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Please
note that this is not a verbatim transcript of the Press Briefing. It is merely
a summary.
ICTY Weekly Press
Briefing
Date: 25 July 2001
Time: 11:30 a.m.
REGISTRY AND CHAMBERS
Jim Landale, Spokesman
for Registry and Chambers, made the following statement:
I
can confirm that earlier this morning General Rahim Ademi handed himself into
the custody of the Tribunal. Upon his arrival in the Netherlands, the non-disclosure
order on his indictment was lifted. In the indictment, which was confirmed by
Judge Fouad Riad on 8 June 2001, General Ademi has been charged with crimes
against humanity and violations of the laws and customs of war.
Just
to put you all on notice, General Ademi’s initial appearance will most likely
be held tomorrow afternoon. As soon as we have confirmation of this, we will
put out a press advisory.
We
have also received the latest amendments to the Tribunal’s Rules of Procedure
and Evidence. Pursuant to sub-Rule 6 (D) of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence,
these amendments will enter into force tomorrow, 26 July 2001. Copies in both
English and French will be available after this briefing.
Finally,
yesterday, 24 July, a scheduling order was filed for the Krstic Judgement date.
The Judgement will be rendered by Trial Chamber I on Thursday 2 August 2001
at 2.30 p.m. You are of course all welcome to attend that.
PROSECUTION
Florence
Hartmann, Spokeswoman for the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) made the following
statement:
General
Rahim Ademi charged with crimes against humanity and violations of the laws
and customs of war served in the Ministry of Interior in Croatia from 1991.
He held the position of Acting Commander of the Gospic military district during
the military operation in Medak Pocket, which took place from 9 September 1993
to 17 September 1993.
He
is accused with the persecution and killing of Serb civilians and surrendered
soldiers and the plunder and destruction of Serb civilian building and property
in the Medak Pocket and charged on the basis of his command responsibility with
article 7(1) and 7(3) of the Statute of the Tribunal.
As
you know an accused can be apprehended or choose to voluntarily surrender. Rahim
Ademi decided to voluntarily surrender. The Prosecutor therefore hopes that
he will cooperate with the Prosecution and answer all Prosecution questions.
Today the Prosecutor also filed a request to unseal the second indictment served
to the Croatian Authorities together with the Ademi indictment and arrest warrant.
This request has to be approved by a Judge. As soon as we get the approval the
media will have access to the second indictment.
QUESTIONS:
Asked whether
there was any news concerning the evaluation of the provisional measures concerning
conditions of detention for Milosevic, to be made by the Commanding Officer
of the Detention Unit (DU), as the 30 day period for these measures was soon
to be completed, Landale replied that the period would expire at midnight
on Friday. The evaluation had already been made, he added. The report had
been forwarded to the Registrar and the Registrar would study it and make
the decision in due time, as to whether to take any further measures or not,
he said.
Hartmann added
that the OTP would give an opinion before the deadline.
Asked whether
there was any indication of what the Prosecutor’s opinion would be, Hartmann
replied that it would be linked with the possible limitation of contact with
some of the detainees.
Landale added
that at this time the segregation order covered contact with Bosnian Serb
detainees. Mr. Milosevic could, if he wished, mix with detainees in his area
who were non-Bosnian Serbs. He had been asked if he wished to do this, but
had so far said that he did not wish to and that decision had been respected,
he concluded.
Asked whether
Rahim Ademi was transferred immediately to the DU, Landale replied that this
was an operational matter. The Tribunal did not discuss methods of transport.
Asked whether
the complaints made by Mira Markovic concerning the conditions of her visit
with her husband would be discussed in the report from the Commanding Officer
of the DU, Landale replied that he would not go into the contents of the report.
It was a confidential report between the Acting Commanding Officer of the
DU and the Registrar.
Asked whether
there would be anything in the report concerning her complaint about not being
able to have physical contact her husband, Landale replied that with regards
to visits an assessment was made on a case by case basis as to whether any
particular measures might be needed.
Asked whether
this contradicted a statement made by Jim Landale concerning conjugal visits,
Landale replied that conjugal visits were a privilege afforded to the detainees
at the DU. In the past, detainees had been allowed to participate in them
if they were part of an established relationship. This was something that
they had to apply for ahead of time. This was again something that was judged
on a case by case basis, he concluded.
Asked whether
a conjugal visit was applied for, Landale replied that it was not.
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