ICTY Weekly Press Briefing
Date: 14.11.2007
Time: 12:00
Registry and Chambers:
Liam McDowall, Senior Policy Advisor to the Registry, made the following statement:
SCHEDULE:
Five on-going trials will continue to sit this and next week. The Popović et al case will resume on Monday and sit for the whole of next week.
Next Friday there will be a status conference in the Stanisić and Simatović case at 2.15 pm in courtroom II.
The initial appearance in the contempt case against Sadri Selca is scheduled to take place in courtroom I at 2.15pm tomorrow.
On Monday afternoon Dragan Jokić, charged by the Trial Chamber with contempt of court for refusing to testify in the Popović et al case, will make his initial appearance in courtroom II.
Office of the Prosecutor:
Olga Kavran, Spokesperson for the Office of the Prosecutor, made no statement.
Questions:
Asked for a reaction to the nomination of Serge Brammertz to take over from Carla Del Ponte, Kavran responded that the Prosecutor’s Office had been informed by the Secretary General’s office of the nomination and that it was now a question of waiting for the Security Council resolution on the matter. She added that she did not know when that would be though it would clearly be before the end of the present Prosecutor’s mandate. Other than that there was no deadline. A press release would be issued as soon as the new Prosecutor was appointed.
Asked how many contempt cases were on-going, McDowall answered that it was four. Kavran added that there were three in the Haradinaj case and Dragan Jokic in the Popović et al case.
In response to a question whether putting potential witnesses in prison until they agreed to testify was the new way of getting people to testify in the Haradinaj et al case, Kavran responded that witnesses had an obligation and duty to testify at the Tribunal, as they had in any national judicial system. If people refused to testify they got served a subpoena and were brought to court. She reiterated that this happened in national judicial systems, adding that it cannot be the choice of a witness whether to testify or not: it was up to the court which witnesses needed to appear and testify.
Asked whether these witnesses had previously agreed to testify and were now backing down, Kavran confirmed that this was the case but added that the main point was that there was a duty to testify. In terms of legal obligations to the court, whether they said they would testify or not was not relevant. She added that in its July decision rejecting Haradinaj’s motion for provisional release, the Trial Chamber also noted that, “…many witnesses not only perceived the atmosphere as intimidating and threatening but consequently also tried to avoid meeting their duty to testify before the Tribunal.”
A journalist pointed out that these witnesses were scared to testify. Whilst agreeing that this was the case, Kavran again stated that there was a duty to testify. She added that the Tribunal had ample protective measures that it could offer its witnesses, be that testifying under pseudonym or full closed testimony which would protect the witness’s identity from the public.
In response to a journalist’s question asking how many witnesses in the Haradinaj et al case had had a subpoena served against them, Kavran stated that the last figure she had was for 23 separate witnesses but she would have to check whether that number had gone up. She added that it was proportionally the highest number for any case.
Asked whether the contempt charges would be dropped if the witnesses agreed to testify, Kavran answered that that was a decision taken by the judges. The Prosecution could file a motion to lift the contempt charges but it was up to the Trial Chamber to decide. The point was to get the witnesses to honour their duty to testify.
Document List
Case Description
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Signature Date
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Document Title
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Boskoski et al
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09-Nov-07
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Prosecution's Reply To The "Boskoski Defence Response To Prosecution Motions For Leave To Add Exhibits To Its List With Confidential Annexes A And B"
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Boskoski et al
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09-Nov-07
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Cd-Rom Enclosure To Boskoski Defence Motion For Admission Of Documents From The Bar Table
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Delic
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13-Nov-07
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Decision On Prosecution Motion For Admission Of Evidence Pursuant To Rule 92 Bis
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Dordevic Vlastimir
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12-Nov-07
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Prosecution's Response To Motion By Vlastimir Dordevic For Access To Transcripts, Exhibits And Documents In The Milutinovic Et Al Case
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Dragan Jokic (contempt)
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09-Nov-07
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Scheduling Order
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Gotovina et Al.
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13-Nov-07
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Decision [By The Deputy Registrar Re: Assignment Of Counsel To Mr Cermak]
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Hadzihasanovic et al. (Appeal)
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09-Nov-07
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Motion On Behalf Of Enver Hadžihasanovic Seeking Variance Of The Terms Of His Provisional Release
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Haradinaj et al
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14-Nov-07
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Prosecution's Motion To Add One Document To Its Rule 65ter Exhibit List And For Its Admission Into Evidence
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Haradinaj et al
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13-Nov-07
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Prosecution's Submission Of A Rule 92bis Statement Of Witness Sst7/51 And Application For Protective Measures ( Witness 15)
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Haradinaj et al
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14-Nov-07
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Prosecution's Application To Hear Shefqet Kabashi Via Video Link On Tuesday 20 November 2007
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Haradinaj et al
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12-Nov-07
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Prosecution Submission To Admit Into Evidence Human Rights Watch Report "Humanitarian Law Violations In Kosovo"
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Haradinaj et al
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12-Nov-07
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Idriz Balaj's Notice To Make Confidential His 'Opposition To Prosecution Motion To Admit The Statements Of Witness 1 Into Evidence Pursuant To Rule 92quater With Confidential Annex A And Public Annex B', Filed On 12 November 2007 And Filing Of Public Reda
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Haradinaj et al
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13-Nov-07
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Lahi Brahimaj's Joinder To Idriz Balaj's Response To The Prosecution's Motion To Admit A Statement Of A Witness Pursuant To Rule 92 Quater
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Krajisnik (Appeal)
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09-Nov-07
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Prosecution Response To Motion Requesting Permission For Amicus Curiae To File Submission On Matters Arising Out Of Appellant's Appeal Brief, Prosecution Response And Appellant's Reply
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Krasniqi (Contempt)
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12-Nov-07
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Indictment (Corrected)
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Krasniqi (Contempt)
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12-Nov-07
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Decision By The Registrar Re Assignment Of Counsel
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Krasniqi (Contempt)
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09-Nov-07
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Lifting Of Confidentiality
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Milosevic Dragomir
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14-Nov-07
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Order To Redact The Public Transcript And The Public Broadcast Of A Hearing (Re. Hearing 28/02/2007)
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Milosevic Dragomir
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13-Nov-07
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Decision On Urgent Motion Of General Miletic For Access To Confidential Material In The Dragomir Milosevic Case
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Milutinovic et al.
