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ICTY Weekly Press Briefing - 20th Mar 2002

ICTY Press Briefing - 20 March 2002

Please
note that this is not a verbatim transcript of the Press Briefing. It is merely
a summary.


ICTY Weekly
Press Briefing

Date: 20.03.2002

Time: 14:00 p.m.



REGISTRY AND CHAMBERS

Jim Landale, Spokesman for Registry and Chambers, made the following statement:

First, I’m very
pleased to announce that the ICTY’s budget for 2002 and 2003 amounting to $US
248,926,200 has been passed by the General Assembly in New York. This welcome
news will enable the Tribunal to conduct six trials at once, which will significantly
further increase our trial capacity. Of course, in order for the Tribunal to
complete the mandate given to it by the Security Council, individuals under
indictment have to be apprehended and transferred at the earliest opportunity.
The Tribunal expects all states to live up to their legal obligations to ensure
that this happens.


Next, I have to
inform you that there will be no proceedings in the Milosevic case this week,
due to his illness. The trial is expected to continue next week if he has recovered.


In terms of
court documents in the Milosevic case:

On 18 March, the ‘Registry Report on the Practical Facilities Available
to the Accused’ was filed.

On 19 March, we received a ‘Decision on the Prosecutions’ Motion for Protective
Measures for Victims and Witnesses’.


In other cases:

On 15 March, in the Ljubicic case we received a ‘Decision on the Defence
Motion on the Form of the Indictment’ ordering the Prosecution to amend the
Indictment in the terms set out in the order within 20 days of the date of the
order. The accused shall have 14 days from the filing by the Prosecution to
submit any further preliminary motion.


Copies of all
the documents that I’ve mentioned will be available after this briefing.


And, by way of
a reminder:

On Wednesday
20 March, a pre-Defence conference in the Naletilic and Martinovic case will
be held between 2.15 and 7 p.m. in Courtroom III.


On Thursday 21
March, there will be a further initial appearance and status conference in the
Obrenovic, Blagojevic and Dragan Jokic case, starting at 2.30 p.m. in Courtroom
III.


On the same day
in the Ljubicic case, there will be a status conference at 3 p.m. in Courtroom
II.


And, finally,
there will be a status conference in the Hadzihasanovic, Alagic and Kubura case
on Friday 22 March at 3 p.m. in Courtroom I.


QUESTIONS:


Asked whether
Hadzihasanovic, Alagic and Kubura would be in court, Landale replied that
those who were on provisional release were not required to attend.

Asked whether
the sum granted differed from that originally requested by the Tribunal, Landale
replied that it differed slightly. He added that he did not have a breakdown
of the sum at this point. As soon as he could get a further, more detailed
breakdown, he would inform the media. 

Asked whether
copies would be available in due time, Landale replied that he believed so.
He added that it sometimes took a while for them to come from New York. Landale
recommended that the media check the UN website. He added that as soon as
the Press Office was sent copies it would be made available.

Asked who had
taken the decision regarding the fact that there would be no proceedings this
week in the Milosevic case and whether it was his doctor or the Trial Chamber,
Landale replied that a determination was made by the medical officer that
Milosevic still had the flu. As a result he could not attend court. Once he
had recovered the proceedings would continue, he concluded.

Asked to confirm
that it was not sure yet that there would be a Milosevic hearing on Monday,
Landale replied that it was not. A determination would have to be made, probably
over the weekend, to determine whether or not Milosevic was better. The Tribunal
would not force someone with the flu to sit in court.

Asked whether
there would be any proceedings on next Friday, Landale replied that there
would not be. He added that there would be no court on the following Monday
either.

Asked to confirm
that there would be no Milosevic for the whole of that week (commencing 1
April), Landale replied that this was what the schedule said at the moment.
He added that if there was any change to the schedule the media would be informed. 

*****