Date: 13.01.2010
Time: 12:00
Registry and Chambers:
Nerma Jelačić, Spokesperson for Registry and Chambers, made the following statement:
Good afternoon,
Welcome back to the Tribunal. Monday marked the end of the winter recess and the courtrooms will return to their full capacity next week.
The Trial of Vojislav Šešelj resumed yesterday with the testimony of one of the remaining Prosecution witnesses. The Trial was adjourned on 11 February 2009 on the request of the Prosecution amid allegations of witness intimidation. Hearings will continue this afternoon, and are scheduled for Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon of next week.
The Defence case of Mladen Markač in the trial of Gotovina and others resumed on Monday, as did the Defence case of Milivoj Petković in the trial of Prlić and others. Both trials will continue for the rest of this week and next as scheduled.
Turning to the remainder of the schedule for next week:
On Monday, a Status Conference in the case of Šainović et al. will be held at 9:00 in Courtroom I. The Trial of Mićo Stanišić and Stojan Župljanin also resumes on Monday morning in at 9:00 Courtroom II.
On Tuesday, an appeals hearing has been scheduled for the entire day in the case of Rasim Delić in Courtroom III.
Hearings in the trial of Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović resume on Wednesday afternoon at 14:15 in Courtoom II. The trial of Vlastimir Ðorđević resumes on Wednesday afternoon at 14:15 in Courtroom III.
Office of the Prosecutor:
Frederick Swinnen, the Special Adviser of Prosecutor Serge Brammertz, was present to respond to questions related to the Office of the Prosecutor.
Questions:
Asked whether the resignation of Rasim Ljajic as a member of the action team in charge of tracking down and arresting the two remaining fugitives, Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić, poses a problem to the Office of the Prosecutor, Frederick Swinnen responded that he cannot comment on Mr. Ljajic’s decision to resign. However, he clarified that Mr. Ljaljic is still in charge of Serbia’s National Council for Cooperation with the Tribunal. The first meeting of the year with the action team has taken place yesterday and so the work in relation to the search for fugitives continues. OTP will continue working with Mr. Ljajic and the new person who will take over from him on the action team.
Asked to clarify how many Prosecution witnesses are remaining in the case of Vojislav Šešelj, Nerma Jelačić answered that out of the 11 remaining witnesses, OTP has been asked to call two and consider dismissing three. The six other witnesses will be called by the Trial Chamber. Frederick Swinnen added that, at this stage, he cannot provide any further details on the situation of the three witnesses.