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09-Nov-07
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Pavkovic Second Motion For Admission Of Documents From Bar Table And Motion To Exceed Word Limit
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Milutinovic et al.
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12-Nov-07
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Vladimir Lazarevic's Motion For Protective Measures With Confidential Annex
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Milutinovic et al.
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09-Nov-07
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Decision On Lazarevic Motion For Leave To Amend Its Rule 65ter Witness List To Add Aleksandar Petkovic
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Milutinovic et al.
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12-Nov-07
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Order Re Exhibit 4D503
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Milutinovic et al.
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13-Nov-07
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Defence Request Seeking Alteration Of Title Entry In E-Court Of Exhibit P1468
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Milutinovic et al.
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13-Nov-07
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Prosecution's Response To Vladimir Lazarevic's Second And Third Motions To Amend Rule 65 Ter Exhibit List
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Milutinovic et al.
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12-Nov-07
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Prosecution's Response To Motion By Vlastimir Dordevic For Access To Transcripts, Exhibits And Documents In The Milutinovic Et Al Case
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Milutinovic et al.
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09-Nov-07
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Pavkovic Request Regarding Exhibit 4d503
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Mrksic (Appeal)
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13-Nov-07
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Order Designating A Pre-Appeal Judge
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Oric(Appeal)
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09-Nov-07
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Order Assigning A Pre-Appeal Judge
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Perisic
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12-Nov-07
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Defence Objections To Prosecution's Filing Of Second Amended Indictment
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Popovic et al
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09-Nov-07
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Joint Defence Motion For Certification Of Trial Chamber's Oral Decision Dismissing Expedited Motion Requesting The Trial Chamber To Issue A Subpoena Duces Tecum On Momir Nikolic
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Popovic et al
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13-Nov-07
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Decision On Urgent Motion Of General Miletic For Access To Confidential Material In The Dragomir Milosevic Case
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Popovic et al (interlocutory)
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09-Nov-07
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Order Assigning Judges To A Case Before The Appeals Chamber
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Popovic et al (interlocutory)
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12-Nov-07
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Prosecution Response To Accused Borovcanin's Interlocutory Appeal Concerning His Interview
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Popovic et al (interlocutory)
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12-Nov-07
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Response To The Prosecution's Appeal On Refusal To Admit Borovcanin's Interview With Regard To Acts And Conduct Of Co-Accused
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Popovic et al (interlocutory)
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09-Nov-07
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Popovic Response To Prosecution's Appeal On Refusal To Admit Borovcanin's Interview With Regard To Acts And Conduct Of Co-Accused
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Popovic et al (interlocutory)
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12-Nov-07
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Prosecution Response To Beara And Gvero Interlocutory Appeals Concerning Borovcanin Interviews
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Prlic and Others
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14-Nov-07
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Requête De L'accusation Aux Fins De Modification De Sa Liste De Témoins Déposée En Application De L'article 65 Ter Du Règlement Et D'admission De Témoignages Présentés En Application Des Articles 92 Bis A) Et 92 Quater Du Règlement (Mehmet Saiti)
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Selca (Contempt)
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14-Nov-07
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Scheduling Order For Initial Appearance
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Selca (Contempt)
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13-Nov-07
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Order On The Lifting Of Confidentiality
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Seselj
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09-Nov-07
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Scheduling Order
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Seselj
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09-Nov-07
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Response And Official Notice By Professor Vojislav Seselj Concerning Expert Reports Of Colonel Ivan Grujic And Dr Osman Kadic (Submission No. 333)
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Seselj
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09-Nov-07
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Ordonnance Portant Désignation De Juges Ad Litem Dans Une Affaire Dont Est Saisie Une Chambre De Première Instance
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Seselj
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13-Nov-07
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Order To Redact The Public Transcript And The Public Broadcast Of A Hearing
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Stanisic & Simatovic
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09-Nov-07
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Request To The Prosecution Pursuant To Rule 73 Bis (D) To Reduce The Scope Of The Indictment
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Zdravko Tolimir
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09-Nov-07
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Décision Relative À La Requête De L'accusé Aux Fins D'examiner La Décision Rendue Par Le Greffier Le 29 Juin 2007
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Zdravko Tolimir
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13-Nov-07
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Scheduling Order
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*****
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