Judges say Tribunal is entering "new and critical phase"

Press Release

TRIBUINAL

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Judges say Tribunal is entering "new and critical phase"

The Judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia held their ninth plenary session on Wednesday and Thursday 17 and 18 January at the Tribunal's seat at The Hague.

1. Their work focused on the current and future position of the Tribunal in the light of the signature and implementation of the Peace Agreements initialled in Dayton and signed in Paris.

During their closed door discussions, they were briefed by Prosecutor, Richard Goldstone.

All the information which the Judges received points to the fact that the Tribunal has entered a new and critical phase.

As reiterated by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Bosnian-Croat Federation and ratified by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in its own name and on behalf of the Bosnian Serb authorities, the obligation to co-operate fully with the Tribunal should effectively permit the arrest and transfer of those persons indicted to date.

2. In addition, as part of its continued judicial activities, the Tribunal has decided to hold Rule 61 hearings during the coming weeks for some of the indictments which have been issued so far. This Rule provides for confirmation of the indictment, issuance of an international warrant of arrest and, if deemed necessary, referral of the cases to the Security Council.

3. The Judges also decided that from now on the Trial Chambers will render their legal decisions simultaneously in both of the Tribunal's working languages. The authentic version will be the one in the language used by the Presiding Judge at the time the decision is handed down.

 

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International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
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