with representatives of the Serbian authorities in charge of cooperation with the Tribunal. This is part of his regular visits to the region and what the Prosecutor has announced he would like to do once the new Government is formed. The detailed program of his visit is not finalized yet.

           

Questions:

         

No questions were asked.